Melbourne to Ticknall Part 2

Wonderful old sign at Riding Bank, Melbourne. Click to view large.

Route today: Melbourne - Selina St - Allotments - Recreation Ground - Riding Bank - St Brides - Robin Wood - Woodside - Ticknall. First part of Walk 7.

This morning was warm and sunny (for a change). After leaving Melbourne and passing through Riding Bank Farm the views improve immensely.

At Riding Bank an orchard has been planted containing local Newton Wonder apple trees (amongst others) and two grass landing strips for light aircraft have been cut. St Brides Farm, dating back to Norman times, still looks impressive from a distance despite the barn conversions.

St Brides from Riding Bank

The route through Robin Wood was muddy but once out of the wood the walking was easy and particularly lovely past Woodside Farm where the meadow grasses were up to my waist.

The only blot on the walk was a broken stile plank at Woodside. Luckily I knocked into the farmer who agreed to carry out repair work on it (SK359246).

Trig point, near Robin Wood, with historical information about part of the route.

Melbourne to Ticknall Part 1

Route: Melbourne - St Brides - Robin Wood - Ticknall - Lime Yards - Broadstone Lane - Derby Hills - Windmill - Melbourne - 8.3 km.

Walk 7 in the book.

Today I checked out the part of this walk which runs from Ticknall to Broadstone Lane.

I was pleased to see this splendid new plaque by the side of the Tramway Bridge in Ticknall.

The walk through the Lime Yards was quite muddy and eery especially if you are walking on your own. Part of the original route has been slightly diverted for repair work but the waymarking is clear. The scenery here never ceases to amaze with pools and rocky outcrops.

Stormy clouds over Broadstone Lane

Once out of the lime workings the path affords splendid views over Broadstone Lane. I returned to Ticknall via the latter as I had surveyed the return route to Melbourne on an earlier walk this week.

Melbourne to Woodhouses

Above: Ashby Road, Woodhouses - the site of the demolished footpath sign.

Route: Melbourne - Pool - Weir - Pool Farm - Woodhouses - Browns Field - 2.6 km.

The shortest walk (Walk 1) in the book but there were several problems.

There was a missing marker into the field north east of Pool Farm (SK389245). This field itself was being harvested (oil-seed rape). I couldn’t see evidence that there had been a route across the field recently.

There's also a missing marker at the turn to Woodhouses complex (junction of Melbourne FPs 26 and 36); I think there should be a post or disk marker here (SK385243).

Then there's the missing finger post at the junction with Ashby Road (SK383242). This was mysteriously demolished after only a couple of days existence, early on this year. A replacement is on the way, but what happened to the original?

Melbourne to Broadstone Lane

Route: Melbourne - Robinsons Hill - Windmill - Broadstone Holt - Derby Hills - Broadstone Lane - Reservoir - Calke Road - Browns Field - 5 km.

This is Walk 3 in the the "Walks Book".

It was a very easy and pleasant stroll in warm afternoon sunshine.

The views across the reservoir were stunning (above).

The only problems were loose stile planks either end of the Broadstone Holt section (SK372241).

One of the stiles can be seen at the top of the post.

Other than that a very pleasant outing.

Back in business

Purchase from Melbourne News - £5.00

Or from Amazon.co.uk

I have been away from this blog for a couple of years; busy with other ventures.

I am now hoping to keep this blog up to date as I am rewalking the walks in the Melbourne Civic Society's "Walks around Melbourne". There are 14 in total and I am hoping to walk them all by the middle of September 2009.