Hiking in Leicestershire

Atmospheric ruins set amongst rugged surroundings

If it is a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic views that you are after, you can’t go wrong at Bradgate Country Park. Its 830 acres (336 ha) of grassland, heath, bracken and woodland are host to some of the best hikes in Leicestershire. At its heart are the atmospheric ruins of Bradgate House, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey who spent nine days as Queen in 1553 before her beheading half a year later for treason.

The park is a wonderful place for a ramble, with its gnarled oak trees and rocky outcrops. Its high point is marked by the grand Old John Folly and rewards with a spectacular panorama of Leicester. Keep an eye out for the herds of red and fallow deer that roam within the boundary walls, whilst neighbouring Swithland Wood’s wildflower meadows and thriving wildlife are also a delight.

New adventures in the National Forest

Much of this part of the Midlands was neglected and bruised by hundreds of years of coal mining and heavy industry. Yet today, the west of Leicestershire is at the heart of a tremendous rewilding project, known as the National Forest.

Some of the best hiking trails in Leicestershire are found within its borders, such as at Beacon Hill Country Park. This patchwork of hills, mixed woodland and wetlands boasts a charming variety, such as alpacas, 700-million-year-old rock formations and intriguing sculptures. The view across the surrounding countryside from the 804-foot (245 m) Beacon Hill, the site of a Bronze Age hill fort, is stupendous.

History and heritage

A definitive menu of walks in Leicestershire wouldn’t be complete without visiting the trails around Bosworth Battlefield. The War of the Roses ended here in 1485, when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, ushering in the Tudor period.

Nearby, the sumptuous open grassland and woodland that makes up Market Bosworth Country Park rewards with yet more excellent walking. Visit in autumn when the Japanese maples are at their most vibrant in an arboretum that also boasts redwoods and Himalayan birches. Meanwhile, spring sees the woodland come to life with bluebells, fritillaries, ox-eye daisies, cowslips and primroses.