A newly restored corner of the quarry is now open to the public, offering a front-row seat to the industrial heritage of the Charnwood Forest landscape.
Quarrying has been part of life here for more than 250 years and now there’s a new way to see inside the quarry. Mountsorrel Quarry View, a newly restored area off Kinchley Lane, is now open for residents to visit with no hard hat required.
What’s there?
At the heart of the site is a purpose-built viewing platform, looking down into the quarry and out across the Charnwood Forest landscape that dominates the skyline.
Alongside it, a series of information boards tells the story of the site: how we work at Mountsorrel, the unique geology of the area and Charnwood Forest, and how this part of the quarry was restored to create the space you see today.
The viewing point has been created as part of the quarry’s ongoing restoration programme. Our hope is that it becomes an educational space for the community, where you can engage with the landscape, understand the site’s history and how it’s being restored, and learn more about the role the quarry plays locally.
A Geological Wonder
Mountsorrel Quarry View has been developed in partnership with Charnwood Forest Geopark, a partnership of 17 organisations committed to enhancing, promoting and managing the Charnwood Forest landscape.
Dr Jack Matthews, Charnwood Forest Geopark Geoheritage Officer, said: “Mountsorrel Quarry is one of Charnwood Forest’s geological wonders. The Geopark and Tarmac have worked together to make this fantastic story accessible, allowing visitors to understand the geological history of Mountsorrel, as well as how the rock here is processed and used across the UK. As we continue our work towards UNESCO Global Geopark status for Charnwood Forest, this new geosite helps further promote our amazing geology to both residents and visitors.“
You can find out more about the Geopark at charnwoodforest.org.
Did you know?
We’ve restored over 60 hectares of land at Mountsorrel, with more than 14 hectares at Mountsorrel Quarry View. You can read more about our restoration on our website here: https://mountsorrel.tarmac.com/restoration-biodiversity/
Planning your visit
Mountsorrel Quarry View is open now, so you can visit whenever suits you. The site is only accessible on foot, and there’s no dedicated car park, so it’s best enjoyed as part of a local walk.
There are two ways in:
- Wood Lane (what3words: ///fixed.carpentry.disco): this entrance is around half a mile down the lane. It’s the longer route, but the gentler of the two.
- Kinchley Lane (what3words: ///skidding.turkeys.expansion): this is the more direct route, but has a steeper incline.
Whichever way you choose, parts of the site include uneven ground and unmade paths. This should be noted by anyone with accessibility requirements, who may find the Wood Lane entrance easier.
What’s next
We’re looking at opportunities to include the site in local guided walking trails, and to work with local schools to offer occasional educational visits in the future – building on the classroom sessions and quarry visits our team ran over the summer.
Get involved
You can find out more about what goes on at Mountsorrel Quarry by visiting Mountsorrel.tarmac.com. If you have any questions or would like to contact the team, please call 07483 920 301 or email mountsorrelquarryfeedback@tarmac.com
By Aaron Laycock
