Combs Plantation

Wood, Forest in Leicestershire Melton

England

Combs Plantation

Footpath at the bottom of Plungar Wood After a steep descent from Terrace Hills on the Belvoir Escarpment, the path levels out onto the Vale of Belvoir — Footpath at the bottom of Plungar Wood Credit: Tim Heaton

Combs Plantation is a picturesque woodland located in Leicestershire, England. Covering an area of approximately 500 acres, it is nestled within the heart of the county's charming countryside. The plantation is part of the larger National Forest, a project initiated in the 1990s to reclaim and transform former coal mining areas into thriving woodland.

Combs Plantation is predominantly composed of deciduous trees, including oak, birch, and beech, which create a rich and diverse habitat for numerous plant and animal species. The woodland floor is adorned with a colorful carpet of wildflowers during the spring and summer months, attracting a variety of insects and small mammals.

The plantation is crisscrossed by a network of well-maintained footpaths and trails, allowing visitors to explore its natural beauty. These paths lead through enchanting glades, alongside babbling brooks, and up gentle inclines that offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Keen birdwatchers will find plenty to observe, as the woodland is home to a range of species, including woodpeckers, owls, and various songbirds.

Combs Plantation offers a peaceful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, walkers, and families looking to enjoy a day surrounded by the beauty of the great outdoors. With its diverse flora and fauna, breathtaking landscapes, and well-maintained trails, Combs Plantation is a true gem in the Leicestershire countryside.

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Combs Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.866221/-0.84274067 or Grid Reference SK7830. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Footpath at the bottom of Plungar Wood

After a steep descent from Terrace Hills on the Belvoir Escarpment, the path levels out onto the Vale of Belvoir

Tim Heaton

Rectory, Stathern

A fine early C18th house in the attractive local ironstone. Grade II listed. A limited view as the owner did not allow me to take a photo from the grounds. A better view is here SK7730 : The Old Rectory, Stathern.

Stephen Richards

Former Lace Factory

Grade II listed just three months before this photo. Dating from the late 19th century as lace manufacturers moved out from Nottingham in search of cheaper labour. From the listing text: "Historic interest: * as an interesting and rare survival of a small-scale village factory, linked to the prolific local lace industry which originated in Nottingham in the late C18." List Entry Number:1486471 Link

It has been geographed before: SK7730 : Engineering works, Stathern SK7730 : The Vale Engineering Works, Stathern.

David Lally

Former Lace Factory

Grade II listed just tree months before this photo. Dating from the late 19th century as lace manufacturers moved out from Nottingham in search of cheaper labour. From the listing text: "Historic interest: * as an interesting and rare survival of a small-scale village factory, linked to the prolific local lace industry which originated in Nottingham in the late C18." List Entry Number:1486471 Link

It has been geographed before: SK7730 : Engineering works, Stathern SK7730 : The Vale Engineering Works, Stathern

David Lally

The Plough Strathern

Main Street

David Lally

The sign of The Plough

See SK7731 : The Plough Strathern

David Lally

The (former) Red Lion

Quite a few photos of this pub on the site including SK7731 : Red Lion Inn, Stathern SK7731 : End of a day's walking SK7731 : Toft's Hill, Stathern SK7731 : The Red Lion, Stathern SK7731 : The Red Lion, Stathern. It closed in 2017 I believe.

David Lally

The sign of The Red Lion

See SK7731 : The (former) Red Lion.

David Lally

Main Street leaving Eastwell

The footpath on the right leads to Eaton

Tim Heaton

Main Street from Eastwell running along the top of the Belvoir Escarpment

Tim Heaton

Mill Hill on the top of the Belvoir escarpment

Heading towards Eastwell

Tim Heaton

Site of the terminus of the Eaton Branch

Until 1958, this quiet and isolated spot in the hills near Belvoir Castle was the site of the terminus of the Eaton Branch, built in the 1880s by the Great Northern to carry iron ore from the many quarries in the area to Scalford on the GN&LNWJt line and then to ironworks such as Holwell, Stanton and Staveley. The picture is taken looking along where the run-round loop and sidings were. The trees on the left are growing on the site of the elevated tipping dock of the Waltham Iron Ore Co, where little narrow-gauge engines, two of them French, pushed tipper wagons brought across the fields - see SK8132 : Faint traces of the ironstone railway at High Leys - from a succession of quarries in the area to discharge ironstone into the main-line wagons. For more about this evocative spot, see SK7930 : The End of the GNR Eaton Branch, SK7930 : Site of engine shed and tipping dock, Waltham Iron Ore Co Ltd and SK7930 : Railway Relic in the Undergrowth, all taken on a less glorious day than this one during the heatwave at the end of September 2011.

John Sutton

Rail in the undergrowth

There are still relics of the narrow-gauge railway which ended at the tipping dock here and worked from 1885-1958. See SK7930 : Site of the terminus of the Eaton Branch for the wider context. SK7930 : Railway Relic in the Undergrowth shows one of the sleepers to which light flat-bottom rail such as this was spiked.

John Sutton

Railway gatepost and old ironstone workings

The concrete gatepost probably dates from when the Eaton Branch had its terminus here (1885-1958). The fields straight ahead, as far as Stathern Wood, were quarried for ironstone at various times from the 1880s until 1948 and latterly known as Long Hole. The pits were shallow and the land took little reclaiming when quarrying ended. Beyond the line of trees the escarpment drops steeply to the Vale of Belvoir 300ft below.

John Sutton

Remains of ironstone workings

The Waltham Iron Ore Co (1885-1958) quarried these fields just east of Belvoir Road from 1899-1905. The picture shows grassed-over piles of overburden left after the ironstone had been removed. In later years quarry owners levelled and restored the land more carefully (for example at Harlaxton, Buckminster and Colsterworth, where the overburden was thicker and the quarries much deeper than here and at Eastwell).

John Sutton

Footpath south of Combs Plantation, nr Stathern

nmtoken

Sentinel of Combs Plantation

Old tree stump just off the path south of Combs Plantation.

nmtoken

Farm Track to Sherricliffe Farm

Looking South down the Jubilee Way Long Distance footpath. As usual, as soon as I decide to venture forth with my camera the sun takes cover behind the clouds!

Kate Jewell

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Combs Plantation is located at Grid Ref: SK7830 (Lat: 52.866221, Lng: -0.84274067)

Administrative County: Leicestershire

District: Melton

Police Authority: Leicestershire