Cadley Memorial Winding Wheel

The old mining wheel at Cadley stands as a proper reminder of what this corner of Leicestershire used to be about. It's a winding wheel - the kind that hauled coal up from the depths - now preserved as a viewpoint overlooking what was once one of England's busier collieries. The thing commands a decent vantage point across the landscape, and on a clear day you can make sense of the industrial geography that shaped this area.

This is one for history types and anyone with a passing interest in mining heritage. Kids might find it interesting for ten minutes, but there's not much hands-on action here - it's more about standing and looking and thinking about what went on underground. The nearest proper town is Swadlincote, which gives you some context for the area's industrial past.

If you're based at Conkers Camping just three miles away, or one of the other local sites like Broadleaves Glamping or Peake's Retreats, you could easily combine a visit here with a longer walk around the old colliery grounds. It won't take long - half an hour maximum - but it's worth the detour if you're interested in industrial archaeology or want to understand what powered this region. Go when the weather's decent; there's not much shelter, and the view improves considerably without cloud cover.