Hicks Lodge

Visitor information

A great place to walk, cycle and much more!

In the heart of the National Forest, Hicks Lodge is a former coal mining site that has been totally transformed by new plantings and exciting trails for you to enjoy.

A great day out for the budding cyclist, from tearaway toddlers to young teens perfecting their skills, we’ve got a range of trails for beginner to intermediate appetites.

Visit our lakeside bird hide where you can soak in the beautiful scenery and spot some unique wildlife, such as the migratory sand martins. There are also walking and horse riding paths to explore the forest, a play area and a café!

What's on

Forest event
28 February, 19 March, 15 April
9am (28 February), 19 March (9.30am), 15 April (10am)
Meet at Grounds Café

Join Wild Minds for a mood boosting walk for wellbeing. Get your walking boots on and head out for a good stretch of the legs and a chat with other like minded people. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of nature as you enjoy the heart of the National Forest. These walks will vary in length and will be adjusted to suit the needs of those attending. Appropriate shoes and clothes are a must and you might want to bring a drink (unless you're going to enjoy a coffee at the cafe once you've finished).

£9 per person. To book, email contact@wildmindsnature.co.uk, send a message through social media or call 07445 209 725

Forest event
24 February, 23 March, 27 April
10am (24 February and 23 March) 10.30 27 April
Meet at Grounds Café

Join Wild Minds for a relaxing, rejuvenating and re-wilding walk through nature. Learn the art of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) and how you can slow down your pace of life for the benefit of your physical and mental health & wellbeing.

This walk will take a short and slow route around the wonderful woodland at Hicks Lodge. You will need good shoes and appropriate clothing as we go ahead in all weathers (apart from high winds). Other than that, all we ask is that you bring along your imagination and an open mind.

£7 per person To book, email contact@wildmindsnature.co.uk, send a message through social media or call 07445 209 725 send a message through social media or call 07445 209 725

Forest event
20 February, 09 March, 02 April, 04 May, 29 June
1:00pm to 4:15pm
Meet outside Grounds Cafe

Build up your knowledge and confidence of off-road cycling with our introduction courses. These will include a helmet, clothing and bike check, tips on what to take out for a ride, bike fit, trail grading and trail etiquette as well as lots of skills to learn. Each dates includes a Gears and cornering session (13:00-14:30) and a Bumps and berms session (14:45-16:15). You can choose to attend both or just one!                                                                                                  

Don’t have a bike? Don’t worry- you can hire from Hicks Lodge Cycle Hire

Course cost:

£15.00 per 1.5 hour course

 Dates:

20 February 

09 March 2024 

02 April 2024

04 May 2024

29 June 2024

Booking is essential via email or phone. Find out more at https://www.b-buddies.com/off-road-cycling-courses

Forest event
Every Thursday
10:45am to 11:30am
Meet outside Grounds Cafe

Every Thursday from 01 February you'll be able to join our CycleFit (women only) club at Hicks Lodge! This session will be run every Thursday for the foreseeable, 10:45-11:30.

Cycling is a low impact way to help with your health and wellbeing. So why not come and join the coaches at B-BUDDIES to get some exercise in the fresh air with no traffic and release some of those ' happy hormones'?

These sessions will alternate between one bike ride week and one skills week to mix between stamina building and confidence riding in a group within cycle routes and elements of on the road as well as learning new skills, how to use gears correctly and a variety of other activities. Don’t have a bike? Don’t worry- you can hire from Hicks Lodge Cycle Hire or the B-BUDDIES team!

There’ll also be the opportunity to stay after the session for the all-important coffee, cake and chat at Grounds Café Hicks Lodge to socialise with the other riders of the group to build new friendships.

​Booking is essential via email or phone. Find out more at https://www.b-buddies.com/cyclefit-clubs

With the family friendly, off road Wood Farm trail as well as the longer, more challenging Shell Brook trail, Hicks Lodge has cycle routes for all abilities. Find out about cycle hire: Bike Hire – Grounds Cycle Centres

​​​​​​This trail takes you into the young woodland around Hicks Lodge, there are stops along the way for you to relax with a picnic and enjoy the views. The Zig-Zags take you down on to the long loop, or you can head back to the visitor centre on the short loop. Suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs as well as cycles.

The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday and to celebrate, everyone is invited to take part in a brand-new forest adventure.

What to expect

The interactive family trail features all sorts of party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures.

Follow the trail to help find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember. Search for balloons, pine cones, apples and the Gruffalo himself, and complete fun activities and rubbings as you go along.

Get the party started with a Gruffalo Party Trail pack

Pick up your pack for just £4 from Grounds Café, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure.

Inside you’ll find:

kraft bag to colour in party headband to wear party trail activity leaflet stickers pencil and crayon keepsake sew-on Gruffalo Party patch

Share your party fun using the #GruffaloTrail hashtag.

The Gruffalo © 1999 & TM Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

Spending time amongst the trees and really noticing nature is scientifically proven to boost our mental and physical health. Take some time for you and try our new wellbeing trail at Hicks Lodge, a mindful walk through the forest that invites you to really relax. 

Panels along the trail will prompt you to stop, notice, and connect with the wellbeing benefits of the forest environment. 

What to Expect

Themed panels along the trail will invite you to pause, notice, and connect with the forest environment around you.

A forest wellbeing journal is also available to help you get even more benefits from the experience, offering additional mindful things to do while you’re out in the forest and at home.

Get your free copy on-site from our visitor centre or download your forest wellbeing journal before you visit.

Route Info

This trail is supported by Sport England using National Lottery funding.

Nearby forests

Sence Valley lake

Located north-west of Leicester, discover Sence Valley’s history. Once part of a large coal mine that closed in 1996, Forestry England planted 98,000 trees in 1998, transforming the valley into a haven for wildlife and visitors. In 2018  a further 48 hectares (102 acres) of the original opencast was acquired which has now been planted with 100,000 trees which will develop into a mature woodland.

Sensory garden at Rosliston

From surfaced trails and cycle routes to outdoor play areas, a cafe and a sensory garden, a visit to Rosliston Forestry Centre is a great day out for everyone! 

Rosliston Forestry Centre is managed in partnership with South Derbyshire District Council. It was created on former farmland in 1993 and opened in 1994. For more information on things to do -  please visit the Rosliston Forestry Centre website. 

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