Discover 600 Million Years of History
Grand Geological Tour
Where It All Began
Morley Quarry
Start your day where it all began for Charnwood Forest, at Morley Quarry in Shepshed.
A short 2 minute walk from the Morley Lane car park, you will find a forgotten historic quarry, now lovingly cared for by the Geopark Geoconservation volunteers. Take the opportunity to see the oldest rocks in Charnwood Forest, and learn about how they formed from the onsite interpretation panels.
Parking is available at the free car park, next to the Cricket Club, on Morley Lane, LE12 9EU.
Molten Magma Making Rocks
Hill Hole
From Morley Quarry take the short drive to Hill Hole Car Park on Hill Lane, Markfield.
At the car park, proceed along the footpath that follows the road south, until you meet the entrance to the Hill Hole Nature Reserve on your left. Continue into the site, keep the fence around the flooded quarry on your left. After a few hundred metres, you will find an interpretation panel on your right, with information on the biodiversity that can be found here.
Slightly further east, another panel will reveal the story of the rocks in this former quarry – formed around 560 million years ago when molten magma cooled underground. But you’ll have to visit to find out the full story…
A small free car park is available on Hill Lane, Markfield.
Cambrian Critters
Tremendous Teichichnus
From Markfield, proceed to Thurcaston’s All Saints Church to uncover a Cambrian story from about 515 million years ago.
Enter the churchyard through the main gate and walk up the path, turning right at the sign for the accessible entrance. Next to the fourth headstone on your right, you will find a wooden interpretation panel, uncovering the amazing story of the fossil found within the slate stone next to it.
A limited amount of free parking is available on the roadside next to All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston.
Erosion and Weathering
Old Man of Beacon Hill
From Thurcaston, drive to the Beacon Hill Country Park, Upper Car Park on Beacon Road.
At the car park, walk uphill towards the summit. After proceeding through the kissing gate, continue along the tarmac track heading roughly north, until you reach an interpretation panel on your right. What3Words location ///dive.knitted.lengthen.
Marvel at the amazing shapes nature has carved from the rocky outcrop in front of you, and learn how millions of years of geological processes, weathering, and erosion have worked together to produce the stone face known as the Old Man of Beacon Hill.
There is a payment for parking at this site.