Beacon Hill, Leicestershire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beacon Hill
Highest point
Elevation	248 m (814 ft)
Prominence	c. 57 metres (187 ft)
Geography
Location	Charnwood Forest, England
OS grid	SK509148
Topo map	OS Landranger 129

Beacon Hill is a popular country park located near Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. It's known as one of several "beacon hills" across the United Kingdom. This special place is also part of the Beacon Hill, Hangingstone and Outwoods Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means it's protected for its important natural features.

Exploring Beacon Hill Country Park

Beacon Hill Country Park covers more than 135 hectares (about 330 acres) of open grassland and beautiful woodland. It's a great spot for walking and enjoying nature. You can even try some short climbs. The highest point of Beacon Hill is 248 meters (814 feet) tall. This makes it the second highest point in Leicestershire, after Bardon Hill.

Amazing Views from the Top

The rocks that make up Beacon Hill are from an extinct volcano that was once active about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the west. At the very top of the hill, you'll find a special marker called a toposcope. This toposcope helps you identify famous landmarks you can see from the summit. On a clear day, you might spot Lincoln Cathedral or the distant hills of the Peak District.

It's also interesting to note that Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station is lined up in such a way that from the top of Beacon Hill, you can only see two of its eight cooling towers! You might also see Belvoir Castle and the cities of Derby and Nottingham. If you have binoculars, you can get an even better view of Lincoln Cathedral's tower. Below the hill, you can see Loughborough and Beaumanor Hall. You can also hear and see old steam trains on the Great Central Railway, which has stations nearby.

Beacon Hill was even featured on the 2005 TV show Seven Natural Wonders as one of the amazing natural sites in the Midlands. The summit also has some very unique and interesting rocks.

Nearby Woods to Explore

Close to Beacon Hill, there are two smaller woods that you can visit. Jubilee Wood is about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the lower car park. The Outwoods is right next to Jubilee Wood. Beacon Hill Country Park has also won the Green Flag Award, which means it's a well-managed and welcoming green space.

Discovering Native Trees

The park has a special collection of native trees that were first planted in 1996. Many of these trees have labels, so you can learn their names. There are also special boxes that offer audio commentary. By pushing a button, you can hear interesting facts about the biology and history of certain tree species.

How to Get to Beacon Hill

You can reach Beacon Hill by car, as there are car parks at both the top and bottom of the hill. These are accessible from Beacon Road or Breakback Road. There's a pay-on-exit system that accepts both cash and cards.

If you prefer public transport, buses run between Leicester and Loughborough through Anstey, stopping at Woodhouse Eaves. The Centrebus service 154 runs Monday to Friday, and the Kinchbus service 123 runs on Saturdays.

Fun Activities at the Park

Beacon Hill Country Park offers many fun things to do! You'll find picnic areas perfect for a packed lunch, and lots of walking routes to explore. During certain seasons, there's even a barbecue site. If you enjoy horse riding, there are special tracks for horses. The park also has permanent markers for orienteering, which is a sport where you use a map and compass to find your way. Every August, the park hosts a country fair, which is a great event to visit.

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  Old man of the Beacon

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  The Shepherd and the Ram chainsaw sculpture by Peter Leadbeater on Beacon Hill

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  Wood craft demonstration at the Country Fair

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  The toposcope on the top

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  The plate on the toposcope

Images for kids

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  3D view of the digital terrain model