Cloud Hill Quarry and Breedon Church

This ride visits the lowest and the highest points in NW Leicestershire, one being Cloud Hill Quarry, the lowest, and Breedon Church, the highest.

The Cloud Trail is a part of National Cycle Network Route 6 running into Leicestershire from Derbyshire. Just South Of Breedon-on-the-Hill is Cloud Hill Quarry, a gigantic hole in the ground where millions of tonnes of rock are extracted yearly to satisfy the demand for road building and concrete manufacture.

 Most of the route is flat, off road, and hard surfaced  The main route shown above is from Mickleover, but an alternative is to join NCN Route 6 from Derby City Centre going through Alvaston Park and Shelton Lock. Either route brings us to Swarkeston where we follow the Trent and Mersey Canal to Weston where we cross the River Trent to follow the Cloud Trail into Leicestershire.

                                       Sinfin Moor Lane

                                       Infinity Park Way

NCN Route 6 now leads us to Swarkeston Lock following the line of the derelict Derby Canal.

Here on the bridge at Swarkeston Lock we look downstream on the Trent and Mersey Canal. On the right of the canal is the path to Weston.

                            A nice ride alongside the canal.

Crossing the River Trent. 

View looking Westwards towards Willington.

On NCN Route 6 near the site of Melbourne Station

On the right here is the path to Wilson on the Cloud Trail.  We return to this point on the return journey.

Pushing on towards Tonge.

Looking back at Tonge Station, now a private house.

After crossing the A42 trunk road we go onto the Cloud Trail which takes us to ...............................

...........................................Cloud Hill Quarry

........................ watched over by these mythical creatures.

 They are called The Rock Drills

After returning to re-cross the A42 we follow the road to Breedon where the Priory Church stands high above the village.

 View of the pretty village of Breedon-on-the Hill with the top of the church tower just visible (top left). There is an excellent cafe at the Garden Centre.

A steep climb up to the church ............................

............. but well worth it for the views on all sides.  Here we see Ratcliffe Power Station and on the right East Midlands Airport.

From Breedon Church, we return to NCN Route 6 by way of Wilson village.