Ashmel one

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I walked this route Melbourne to Ashby on a bright but cold day. A good country walk so stiles, cattle perhaps, sheep certainly, mud some, no serious hills. Possibility of refreshments at Calke. Sorry no pictures today, I forgot to charge the camera battery.

The exit from Melbourne is quickly into countryside but the road may be slightly more direct and also has some interest. The name Thomas Cook may have left the high streets but it's still remembered here.

Passing the old mill tower the correct line of the footpath is ignored by all including the landowner who has posted notices 'keep to the path' on the line of poles, so follow the crowd. Broadstone Holt is shown as access land but signs say private. Can't complain about the wide footpath, perhaps that's the tradeoff.

Well walked at White Leys but not quite on line, but this is Derbyshire. Now into Calke and an invite to make a donation should you wish or stick to the public path for free. There are some seats here. I got it wrong although the sign was misleading suggesting I climb to the car park, wrong. See map, stay by the lakeside but even here available paths don't quite match what is shown as definitive.

It is pleasant through the park but only a glimpse of the house if you stay public. I was early so it was nice to have the place to myself. Some photogenic calves posed for me but the battery said, no. Hitting the road there is another refreshment opportunity at Tollgate Brewery Tap, well worth a bit of road walking to visit.

The embankment at Heath End was the Ticknall tramway but the link is a scramble so best use this short section of road. Heath End once had an Inn, The Saracen’s Head, now a private house and the footpath to it has been diverted.

The countryside across Old Parks continues to delight with lots of sheep grazed pasture until crossing the deep gouge of Black Ditches after which a short section of rather muddy fenced path is encountered. Marked as Access land but not accessible.

A misplaced waymark post and stile tempted me into Alistair's Wood, wrong. So a prompt backtrack and onward to cross the Ashby bypass. From here it goes downhill, scenic wise, with a distribution centre on the east and houses about to be built on the west.

This is generally a very good walk so I'm happy to ignore the less interesting bits and give it the full five stars.

A pleasant and easy to follow route. I started from Ashby. There is a section of the footpath in Ashby which passes through a heavy goods yard. As a consequence, the footpath entrance needed to be found down the side of a lorry. Leicestershire, as a county does a great job of marking footpaths. The first section is following the Cross Britain and Ivanhoe paths simultaneously. A series of holloways lead to farmland which was mainly populated with sheep. The only badly signed section was just before reaching Heath End Farm. If you are following an app (or your map) this shouldn't be a problem. We were distracted by conversation and soon retraced our steps. Beyond Heath End, as you enter Derbyshire, Ashmel turns left and follows a route through a series of fields rather than continuing with the lane (there is a path running parallel which would keep you offroad). It runs along a series of footpaths through Calke Abbey, a National Trust property and then beyond to the outskirts of Melbourne. The Calke section was my favourite part, passing some of the largest trees I've ever seen in Britain. My one criticism of the route is that it offers no refreshment stops. Had we stayed with the National Forest Way I suspect we would have passed the Calke Abbey cafe, although I can not be sure, nor can I be sure as non-NT members that we would have been allowed to use it. There was a section of the path route White Leys where the footpath no longer but there was an obvious workaround and it didn't really inconvenience us. The final section into Melbourne involves crossing a couple of roads where particular care is needed but I would describe neither as unsafe. Melbourne is a charming, thriving town and offers many food and drink options (as does Ashby). Safe, direct, easy to follow but with no stopping points offering services. Four stars.

A very good route. I have walked it many times. A bit difficult to find the Public Right of Way through Calke Park (before the Ponds) but as long as you stick it you won't be charged by the National Trust (£8:00)! The section through Old Parks on the National Forest Way/Ivanhoe Way (north of Ashby) can be very muddy in winter. Melbourne is a lovely historic town with pubs, cafes, shops and accommodation.

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