Beacon Hill & Bradgate Park

With the whole week off work I felt I had to go for a walk somewhere but I couldn't think of anywhere to go. It came to Monday morning and I still couldn't think of somewhere to go, which was annoying as the weather was perfect. In the end I decided to visit two of the highest hills in Leicestershire, neother being particularly high in the grand scheme of things but still nevertheless the best my county has to offer.

To start the walk I parked in the village of Woodhouse Eaves and then walked to the Beacon Hill Country Park. Beacon Hill is a Bronze Age settlement with views from the top round 360 degrees, plus in addition to this are many interesting things for people to see all around the park including a Native Tree Collection, a Labrinth and woodland walks. I really like the place and visit it a least a couple of times during the summer. After the walk through the woods on the lower slopes I climbed up onto the 248m summit. The views included most of north Leicestershire including the town of Loughborough and Bardon Hill, the highest hill in Leicestershire but also the biggest quarry! After wandering around the summit I descended the western rocks and visited the Old Man of Beacon Hill, ie a face formed in the shape of the rocks. I hadn't really seen this face before so it was quite a surprise for me to see how distinctive the face is. Descending further from here I headed through the West Beacon Fields, again somewhere I hadn't been before. This is a young wood with a large number of information boards for visitors to see just how useful and important trees are.

Leaving the West Beacon Fields I joined the road at the cross roads and proceeded south along the road to the Hunts Hill car park for Bradgate Park. Anyone who lives in Leicestershire knows Bradgate Park, it is one of the the most popular tourist attractions in Leicestershire attracting thousands of visits throughout the year. I have been here countless times over the years in all weathers and at all times of the day or night. Unlike Beacon Hill the park is totally undeveloped having been given by one Charles Bennion in 1928 to "the city and county of Leicester that for all time it might be preserved in its natural state for the people of Leicestershire."

Climbing the hill directly ahead of me I arrived at the Old John Tower, a folly bizarrely crafted in the shape of a beer mug, for reasons that are shrouded in legend. For me this tower typifies Leicestershire and will forever a hold special plave in my memories after all the many times I have visited it. The paltry 212m height just does not do it any justice for its views across the bracken-covered park and across the City of Leicester. Passing through a small spinney I climbed onto the companion summit that is crowned with a War Memorial before descending the hill down into the village of Newtown Linford. After buying lunch I walked back through the park on its many paths that criss-cross all over, passing Bradgate House, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, the nine day Queen.

At a lesser hill top (a giddy 178m high) I took many pictures of the views around 'Old John' with its two summits. As I descended the hill I was surprised to come across a small herd of deer. There are a lot of deer in Bradgate Park, but they usually keep away from the tourists so it was a surprise to find so many of them together. After taking even more pictures I left the park and walked through Swithland Wood back to Woodhouse Eaves and my car. It was a very simple walk but it showed that even Liecestershire can provide some interesting walking.