The Country Park was developed in the early 1970’s to provide an environment to interpret the famous Battle of Bosworth. This access is mainly on footpaths and includes the Battlefield Trail. It is approximately 1.75 miles and takes a maximum of two hours to complete.It links to the Ashby Canal and Shackerstone Railway to provide an exciting visitor experience.
The Country Park has four car parks all with footpath links to the Battlefield Centre. Parking charges are £1.50 per car.There are season tickets available which cover the Battlefield and all car parks in Leicestershire County Council's Country Parks.For more info on Season tickets click here.
The car parks are: Battlefield car park | Shenton Station | Cheney Lane | Whitemoors
Opening times:
| November, December & January | Daily 8.00am - 4.30pm |
|---|---|
| February | Daily 8.00am - 5.00pm |
| March & October | Daily 8.00am - 6.00pm |
| April & September | Daily 8.00am - 7.00pm |
| May to August | Daily 8.00am - 8.00pm |
Car Parking Charge: £1.50 (Pay & Display)
Facilities
This car park is also where the Battlefield trail begins and ends.
History
Shenton Station was once part of the Ashby & Nuneaton joint railway which opened in 1873. Passenger trains ceased in 1931 but the line remained open for goods traffic until 1970. The track and ballast was removed soon after.
The County Council bought the site in the early 1970's and from 1975 to 1990 the cutting between the old bridleway bridge and the path down from Ambion Wood was leased to Leicestershire and Rutland Trust for Nature Conservation (Now the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust). Management through this time was rather limited, most noticeable being hedge laying and fencing of the Eastern boundary with some scrub clearance and coppicing.
In 1990 the Shackerstone Railway Society laid railway track from Market Bosworth to Shenton Station. This extended the railway by nearly 2 miles creating an 8 mile long preserved line. The track with a buffer stop extended into the Northern end of the cutting and an extensive area was cleared to provide an extension car park. A small brick built kiln was built in 2001 by Paul Young a potter who uses the old lamp room as a pottery.
In 1992 a disused railway building was going to be demolished for road widening on Humberstone Road in Leicester. The building was bought by The County Council for £1 + vat and was taken down brick by brick and re-built to provide a station building, a year later toilets were also built in the car park.
Opening times:
| End of March - May | 8.30 am - 7.00 pm |
|---|---|
| May - August | 8.30 am - 8.00 pm |
| August & September | 8.30 am - 7.00 pm |
| October | 8.30 am - 6.00 pm |
| November - End of March | 8.30 am - 4.00 pm |
Car Parking £1.50 (Pay & Display)
Facilities
This car park has access to trains run by Shackerstone Railway Society and also the 'Wildlife Walk'
A small car park and picnic site with a link to the Heritage Centre via a bridleway.
Opening times:
| Open daily | 8.30 am to 4.00 pm |
|---|
Car Parking Free
Facilities
This car park and picnic site is where Henry Tudor is alleged to have camped before the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. However, it is now believed to be a possible site of the Battle itself.
Opening times:
| Weekends Only | 8.30 am to 4.00 pm |
|---|
Car Parking Free
Facilities
The Rangers on:
Tel: 01455 290429
email: bosworth@leics.gov.uk
Emergency/Out of Hours: 07850 276225
