The Outwoods is 110 acres of ancient woodland on the edge of Loughborough, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the oldest surviving woodland patches in Charnwood. The trees are predominantly oak, birch, and alder, with some specimens old enough to have been here before the town expanded around them. The underlying geology is volcanic — the ancient lava and ash beds of Charnwood Forest, among the oldest surface rocks in England, break through in places.
A well-maintained network of paths loops through the wood, and the Charnwood Forest Geopark has installed interpretation boards explaining the geological story underfoot. The site is about 2km south of the town centre, reachable on foot along the University Road. It gets busy on fine weekends but is quiet at most other times.