Ibstock Parish Walks

This walk has been created in memory of the many hundreds of miners who tramped these and other paths to find work in the coal-mines of the area. It is dedicated to the memory of the late Councillor Vic. Price, an ex-miner who wanted to create a memorial other than the winding wheel symbol, which are scattered around the area. In recent years the area has been transformed from farmland to young woodland as part of the National Forest. The walk passes through or by five National Forest woodlands which, together cover 177ha. You are welcome to walk in them all but while the trees are young, please stay on the network of marked paths.

The walk starts from the free car park, High Street, Ibstock

Where is Ibsotck? Click here for the location map. Ibstock is west of Leicester, south of Coalville.

From the car park, turn right and follow the High Street until you reach Grange Road. Turn left and head downhill.
The building at the top of Grange Road was the National School (circa 1818), which was closed in 1906 when other schools were built. Below this on the left you will pass the former infants school
At the bottom of the hill you will reach a marker stone dedicated by Ibstock Parish Council. Walk past this following the well-defined path towards the open fields over the footbridge. Continue straight up hill towards Redholme Bungalow Farm, a former isolation hospital.

A Beyond the farm you will meet a track leading to Ibstock Grange Farm up the hill on the left. Cross the track to the surfaced path opposite, and continue through the young trees of Grange Wood. Eventually the path crosses a brook, then another track to enter Battram Wood. Follow the grass track up hill.
Battram Wood is owned by the Royal Forestry Society and was planted with 80,000 trees between 1998 and 2001. Grange Wood (planted in 2000 with 100,000 trees), Park Farm Wood (2002), and Pretoria Road Woods (2003/4) are all privately owned and consist mainly of broadleaved species. Workman’s Wood (1999/2000) is mostly fast growing commercial poplars.

B At the brow of the hill you can see the roofs of Ibstock behind and those of Battram ahead. At this point go right, keeping the hedge to the left, to another track (the Nailstone miners went straight on here to the Nailstone Wood and thence to the colliery 1865 to 1967). Turn left and follow the track to Battram.
At the gate to Battram Road, there is an optional loop to view the Nailstone colliery and spoil heap of Battram colliery, which is now a nature reserve.

C On reaching the gate to Battram Road, double back down a footpath to the left, passing an information board on the way downhill. At the path junction with another information board and bench, bear right downhill.

D Cross the stream and continue straight ahead to meet a path crossing. (note. The Workman’s Wood ahead is open to explore and enjoy). Turn right, keeping the hedge to your right and then, when the path bends left, cross to have the hedge on the left. Continue towards Pickering Grange, a listed farmhouse (circa 1200). Follow the path through a field to reach a tarmac road. Stay on this road to get to the main road, then left.
To the right of the Hepworth Building Products is the former Ellistown colliery site 1874 – 1989.

E After passing by the next footpath on the left, take the track on the left. Follow this track back to Ibstock. As you walk along, to the right you will have views of Ellistown where South Leicester colliery was situated 1876-1986, and Hugglescote, Ravenstone and Coalville. You can also see the spoil heap of Snibston colliery 1832-1983, now Snibston Discovery Park, one of the jewels to emerge from the dust of the mine closures. As you breast the rise of the hill stop to observe the view over the roof tops of Ibstock. From left to right you can see into Warwickshire and Staffordshire. Carry on down the hill to re-enter Ibstock, going past another marker stone by the site of the former Ibstock colliery, closed 1927. Continue in the same direction to reach the village centre and starting point.

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