Problems close to home!

It's amazing that you can walk over large areas of South Derbyshire rechecking the condition of paths for "Walks around Melbourne" then miss completely problems on your doorstep.

Two of these have arisen this week and both have been flagged up by other walkers as well.

1. The footpath sign on the path opposite the closed Sir Francis Burdett has gone. I think it was one of the nice old metal types like the one at the Cockshut Lane end. When I checked out the route, that looked pretty poor as well.

2. The footpath from Derby Rd to Main St Kings Newton (near the main turn to the town - see below) is also missing.

I have reported these to Derbyshire County Council using "Fixmystreet". It will be interesting to see how long it takes to get these fixed. I am not using the Derbyshire report form as in the past it has not submitted properly and all the entered data has been lost. This can be very frustrating!

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.

Breedon Circular

I spent the evening investigating the Breedon Circular - Walk number 12 in the book.

Route: Breedon Green - The Delph - Breedon Church - Squirrel Lane - Golf course - Green Lane - Golf course - Breedon Green.

Wonderful evening light at the top of Breedon Hill, an enchanted spot.

The view below was taken looking towards East Midlands Airport. I was fascinated by the closeness of farming to the airport.

I managed to scout the route down to Breedon where there were unsurprisingly no problems.

But there was a missing fingerpost on the path down to Squirrel Lane from the church (reported). The route across the golf course is fine, so is the section along the Green Lane past Park Farm.

Breedon Priory Church

The only section I haven't checked is the part of the route from Green Lane back to Breedon. This weekend's job!

Stanton-by-Bridge Paths: Eastern side

Sign at the Stanton end of the Causeway.

Looks like this sign has been clattered by a vehicle at the Stanton end of the Causeway.

Route in Google Maps - an experiment.

Route: Stanton Oak - Derby Road south - Waterworks - Pylon - Wards Lane - Stanton Barn - Hollow Farm - Causeway - path back up to Stanton east of Hollies Farm.

I took the route above to check out a few paths that sometimes have problems. It's also a pleasant and interesting stroll that takes about 40 mins at a very leisurely pace.

As it turned out the most difficult part of the walk was crossing the main road after parking close to the Turkey Oak in Stanton. Turning into the track by the Waterworks I spotted an old footpath sign in the trees which had become engulfed in branches. The marker on the stile opposite had gone. The path moves uphill skirting a wood on your left until you reach a stile by an electricity pylon where you turn left. At this point there is a new byway notice prohibiting the driving of motorcycles - no doubt a problem here. The first property on the left always seems to house some very noisy dogs.

Walking down to Stanton Barn you spot a quarry on your left. I am always surprised how quiet and rural it is here considering you are not too far from the Causeway. The track leads back to the Causeway past a timbered house, yards and a small holding.

Crossing the busy main road again the path is not clear as the finger post has been clattered (above). The route then winds back to Stanton passing very close to well tendered gardens and greenhouses.

Swarkestone Massey's Bridge Footpath

Footpath from Massey's Bridge to Swarkestone Church (Swarkestone FP4).

After being unwalkable for some time due to a dense crop, the path is now open again and is clearly marked.

Dimminsdale Circular

View of Staunton Harold through the Deer Park wall close to the Dimminsdale car park.
Route: Dimminsdale car park (Severn Trent) - Dimminsdale - Heath End -Staunton Harold - Permissive path - Deer Park wall - Dimminsdale car park. 4.3 km. Walk 11 in the book.

Lots of recent work in Dimminsdale - new boardwalks and bridges - has made this route easier to walk in damp weather. The route through Heath End is clear as the book leads you down the main vehicle access to Heath End's vernacular buildings. Leicestershire CC has installed several new Centrewire metal swing gates along the route (below).

Looking towards cottages at Staunton Harold

The path from Heath End to Staunton Harold was rather squelchy. The posted bulletin from John Blunt (owner of Staunton Harold) was amusing as usual. Look out for it on the noticeboard opposite the Ferrers Centre. Staunton Harold as always was a "picture" with its wonderful lawns for public use.

The only anomaly that occured to me on the walk was the spelling of Keith's Clump (as it appears in the book). The sign provided by the Staunton Harold estate reads Keiths's Clump. Is this a misplaced apostrophe or have we made a mistake?

New bridge at Dimminsdale

Heath End - Sign to nowhere

The above sign can be seen by the side of the track to Heath End passing by the long closed and lamented Saracens Head PH.

The track is not very clear and a bit forbidding to walk as you pass in front of what is now a private house with a "grand" drive and posh gate.

I hope that Leicstershire County Council Rights of Way officers (who are excellent) will improve the marking here and reposition the sign in the correct direction and chop down the offending foliage.