Bardon Hill

Climb to the highest point in Leicestershire on this walk near Coalville. The hill is located just a couple of miles east of Coalville town centre.... A good start point for the walk is the village of Whitwick just to the north of the hill. From here you can follow the Ivanhoe Way long distance trail to the hill. It's about a 2.5 mile walk from the village to the 912 feet (278 m) high hill summit where you will find a radio mast and wonderful views over the Charnwood Forest and the extensive Bardon Hill quarry below. On a clear day you can see as far as the Malvern Hills, the Shropshire Hills and the Peak District.
To extend your walking in the area you could pick up the Charnwood Forest circular walk which runs past the hill. Following it south will take you to the village of Markfield which is an alternative start point for visiting the hill.
Postcode: LE67 4QQ
Pubs and More Info
About half a mile north of the hill you can enjoy some post walk refreshment at The Bulls Head in Abbot's Oak. They serve good food with particularly fine Italian stone-baked pizzas. There's also a lovely garden area to relax in on warmer days. You can find them at postcode LE67 4QQ for your sat navs.
Just to the north east you can pick up the Shepshed Walk. It visits the pretty Blackbrook Reservoir and the 11th century Mount St Bernard Abbey where you can see the monks brew the only Trappist beer in Britain. Near the abbey you can also visit local historic landmark at the 13th century Grace Dieu Priory. The anicent ruins of the priory are surrounded by some pleasant woodland with trails along the Grace Dieu brook.There's also a delightful old watermill and mill pond in Shepshed itself.
The circular Coalville Walk visits the hill and several other local highlights including the historic 17th century Donington le Heath Manor House, Sence Valley Forest Park, Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood, Grange Woods, Bagworth Heath Woods and Thornton Reservoir.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Leicestershire Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

Charnwood Forest Ivanhoe Way Blackbrook Reservoir Coalville Grace Dieu Priory

Photos

Bardon Quarry, Leicestershire. A beautiful unconformity. The grey rock is Precambrian volcanics (600 million years old) that was covered, resurrected 300+ million years later, worn down and the valleys infilled with Triassic mud/siltstone, buried yet again, then resurrected in 'modern' times to what you see now - palaeovalleys.

Trig point on the summit.

Bardon Hill Quarry. One of the largest Charnwood holes.

Another view down into the adjacent quarry from the hill.

Radio Mast at Bardon Hill

Path to the hill.

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