The National Forest

The creation of the National Forest in North West Leicestershire has been the most amazing transformation of an unattractive industrial area into an area of great beauty now covered with millions of trees.  This was previously a coal mining area with slag heaps and remnants of industrial detritus defacing the landscape. The collieries were closed many years ago and the open cast coal mines have become lakes.  The railway routes used to transport coal have been closed and turned into countryside paths for walking and cycling.
Here we look at the salient features of the area for cycling. Route 63 of the National Cycle Network passes through the area.
We cannot cover all the routes here but take a look at a few of them together with suggested access points.
The nearest railway station is at Burton-on-Trent, so access by car is preferable and there are two good car parks, one at Conkers the main visitor centre, where parking is free and the other is at Hicks Lodge, a purpose built cycling centre, where there is a charge.

This is the main entrance to the Visitor Centre.

And here some of the things which are inside.

Outside a large free car park. Note that the gates are locked at 5.15pm.

Inside an excellent cafe and toilets.

A short stretch of the Ashby Canal is alongside but this is not joined to the main canal network so few boats to be seen.

This is the end of the Ashby Canal next to Conkers Waterside, where there is another free car park.

This bridge leads onto other cycle paths.

The well surfaced path leads on towards Moira.

Most of the paths have good surfaces.  This is typical.

Here is Hicks Lodge where there is a good cafe, a bike shop and toilets.  Across the road are the mountain bike trails.  No actual mountains around here but some excellent narrow winding tracks which are graded for difficulty.

There once were several coal mines in the area, now commerated by these cast iron displays which give details of the local features.

NCN Route 63 passes through the site of Donisthorpe Pit.







Generally signing of the paths is very good. 

S

Many of the overgrown trees have been removed by Leicestershire County council and this will improve views from the paths and let in more sunlight to encourage the growth of wild flowers.

When the collieries and
railways were working this is how it looked here.
See how it looks now below.

This is Albert Lake, once a great hole in the ground where clay was extracted for the local pottery industry.  The path runs around the perimeter of the water and there is gorse blossom in profusion at this time of the year (early April).

Here another cast iron display telling the story of the local area of Albert village.

The path leads us back to Conkers.

Verdict
A superb area for off-road cycling with good facilities for car parking and refreshments.  Well surfaced paths everywhere - mostly flat but a few gradients in places.  Excellent signing and pleasant scenery on all sides.
Certainly worthy of future  visits.