Moira: Canal Banks, Forest Trails and Family Experiences

Moira combines canal experiences, industrial heritage, forest trails and a variety of activities for a varied stay. Anyone looking for holiday accommodation in Moira can plan their trip around their own interests: with a trip on the water, a walk through the forest, a museum visit or an active day at CONKERS.

Between Ashby Canal and Moira Furnace

A special experience is offered by the Joseph Wilkes, with 15-minute trips along part of the restored Ashby Canal. The short boat trip adds a maritime element to your stay and can be included as a standalone activity in your day’s plans.

Moira Furnace also tells the story of the area’s industrial past. The 19th-century iron-smelting blast furnace stands on the banks of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal. At Moira Furnace Museum, the Bridge Loft explains how three materials extracted from the ground were combined to produce iron. Reconstructions of small industries also showcase businesses that were once operated on the site and in its buildings. This makes a museum visit more than just a sightseeing stop: you gain insight into the working methods and production processes of a bygone era.

Forest Trails with Different Surfaces

The Heart of the Forest Trail runs from Moira Furnace via Moira Junction South, Albert Village Lake and Bath Yard Basin, returning to the Furnace. This gives the route a clearly defined loop through several locations. It follows pavements, surfaced paths and trails. After rain, the trails can become muddy. When planning your day, you should therefore bear in mind that the surfaces vary along the route.

Moira Furnace is connected by a cycle path to CONKERS and Hicks Lodge. Those who enjoy including outdoor activity in their stay can take this connection into account when planning, without trying to fit every destination into a fixed itinerary. Suitable accommodation can serve as a base for the preferred combination of nature, culture and activity.

Active Experiences at CONKERS

At CONKERS, the high-ropes course features 15 sections, climbing nets and high-level walkways. This offering complements the quieter museum and nature experiences with a sporting challenge at height. The CONKERCHOO Train operates regular family rides between the Discovery Centre and the Waterside Centre at CONKERS. For shared time on the water, groups of four can also travel across the largest lake at the Discovery site.

These different formats make Moira appealing to travellers who are looking for more than one type of outing during their stay. You can begin one day with industrial heritage, plan a circuit on the Heart of the Forest Trail and choose activities at CONKERS on another day.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Moira, it is worth first considering how you want to structure your days. If canal trips and the museum are the main focus, the cultural and waterside landscape takes centre stage. Anyone wishing to use the Heart of the Forest Trail should take the changing surfaces and possible wet conditions after rain into account when planning. For a more active stay, the activities described at CONKERS can be included as individual outings. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to the character of your planned trip while retaining enough flexibility for a range of experiences.

Discover More Places

If you would like to compare other destinations alongside Moira, you can also include Knipton, Great Glen, Appleby Magna, Ashby De La Zouch, Earl Shilton, Kirkby Mallory, Rothley and Shepshed in your further search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Leicestershire.