Forest bathing at Beacon Hill Country Park

Beacon Hill is one of the Charnwood Forest country parks run by Leicestershire County Council. The rocks at the summit were formed by volcanic activity around 700 million years ago, and the slopes below are wooded, with bluebells in spring and good colour in autumn. There is a multi-use track looping round the edge and a network of pedestrian-only paths through the trees.

There are two car parks: the upper one off Beacon Road and the lower one off Breakback Road. The summit draws most people, so the woodland paths lower down are the quieter choice. The council lists accessible paths, and there is a boardwalk loop through the rhododendrons. There is a café on site. Car park opening hours change with the seasons, from early closing in midwinter to evening opening in summer.