Heatherの湖・トップ16

A great place to walk and a visit to waterside is a must in the Sun

hicks Lodge trail blue route biking walks around the woods and lake

A great place for a simple circuit of the lake or to hook up to other nearby walks. Owned by the forestry commission, the car parks are no longer free . Card or payment by app only (cash not accepted).

hicks Lodge blue trail biking

Sence Valley Forest Park is a significant area of woodland planting which has transformed the former opencast coal mining site, in north-west Leicestershire, into a haven for wildlife and visitors. The coal mine closed in 1996 and only two years later 98,000 Corsican pine, larch and poplars trees were planted. Another 100 acres of land was bought in 2018 and this was planted with a range of coniferous and broadleaved trees, as a sustainable forest for the future.

The main path through the nature reserve (i.e. the one marked on komoot) takes you nowhere near the ponds or bird hide. You have to take the path off to the right near the Severn Trent Water station.

Didn't see any conkers, was a bit disappointed

Great place for an hour or so out in the woods, the trail is a good workout and you can often spot animals in the evening. Deer occasionally, foxes and always crows. Try the green trail as well as it's quite twisty and turns and exciting, with lots of little up and downhills. There are some nice, welcome, benches and picnic tables 3/4 of the way round.