LEI Country
Donisthorpe Woodland Park
Includes Sarah's Wood, Moira Furnace and Saltersford Valley
Location Plans
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National Forest HQ + Sarah's Wood car park - SK309156 - view in Multimap or Streetmap format.
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Donisthorpe Miners Wefare car park - SK318141 - view in Multimap or Streetmap format.
Permanent Orienteering Course available soon at Donisthorpe Woodland Park
View details of other Permanent Orienteering Courses
Donisthorpe Woodland Park
A 36-hectare former colliery site in 
The National Forest where there are 20 hectares of mixed woodland and 3km (1.85 miles) of stone-surfaced paths, which are suitable for all users. There are links to the 6km (3.7 miles) Ashby Wold's Heritage Trail and Moira Furnace & Plantation, along the towpath of the restored Ashby Canal.
The area has been mapped and used for orienteering for some time (originally know as The Heart of the Forest) in conjunction with Moira Furnace (owned and managed by N W Leicestershire District Council) and with the nearby Sarah's Wood and Bath Yard the home of the National Forest Company. The colliery dated back to 1857 and Moira Furnace is a restored blast furnace dating back to Napoleonic times. Nearby are restored old lime kilns. The area has recorded history going back much further. The name Donisthorpe suggests that the settlement be of Scandinavian origin. However, archaeological evidence suggests that the area was occupied much earlier. There is evidence of Neolithic and Roman occupation and it is probable that a Roman road from Leicester to Chester ran through this area.
The north-west of the parish of Donisthorpe is bordered by the open area of the Ashby Wolds and the Ashby Wolds trail runs through the area and is included on our map. The west of the parish is bounded by the Hooborough Brook which forms the country boundary and runs in the park. To the north-west is Willesley and we have used Donisthorpe for a base from events there. The new area near Willesley that we know as Shellbrook actually reflects a small stream of that name which runs between Donisthorpe and Oakthorpe to join the River Mease to the south.
Donisthorpe is recorded in the Doomsday book which describes the land at Donisthorpe as waste, mostly in the ownership of Henry de Ferrers. Along the south of Donisthorpe runs the Walton Way which, when it crosses the Shellbrook is known as the Saltersford - a clear indication that this part of the Walton Way was also used as Salt Way.
The park itself includes 20 hectares of recently planted mixed woodlands and the Hooborough Brook flows through the site between banks with mature willows. Earlier versions of our map included the nearby Conkers which is now a pay-to-enter separate facility but which is mapped for orienteering. The latest version of the map of Donisthorpe includes Saltersford Valley with its footpaths and lakes.
A permanent Orienteering Course is being created in the park including Moira.
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Moira Furnace and Plantation
The plantation is about 13 acres and about half is mature woodland with many water features and a maze of small paths, and half again agricultural land crossed by a number of paths. Completing the picture are nearby local authority parkland and the area around the ancient blast furnace dating from Napoleonic times together with adjoining restored lime kilns.
It is owned by N W Leicestershire District Council and is mapped with their small park at Sarah's Wood, and Donisthorpe Woodland Park owned by the County Council. A permanent orienteering course is being created across the areas with financial assistance from the National Forest which can be serviced from a number of locations including the café at the furnace.
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Saltersford Valley
This is a 7 hectare site in The National Forest which has open water areas known as 'flashes'. These result from mining subsidence that causes the Saltersford Brook to flood. There are sites planted with new native woodland and open areas managed as grassland, which feature wild flowers.
The site has been recently been designated as a Local Nature Reserve. It is being included on our map of the adjoining Donisthorpe Woodland Park.
[back to top]Sarah's Wood
This 25 acre woodland has been designed for children of all abilities and has tarmac footpaths. The site overlooks the Conkers Waterside Centre and is alongside the basin at the end of the restored Ashby Canal. It is included on our map of Donisthorpe Woodland Park and Moira Furnace.
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© 2008 Leicestershire Orienteering Club