Charnwood Forest - Part 2

A general view of New Cliffe Hill Quarry

Continuing our recce for the forthcoming Sheffield U3A Geology Group field trip to Charnwood Forest, Paul and I went on a short unplanned detour following the track of an old railway line that runs alongside Billa Barra Lane, before finally discovering the very muddy path that led up to the southern edge of New Cliffe Hill Quarry.

The path to New Cliffe Hill Quarry

This large quarry was opened in the 1980’s to exploit the South Charnwood diorite, once known as markfieldite, which forms one of the many intrusions into the volcaniclastic sediments of the Charnian Supergroup that are found in the region.

An information board at Cliffe Hill

Arriving at a purpose made viewing point, where there is a rather dilapidated information board, we took advantage of the seating to have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat while we reviewed the information provided by Dr. Annette McGrath’s geology guide, which was published in 2004.

A general view of New Cliffe Hill Quarry

The unconformity between the red mudstones of the Triassic Edwalton Member and dark Precambrian diorite is clearly visible in the mid distance and the sediment filled depression at the western end has been interpreted as a wadi.

A detail of the wadi

We planned to then follow the marked path around the perimeter of the quarry to obtain views of the north quarry face; however, the paths here proved impassable in places and instead we decided to head down the path towards Stanton under Bardon, where a local resident showed us the way to the village.

A detail of the Old School House

Stopping only for me to take a few photographs of the Old School House, which is built in markfieldite, we then walked up Main Street to try and find a way to the Old Cliffe Hill Quarry. Although we encountered an old interpretation board, which demonstrates that someone was once interested in highlighting the local geology, there was no obvious access to this quarry.

An information board

At the car, having done a lot of walking without seeing that much geology, we both decided that we might have to reorganise the itinerary and route on the day - to take into account places that would be suitable for a group of up to 25 people to sit and have their packed lunch - and then set off to Markfield for the second leg of the walk.

A piece of markfieldite in my rock collection