Swithland Wood

Swithland Wood is a protected woodland in Leicestershire covering around 87 hectares with oak and lime forests mixed with alder stands. The site also contains two former slate quarries that have filled with water over time.

The woodland has been managed through coppicing since 1512 to harvest timber sustainably. It was part of the Bradgate Estate owned by the Grey family until 1921 when it was sold.

The Bluebell Service started in 1927 when the Leicester Rotary Club began gathering people each spring to watch the flowers bloom. This yearly tradition brings visitors back to experience the woods at a particular moment in the year.

You can reach the site through pay and display parking on Roecliffe Road and Swithland Road with marked trails for walking and cycling. The paths are well signposted and suitable for different activity levels.

The Great Pit quarry has a bottle shape that widens toward the bottom, reaching depths of around 55 meters. At these depths the water temperature drops below 4 degrees Celsius, creating distinctly different conditions from the surface.

GPS coordinates: 52.70600,-1.20300

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07