Hick's Lodge — Attraction in North West Leicestershire

Been going for year's. Used to be a little gem with nice Little cafe, free showers and fun but easy blue, with okay parking:

But car parking has crept up and up but the facilities have actually reduced! It's now £2 for 1hr £3 for 2 hours or £5 for the day. We used to go for about 3 hours. We used to ride the mountain bikes around the blue route twice, have a shower and then stop in the cafe for a meal and a drink. But now the one shower has been shut for over 12 months and the other doesn't really work at all. There's just not enough facilities to justify £5 for mountain bikers so now we only stop for an hour or two max which means we spend less money there as we no longer use the café. Today after paying for parking and settings off on the slightly tired blue trail we found out that the blue trail was closed for about 2/3rd of it's length. It's only 7km in total and we normally do it twice and some parts three times so to get there after the drive and paying for parking to find we had wasted our time was really frustrating. I get trail maintenance needs to happen especially as mentioned it's looking a bit tired. I get that it's rained a lot lately but shutting three sections of a short trails off at the same time? no warning or offer's of cheaper parking or anything in the middle of winter? Please consider closing one section at a time in future or offering people something in return for the fact that facilitates are half shut and that your loyal customer base has still shown up out of season! Saw two runner's and three other mountain bike rider's who were all annoyed at the amount of shut trails and lack of warning, plus multiple people witnesses moaning about parking price. Management seems to be single mind focusing on families with children but you have lot's of mountain bike and runner regulars who it feels like you are ignoring! I know you offer 12 months parking for £44 but again this is only useful if you go really regular and there's just not enough there to draw us moutain bike folk regularly. we used to go about 5 times a year minimum and spend £3 on parking and £15+ in the cafe. I doubt we will bother again now unless showers fixed, parking made more secible £3 for 3 hours? And trails improved.

Sorry but you have lost a loyally customer for now. this makes me sad as I know the cafe is nice and people are working hard but greed and lack of maintenance and planning is...

On arrival noticed a decent car park however as no defined spaces the selfishness of public parking apparent. Parking prices need to be looked at. With 1hr / 2h and all day parking at £1 / £2 & £7 respectively it would be better to replace the 2hr with a 3hr /£3 charge..just my opinion. The cafe is only short walk and overlooks the children's play area however when the forestry workers and volunteers had their break the view through the windows were partially blocked. The children with us were 11yrs old but still like them in view while letting off steam on a cold day. Maybe relocate the benches away from the windows.. The cafe is easonably priced as expected for this type as venue and has a cycle shop within it . Toilets include baby change facilities. Generally walking around was on gravel paths with a few waterlogged potholes, not good for pedestrians as children on bikes veered to miss them, a few buckets of gravel needed to fill them. Unfortunately due to rain the various areas of grass had become water logged and muddy, can't stop nature though.. A bird hide is on site at the pond for photographers etc. Dogs on leads are allowed with water bowls available near the toilets. Probably didn't have the best day due to weather so we'll see how it is in warmer weather.. There are two trails but we only did one, I believe the other is better suited to serious cyclists so cannot comment on it. Only really dropped a star for the parking charges. Weather and selfish parking not the Forestries fault. Maybe sounds a bit nit picky but just my opinion on that day. Certainly...

Great place to go for walking with the family and the dog! Or even take you horse! Yes you read it right they have a field to put them in whilst you go for a cuppa in the beautiful cafe there! You do have to pay for parking and there are picnic benches if you wanted to go for a picnic. There are different trails with sign boards telling children what to look for. There is seating outside and inside the cafe and they allow dogs in there. The toilets are outside the cafe but makes them accessible to everyone as some people won't want to use the cafe and qould feel awkward going I to use the loo. The upside is there is a cycle shop and you can take you children for safe bike ride away from the traffic and know they are safe as there's proper paths to cycle on and a shop that sells bike accessories right next to the cafe. Would I recommend it for a day out Yes! You can cycle round the different paths and there are maps to help you! Or you could exercise your horse or dog! And the food in the cafe is lovely! Can't fault it! And parking was about £2 for two hours and £5 all day! And you can pay it by card so don't have the added extra of change weighing you down as the cafe takes card too! They also sell dog biscuits for charity but they are a £1 each and sorry but it's money only for those! Well worth it as my...