The wooded lower slopes of Beacon Hill are interspersed with paths giving very pleasant walks. There were some very large ancient trees but the majority are obviously relatively young.

When we were on Beacon Hill in April there were plenty of Bluebells around in the wooded areas.

Coming out of the wooded lower slopes onto the upper, more open, slopes the views became quickly apparent and what a view!.

English Longhorn cattle graze the open areas and, although they look fearsome with those very long horns, they are very placid creatures.

On the top of Beacon Hill, the second highest point in Leicestershire, the very jagged precambrian rocks (at least 541 million years old) look very dramatic not to mention the magnificent views beyond.

There are many 'Beacon Hills' in this country. Most of them take their name from their use as sites for warning beacons as part of Britain's early warning system in Elizabethan times, when the beacons were lit to warn of the coming of the Spanish Armada.

This is the 'Old Man' of Beacon Hill. The outline of the rock face looks very much like the outline of a human head.

There is a very large car park (parking fee payable) nearby so expect this area to be very popular on a fine weekend in the high season.