The National Forest was established in the 1990s and covers 200 square miles of north-west Leicestershire, south Derbyshire and south-east Staffordshire. It uses newly planted areas, often renewing former mining and clay extraction sites, to link the ancient royal hunting woodlands of Needwood and Charnwood.
There are many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) along the route, not just in the main forestry sections but also in the many fine smaller woodlands you’ll ride through such as Swithland Wood. The full loop includes over 50 named woodlands, each offering something different as you cycle through; there’s the ancient splendour of Robin Wood to the modern, brilliantly designed Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Woods. Being at the heart of England, all of this landscape was impacted to a greater or lesser extent by the industrial revolution and yet as you ride you will see the regeneration of the natural environment that is well underway.
Charnwood Forest in many ways encapsulates the whole beauty of this ride. It’s an ancient woodland spread across rocky hills, where you’ll find SSSIs alongside ex-mining communities. Geologically it is famous for its ancient rock formations and the landscape formed by them. Today, the area is an important recreational area with woodland walks, rock climbing and hill walking. Popular places include Beacon Hill, Bradgate Park and the Outwoods. This is a unique landscape with ancient fossils, quarries and rocky outcrops. Charnwood Forest Geopark is currently applying for Unesco status because of the rare geology of the area. It’s also where we live!
The Forest of Needwood was a large area ancient woodland situated in south-east Staffordshire in a triangle of land formed by Burton on Trent, Rugeley and Uttoxeter lying just to the south of the small town of Tutbury. After the Norman Conquest it became the property of the Berkeley family of Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire and was hunted for wolf, wild boar and fallow deer.
In the 13th century Thomas de Berkeley was resident at Tutbury Castle, marrying the daughter of William de Ferrers, the Earl of Derby, but after the rebellion of Simon de Montford against King Henry III was defeated, the de Ferrers family estates were forfeited to the Crown. The forest was renamed Needwood Chase and in 1399 passed into the possession of Henry IV and was administered by a Steward based at Tutbury Castle.
The forest became a royal hunting ground (Both James I and Charles I hunted there) but by 1609 the royal hunting had diminished because of its distance from London and enclosure was suggested. For a long period of time enclosure was resisted but eventually in 1803 an Act was passed to enclose the land allowing the forestry commissioners to deforest it and by 1811 the forest had been divided amongst a number of claimants. By 1851 it was described as ‘one of the most beautiful and highly cultivated territories in the honour of Tutbury’.
Today the former forest area encloses some twenty farms and the more recent St. Georges Park. A nine mile walk has been developed showcasing the historic nature of the forest.
To the west, the Coal and Canopy Way takes in the historic landscape of Cannock Chase. It was once a Norman hunting ground known as the King’s Forest of Cannock but is now a popular recreational area. It was officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1949 and as a National Landscape from 2023. The landscape here is one of heaths, forests, parklands, viewpoints, rivers and canals. It has abundant wildlife, a rich cultural heritage, and is used by many different kinds of outdoor lovers including walkers, horse riders, runners – and of course, cyclists. Our route concentrates on the other areas of the forest, but there is a large, established mountain bike centre here with great facilities.