Snibston Colliery Park
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Coalville
What it’s like
Free parkland on an old colliery site with a mountain bike trail, a pump track, a playground and lakes for fishing.
This one's built around the old pit, and you can still see it in the paths and the machinery dotted about. There's a 4km blue grade mountain bike trail for anyone confident on two wheels, plus a skills area and pump track if your rider is younger or still building confidence. Neither costs anything to use, which is rare for a proper trail like this.
Away from the bikes there's a playground for the smaller ones, a heritage trail past the old buildings and sculptures that nod to the mining and locomotive history, and over 40 hectares of paths and viewpoints to wander. Two lakes are stocked for fishing, carp, roach, tench and perch, if anyone in your group fancies sitting still for a bit while everyone else is on the move.
Entry is free, so the only cost is parking: £1 for an hour or £3 for the whole day, dropping to £1 again after 6pm. The car park hours shift through the year, opening at 7am and closing anywhere between 4pm in the depths of winter and 8pm in summer, so it's worth knowing which month you're in before you plan a long one. There's a café on site, step-free access and an accessible toilet.
Give yourself a proper chunk of time here. Between the trail, the playground and the walking paths there's enough to fill an afternoon without repeating yourself, and the pump track alone will keep a keen young cyclist busy long after you were planning to leave.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- £1 for up to 1 hour, £3 all day (standard tariff 7am-6pm)
- Parking tariff changes at 6pm, dropping to £1
- Car park closing times shift a lot through the year, from 4pm in winter to 8pm in summer
- The main bike trail is blue grade, so smaller riders might prefer the pump track
- Bring something for the lakes if fishing is on the agenda, rods aren't mentioned as available on site
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, there's no entry charge. You just pay for parking.
How much is parking?
£1 for up to an hour or £3 for the whole day. After 6pm it drops back to £1.
What are the opening hours?
The car park opens at 7am year round, but closing time moves with the season, as early as 4pm in December and January and as late as 8pm from May to August.
Is the mountain bike trail suitable for beginners?
The main trail is a 4km blue grade route, so it suits someone who already has a bit of bike confidence. There's also a skills area and pump track for younger or less experienced riders.
Can we go fishing?
There are two lakes stocked with carp, roach, tench and perch.
Is there anywhere to get food?
There's a café on site.
Is it buggy and wheelchair friendly?
There's step-free access and an accessible toilet, plus blue badge parking.
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