Local Area
Breedon on the Hill local facilities
Shopping for provisions
The Pinnacle stores post office and off-licence.
Just a six or seven minute walk away and open seven days a week for most convenience items. They will deliver subject to a minimum charge.
Other major shops nearby in Ashby de la Zouch;
- Tesco
- Aldi
- M & S Foodstore
Directions;
All 3 stores are just 4 miles away, postcode is LE65 1GW
At the end of the driveway turn right and then left at the crossroads towards Ashby de la Zouch. Go through Breedon village and after about 3 miles go straight on at the first roundabout.
M & S is first left after the roundabout about 50m past
Aldi is second left just after the traffic lights
Tesco is right at the first traffic lights
The Three Horseshoes. Country Pub and dining room. A 10 minute walk away or two minutes in the car.
The Hollybush Inn. The Hollybush Inn. A little further into the village by the green less than 15 minutes walk. Another traditional country pub with food.
The Bulls head. Located in Wilson village approximately a mile away, another superb venue. Reopening mid 2020 following a refit.
Melbourne village just 2 miles away. This notable village has a bustling centre and variety of shops and pubs and other facilities.
Nearby places to visit
The National Forest
We are located on the boundary; https://www.nationalforest.org. There are many miles of walking, riding and cycling trails almost all off-road. This website also contains details the sailing facilities locally.
National Trust
Calke Abbey is 5 miles away.
Staunton Harold church 4 miles away
Melbourne Hall 2 miles away
The Cloud trail half a mile away. This is part of the National Sustrans network formed from the old railway line and there is approximately 13 miles readily accessible. See .https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/cloud_trail
Suitable for horses walking and cyclists.
Donington Park motor racing circuit approximately 3 miles away and famous in its own right for the various events throughout the year including the download Festival in June.
Sailing there are three locations nearby. The furthest being 6 miles away. All three have sailing clubs. These are at Staunton Harold Reservoir, Foremark Reservoir and Swarkstone lake.
The first two are ideal for picnics and walks.
Equestrian there are plenty of hacking routes nearby, the cloud trail being the nearest but it is perfectly possible to go further afield without having to trailer the horse.
Ashby de la Zouch; small market town, about 4 miles away with all the major supermarkets and a delightful high-street and semi-ruined historical castle remains.
Twycross zoo; 9 miles away. Regarded as the centre for monkeys and gorillas in the UK.
The foregoing is a selection of nearby venues and there are many more without travelling too far.
The Horseshoe Lodge and the local area
Melbourne (1 ¼ miles away)
Follow the road through Wilson village and you will arrive at Melbourne.
There is a delightful cross-country walk for the more energetic which takes about half an hour and will bring you out adjacent to the Pool and Hall. There are a couple of roads to cross but otherwise you are in open countryside and across the golf course with splendid views as a bonus.
Melbourne is a delightful village and which was the home of Lord Melbourne who went on to found the city of Melbourne in Australia. The Family still live at Melbourne Hall.
Melbourne Hall gardens (open depending on time of the year)
The Pool, adjacent to the Hall and church open all year free of charge
Dining Out in Melbourne
There are an abundance of places to eat out in the village, here are a few suggestions;
for a morning coffee, try-
Fortey’s in the centre opposite the market hall has a pleasant courtyard to the rear to sit out or you can sit in with a selection of cakes et cetera.
Birds bakery also located in the centre sells fresh bread and coffee to drink in.
The Bay Tree again in the centre is one of the best restaurants you will find anywhere. Pre-booking is essential although they have a lovely courtyard outdoor alfresco dining area which doesn’t necessarily need reserving. See the pictures below and also the menu.
The Spirit Vaults
A more traditional pub with microbrewery located a short distance from the Hall and church.
Breedon on the Hill
Breedon Village is a very short walk from the Lodge.
Within the information folder you will find a detailed map showing all the local footpaths. The village is incredibly well served to enable you to walk in all directions and indeed the Cloud Trail passes within a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Lodge.
The trail is the old railway line which is now a haven to wildlife as well as offering riding walking and cycling over a length of some 9 miles. See below for a few photographs. In addition, there are a wealth of old railway features and beautiful stone bridges as well as an old railway station, now converted to a private house.
The easiest place to join the trail is in Tonge village which is reached by turning left out of the drive and following the road into the centre of the village and the access is adjacent to the railway bridge right in the centre. For a shorter walk, drive to this point and join the footpath and cover whichever section appeals.
Golf
There is a first-class pay and play 18-hole course in the centre of village.
There are 27 holes in total and the 18-hole course is par 71, 5948 yards.
The dramatic church at Breedon on the Hill
This has to be one of the most important churches in the two counties if not in the whole of the UK because of its unique Saxon carvings. This church is dramatically sited on a limestone hill being cut-away by the quarry below and can be seen for many miles.
The hill has been occupied for thousands of years and the present church is not the first. In 675 a monastery was founded on the hill with Hedda as the first Abbot. The monastery is mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles and due to its importance various saints were also buried here. The monastery fell into decline after the Danes ransacked the region including probably Breedon itself.
Eating out
There are three excellent pubs all within a very short distance, two in the village and one in the village of Wilson on the road to Melbourne.
The Bulls Head Inn
Located just up the road in Wilson village, the unprepossessing exterior belies an excellent eatery and pub.
The Three Horseshoes
Good village pub combined with fine dining.
The Holly Bush Inn
Traditional small village inn.
