Discover Swannington

Swannington brings together milling, countryside and traces of coal mining and railway history. At Hough Mill, visitors can grind wheat into flour using a hand mill; at Gorse Field, numerous hollows in the landscape reflect its coal-mining past. Swannington Incline forms the western end of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, built by Robert Stephenson in 1832.

Landscape and coal mining

Gorse Field comprises grassland heath, woodland and ponds. Numerous hollows in the terrain reflect its coal-mining past. The field also features a replica horse-gin shaft, with a winding frame and horse gin, along with statues of a horse and a horse handler. The site therefore combines landscape features that point to coal mining with a tangible representation of it.

Califat Spinney includes the former Califat coal mine alongside a woodland that was newly planted from 2000 to 2007. From Swannington, you can reach Califat Spinney via public footpaths. Compared with Gorse Field, the emphasis here is on the juxtaposition of the former mine and the planted woodland; the sites thus highlight different aspects of the history of coal mining.

Mill and railway history

At Hough Mill, one activity takes centre stage: visitors can grind wheat into flour using a hand mill. Public opening hours are listed as 2 pm to 5 pm on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays from April to September; check the opening hours before visiting. If you would like to try grinding the flour yourself, plan the mill into your itinerary as an activity with set hours.

Swannington Incline forms the western end of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, built by Robert Stephenson in 1832. A leisurely walk is also possible along the former Hinckley to Melbourne Turnpike. The attractions offer different experiences: at Hough Mill you can grind flour yourself, while the Incline invites you to explore railway history and the Turnpike offers a walk. The year 1832 places the railway in its historical context; the mill’s opening hours, by contrast, concern visiting.

Paths and getting there

Gorse Field has numerous permissive paths as well as two public footpaths; opening hours of 6 am to midnight are listed for the permissive paths. Opening hours of 6 am to midnight are also listed for the permissive path at Swannington Incline; it is accessible via Church Lane Bridge and Spring Lane. Check the access information for each site before visiting.

Arriva bus route 29 between Leicester and Burton passes through Swannington. Check the timetable before travelling. The bus route provides a guide to getting there; if you are heading to Gorse Field or Swannington Incline, it is also important to check the access information for each site.

Discover more destinations: Hinckley, Ashby De La Zouch, Market Harborough, Woodhouse Eaves, Castle Donington, Old Dalby, Medbourne, Ibstock

For the broader travel overview: Leicestershire.