The Ski Slopes

Known affectionately by generations of local residents as the “Ski Slopes,” the natural hills of the Hobneys have long been one of Donisthorpe’s most treasured places for winter recreation.

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Whenever snow arrives, children and families will gather with sledges, often anything else they could find, to race down the slopes. For many residents, learning to sledge on the Hobneys is a cherished childhood memory that they later share with their own children and grandchildren.

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The importance of this tradition was recognised in 2017, when the Hobneys featured on BBC East Midlands Today as local families enjoyed sledging there. Alongside the broadcast footage, residents have contributed photographs spanning several decades, documenting successive generations using and enjoying the hills.

These photographs and memories demonstrate that recreational use of the Hobneys is not recent or occasional. The “Ski Slopes” form part of Donisthorpe’s shared identity, a place where friendships have grown, families have come together and lifelong memories have been made.

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For local people, they are far more than hills in a field. They are a landmark, a tradition and an irreplaceable part of village life.