Winter walks to enjoy throughout Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:16

Winter walks to enjoy throughout Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Thinking of discovering what Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has to offer this winter? We've compiled a list of 18 different parks/open spaces for you to enjoy and explore either by yourself or with friends and family!

Blaby

1. Bouskell Park, LE18 4FT - Bouskell Park in Blaby has something for everyone, and is one of the post popular parks in the district for a reason! Those interested in history can check out the Victorian Manor House Blaby Hall, it's magical and newly-restored Ice House and a topography shaped by hundreds of years of settlement. The park is perfect for short walks, and is very popular with dog walkers.

2. Glen Parva Nature Reserve, LE2 9HA - The 27 acre plot of land in Glen Parva is home to an array of wild flowers and creatures such as the green woodpecker, meadow pipit, dragonflies, butterflies and voles, and includes gentle walks over fields alongside the Grand Union Canal.

Charnwood

1. Watermead Country Park, LE7 8PF - Watermead Country Park is now a haven for wetland wildlife enjoyed by nature lovers, walkers and families. The park has fine lake views and woodland walks with good paths and picnic areas, and also provides bird watching, fishing and watersports facilities.

2. Beacon Hill Country Park, LE12 8SP - Rising to a height of 245m, Beacon Hill is one of the highest points in Leicestershire and boasts spectacular views of Charnwood Forest and the Soar Valley. The park consists of mixed woodland, grassland, open heathland, wetlands and rocky outcrops. It has a range of interesting features that await any visitor.

Harborough

1. Welland Park, LE16 9DN - Welland Park is the largest park in Market Harborough. The popular park offers visitors a range of facilities, activities and attractions, such as a large playground area for children, a skate park, an outdoor gym, tennis courts, and also a cafe.

2. Lutterworth Country Park, LE17 4FN - This small but varied park lies on the west of Lutterworth. It includes areas of rough grassland, new woodland and a wetland area, and is a popular location for dog walkers.

Hinckley & Bosworth

1. Market Bosworth Country Park, CV13 0LP- Explore 86 acres of historic open parkland in the centre of Market Bosworth! The park features a lake, a planted arboretum with many different exotic species, a wildflower meadow and a community woodland.

2. Argents Mead, LE10 1DU- This six-time Green Flag award winning park is located within Hinckley Town Centre, and includes the Mound on which Hinckley Castle once stood, which is now the location of Hinckley's war memorial. Enjoy a gentle stroll through the park a lookout for live music at the bandstand!

Leicester City

1. Knighton Park, LE2 3RE - This beautifl and popular 78 acre park has become one of the city's most popular feature. Trees are a strong feature of the park. The Wash (or Saffron) brook provides a haven for wildlife, as does the enclosed spinney. The park features two play areas, a sensory garden, a heath garden and multiple sports facilities (tennis courts, football pitches, and also basketball courts).

2. Braunstone Park, LE3 1QN - This park consists of 168 acres, and includes numerous meanderin paths that enable visitors to stroll and enjoy the park's many delightful aspects. Two lakes on the southern boundary attract a wide variety of wildlife. Braunstone Park also includes an adventure playground, an outdoor gym as well as football pitches.

Melton

1. Melton Country Park, LE13 1HP - Just 10 minutes from the Melton Mowbray town centre, explore 140 acres of wildlife lakes, footpath trails and children's such as wildlife lakes, open green space, football pitches, footpath trails and dog agility trails.

2. Holwell Reserves, LE14 4SZ - Enjoy a walk at Holwell Reserves, disused quarries, with a mixture of grassland, woodland and exposed rock faces create a peaceful atmosphere throughout the year. This trio of reserves together form a hidden gem in the Leicestershire countryside, just a few miles from Melton Mowbray and on the edge of the Vale of Belvoir. With a mosaic of habitats and steeped in geology and history, you can easily spend a few hours exploring the varied habitats and spotting the wildlife that lives there.

North West Leicestershire

1. Coalville Forest Adventure Park, LE67 3JB - This park is only 10 minutes on foot from the centre of Coalville. Formerly a landfill site, the area has been transformed into an important habitat for wildlife with over 8,400 trees planted in the last decade. The park provides a small piece of the countryside within an industrial area with seating, woodland planting, spring bulbs and wildflowers.

2. Snibston Colliery Park, LE67 3LN - The grounds of Snibston Colliery Park cover more than 40 hectares of mixed habitats. The grounds include the former colliery spoil heap which has been reclaimed to form woodland and an open rough grassland area. At the heart of the park is the Grange Nature Reserve. Once the gardens of the Colliery Manager, it is now an important ecological site for wildlife.

Oadby & Wigston

1. Brocks Hill Country Park, LE2 5JJ - Brocks Hill Country Park is one of the districts most popular parks, with over 150,000 visitors per year. The park contains many features that were once widespread in the Leicestershire landscape, including medieval ridge and furrow fields, hay meadows, small ponds, mature trees and woodland compartments.

2. Coombe Park, LE2 5TT - Enjoy this big open grass space, climbing frame, swings and slides for the little ones. You can go for regular walks or play wide field games, or simply play in the small park with your children.

Rutland

1. Rutland Water Nature Reserve, LE15 8BT- Search for rare spring migrants, admire fishing ospreys in the summer, enjoy the autumn water passage and marvel at huge flocks of winter wildfowl. With events year round, walking trails and two visitor centres, you'll be sure of an immersive wildlife experience for the whole family this winter.

2. Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue, LE15 7SG - Enoy this unique collection of 150 yew trees, with most being over 200 years old. The Avenue was once the carriage drive to Clipsham Hall, the centre of the Clipsham Estate. A small, free, car park gives year round access to the Yew Tree Avenue, where admittance is free.

We hope this list has inspired you to discover new parks/open-spaces throughout Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland this winter. Be sure to take plenty of photo's of your winter adventures, and share them across our social media channels - @ActiveLLR

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