GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Blackbrook Reservoir

3 miles (5 km)

This short walk visits Blackbrook Reservoir near Coalville in Leicestershire. There are walking trails on the southern and northern ends of the water with pockets of woodland and nice views of the surrounding countryside. You can look out for wildlife such as Mandrin ducks on the way.
The Ivanhoe Way long distance footpath runs through Whitwick and Thringstone so you can pick up this path to extend your walk. You could follow the trail through Cademan Wood and the historic Grace Dieu Priory just to the west of the reservoir.
If you follow the trail south you can visit Thornton Reservoir which has nice footpaths along the water.
You can also link up with Bagworth Heath Woods near here too.
The Shepshed Walk visits the reservoir from the nearby town. It then goes on to explore the historic Mount St Bernard Abbey just to the south of the reservoir.

Postcode

LE12 9YF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Blackbrook Reservoir OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Blackbrook Reservoir Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

At the nearby Mount St Bernard Abbey there's the delightful St. Joseph's Tea Room for post walk refreshments. You could sit outside in the lovely garden and enjoy a delicious cream tea here. You can find them at postcode LE67 5UP for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the south east you can pick up the Charnwood Forest Walk. The circular trail explores the parks, woodland, hills, nature reserves and countryside of the Forest district.
About a couple of miles south of the reservoir you can climb to the highest point in Leicestershire at Bardon Hill.
On the western side of Coalville there's some peaceful woodland trails and pretty lakes to see at Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood and Sence Valley Forest Park.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Leicestershire Walks page.

Photos

Blackbrook Reservoir from near Poacher's Corner - geograph.org.uk - 329372

Blackbrook Reservoir from near Poacher's Corner. Deep in Charnwood Forest (an area notable for its lack of trees), the low winter sun casts long shadows over the farmland above Blackbrook Reservoir, off Swannymote Road near Shepshed.

One Barrow Plantation 1

One Barrow Plantation is a geological Site of Special Scientific Intererest south-west of Shepshed in Leicestershire.

The eastern arm of Blackbrook Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2103785

The eastern arm of Blackbrook Reservoir

The eastern end of Blackbrook Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2103743

The eastern end

Blackbrook Reservoir dam - geograph.org.uk - 2103881

The dam at the northern end

Blackbrook Reservoir from near Poacher's Corner - geograph.org.uk - 329372

The lake from near Poacher's Corner. Deep in Charnwood Forest (an area notable for its lack of trees), the low winter sun casts long shadows over the farmland above Blackbrook Reservoir, off Swannymote Road near Shepshed.

Footpath to Blackbrook Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2103906

Footpath to Blackbrook Reservoir from the abbey

Mount Saint Bernard's Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 239894

 Mount Saint Bernard's Abbey. You can start your walk from the car park here. The Abbey was founded in 1835 and was the first Roman Catholic abbey to be founded in England since Henry VIII implemented the Dissolution in the 1530s.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Blackbrook Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Blackbrook Reservoir.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)