Anchor Church Circular

Route: Foremarke Hall drive (park on the verge by HGV entrance) - Anchor Church - Ingleby - John Thompson Inn - Ingleby to Foremarke Rd path (the "blue gates" path) - bit of road walking back.

This includes part of walk 8 in "Walks around Melbourne".

Anchor Church - beautiful setting
A lovely autumn day tempted me to revisit Anchor Church at Ingleby and I was not disappointed. I parked on the wide verge by the HGV entrance to Repton Prep school at Foremarke. Ignore the path opposite and head along the road to Ticknall. After a 100 metres take a path on your left which crosses a field to some metal structures by the side of the track. The path now heads straight ahead towards Anchor Church with a cliff face on your right. Over a curious metal stile and you have reached the intriguing caves which contain the Anchor Church. A steep climb up from the caves takes you to a great view of the ox-bowed Trent. Soon you spot Barrow-on-Trent church on the left bank and then the hamlet of Ingleby ahead.


Metal stile leading to Anchor Church caves
Look out for the llama farm and then follow the road (left) into Ingleby. Lots of recent building here with many barn conversions.

Ingleby hamlet with llama farm in foreground
Make sure you see the village well cut into a small cliff opposite Well cottage.


The well at Ingleby
The only problem on the walk so far was spotted in the field, on the right, leading to Ingleby Toft just short of the John Thompson (not on this walk). The farmer here usually doesn't bother to return the path after ploughing without pressure.
After refreshment in the excellent John Thompson Inn retrace your steps to the footpath that came down from the ridge above the Anchor Church. At the top of the first field take the left hand path (you came down the right hand one). This bridleway was new to me and absolutely delightful. Half way along the path you meet a series of sturdy blue metal gates. The last one is on the Ingleby to Milton road.


Looking down the “blue gates path” to the first blue gate
Less than one kilometre of road walking takes you back to the starting place. Not a true circular walk and not the best walk around here but very enjoyable nevertheless!

Calke to Smisby and back

Route: Staunton Lane - Southwood House - Heath Farm - Pisternhill Plantation - Harry's Wood - Forties Lane - Smisby - Pisternhill Farm East - Wicket Nook - South Wood - Heath End Farm - Calke Estate.

Today we walked a large chunk of the Ticknall to Smisby circular (Walk 9). We started on Staunton Lane Calke close to Standley's Barn and Southwood House where there is a roomy parking spot on a bend. The route was clear all the way to the top of the Pisternhills. The weather became cloudier as we progressed uphill but it was dry and reasonably warm. The path from the ridge top to the main Ticknall to Ashby Road was clear except for the last hundred metres where ploughing has destroyed it (below).


The path should run across this ploughed field - top to bottom.

The rest of the route to Smisby was uneventful though I always enjoy walking down the sunken part of Forties Lane. After a pint (decent Fullers London Pride) and a lunchtime snack at the Smisby Arms we headed back to Calke. The next stage of the walk had several problems.


Missing finger post on the Ticknall-Ashby Road - SK351193

Firstly the signpost was damaged on the main road (above) and then the path along the side of the field was very overgrown and difficult to walk. Worse still, the path across the field, lower down, was nearly impossible to walk being completely cropped with potatoes.

Field in crop with potatoes near Pisternhill Farm - SK353193.
Impossible walking.

The route from Pisternhills onwards was fine. Wicket Nook is a wonderful spot as is the approach to Heath End Farm.


Missing fingerpost Calke Estate - SK359217

The only blot on the final part of the walk was a missing finger post at the junction of Staunton Lane. I am pretty sure that I have reported this already.

Melbourne FP 12 problem again!

Click to enlarge - the path should run by the small farm building.

No sign of Melbourne FP 12 but there is a strong crop growing through. The field was ploughed well over a month ago and once again has not been put back in.

I think we need some action here.

Weston on Trent Circular - Walk 10

This walk from Melbourne to Weston is very easy to follow and is almost entirely on the flat. It is mostly on well made paths.

The only place where you can get lost is at the far end of the lake opposite the Coopers in Weston.

This sign (left) is in a hedge and has never been easy to spot but now is even more difficult to see since the circular markers have been torn off. A dob of fluorescent or yellow paint might help as well!

The highlight on this walk for me is the section above the Trent close to the Parish Church. The path winds down a sloping path after passing an old pub (?).

Magical at any time of the year.