Battleflat and Beyond

This route leaves Coalville on the shared use cycle network and head out of town towards Bardon, through to the Bardon 22 industrial area and on to the area known as Battleflat. This is where, according to local legend/history, the Battle of Bosworth allegedly went "flat".  Next, heading down West Lane and passing Cliffe Hill Quarry, which is one of the largest quarries in the county (but unfortunately hidden from your view) towards the top end of Ellistown, where you will see the Headquarters of Pallex, owned by an ex-Dragon from Dragon’s Den - no prizes for guessing who!  You soon join Sustrans route 63 and proceed through the village of Battram to a very pleasant off road track in the now maturing woodland en route to Ibstock.  You then go through Ibstock village (noted in the Doomsday Book) and then into Sence Valley Forest Park, which was created from a former opencast site - a great nature reserve which has several ponds and lots of wetland birds - a real gem in our community.  You then pick up an old bridleway to join your second Sustrans route, NCN52 the Bosworth Trail, following this route through the village of Ravenstone and picking up the off road route to Snibstone Discovery Park and then travel on road and shared cycle paths back to your starting point.