The National Forest Explorer
Sunday, November 16, 2025 @ 10:00 am
Intro
We return to The National Forest Explorer again to bookend the 2025 season. 2024’s event was the biggest of the year with an impressive turn out on a route widely regarded as one of the best of the season. Leicestershire is littered with interconnecting trails, byways and disused railway lines, all brought together by routemaster Chris. Throw in a decent cafe at the start/finish and the route has everything a gravel ride needs. Hands down one of my favourites.
Read about my rides in 2023 and 2024
The Event
Gravelton Events are not official or sanctioned. They are self-supported group rides. Same route, same day. It’s just you, your bike and your mates having fun.
All we ask is you share your ride with everyone else in the community.
How to Enter
Entry is FREE. Just turn up but I do recommend you subscribe to my newsletter to receive the latest route and event info.
The Route
The route leaves Hicks Lodge and warms riders up with a scoot around it’s MTB trails before crossing the A42 and picking up Spring Lane, Packington for your first big byway test. You’ll get some rest as you drop into Ravenstone but it’s quickly back offroad on the Bosworth Trail to Snibston Country Park to test your cornering skills climbing its super-tight hairpins. After a quick loop of it#s trails, it’s back via the Bosworth Trail again via Ravenstone out towards Heather to drop into the fantastic Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood. A gravel riders dream.
From here it’s a rest on more black top into Heather then the trails climb in Sence Valley Country Park to Ibstock. Grange Wood beckons and is one of the best sectors on the route with the higlhlight for me being it’s short but super steep climb adjacent to steps. Will you walk or ride? If you’re tired here, the quiet lanes through Nailstone and Barton-in-the-Beans will allow you to kick back and soak up the views before a short section of the Ashby canal.
At Shackerstone you’ll jump off and trace your way to Snarestone where, just beyond the village, you’ll pickup the first part of a lengthy but superb section of disused railway. This will skirt Conkers, traverse the lake before a final push up Moira Rd to pick up the beautiful Gorse Lane. A final foray through Conkers offroad will see you follow the canal into Moira itself before the last sector that climbs into the back of Hicks Lodge and takes you back to the Cafe for a well earned coffee.
Highlights
- FREE to enter
- Pay & Display Parking available
- Bike Shop + Cafe located at Start/Finish
- NO Number
- NO Feed stations
- NO Photographer
- NO Medal
- NO T-Shirt
- Great views
- Mixed terrain + trails
- 600m climbing
The Rules
- Take your litter home
- Be self-sufficient. There is no backup on the day
- Shut any gates
- It’s not a race, it’s a day out on the bike.
- Be courteous to other trail users. The route is open to the public and it gets narrow in places so be prepared to share your space nicely if you have to. A bell is highly recommended.
Parking
The car park can get busy on weekends and is pay and display.