Dermel one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 83.33% of reviewers

Walked from Melbourne to Derby. Mostly good, and surprisingly green, but I agree with Ken that the route out of Derby bus station could be better, and with David that most of the facilities close to the route are not visible from it. I did leave the route to check what was nearby on a couple of places, and there is a new looking Aldi store right next to it north of Harvey Road. There are also plenty of benches for those who want to carry their supplies.

From the meeting point at the bus shelter in Melbourne, we head north on pavements onto Packhorse Road, then take the path right by the churchyard. A stile takes us into the churchyard and we follow the footpath through new houses to Kings Newton Main Street. We cross to the field path beyond, which is a little muddy in places and has a couple of stiles, following it right to emerge on Trent Lane just before the old railway bridge, where a good surfaced track takes us onto the Cloud Trail, an NCN cycletrack that takes us most of the way into Derby.

We cross the Trent on the railway viaduct (which I was grateful for as there were a lot of flooded fields near and by the river), then branch left onto the towpath of the Trent and Mersey canal. This section of towpath is well surfaced. Having crosses under the A514 and the Castle Donington goods railway line, we take the lane right at Swarkestone lock, following the Cloud Trail cycletrack along the path of the Derby canal. This section is mostly waterless, but the track is well surfaced and easy.

There is a pelican crossing at Infinity Park Way. Here I took the opportunity to see what shops were in the vicinity, and found a OneStop food shop behind the chip shop by the second roundabout. There are other shops in this area, but they are not directly visible from the cycletrack. Rejoining the track, we follow it between houses and fields and along a green strip between houses to Derby Road/Chellaston Road. Our route follows the old canal line under the bridge, but there is a pub (New Bridge Inn) a short distance left along Derby Road and a Co-Op a little further.

We continue along the cycle track across Boulton Lane to Brackens Lane, beyond which there is a short section along a residential road with a pavement. At Harvey Road we cross using a pelican crossing. There is a garage with a shop just to the right and an Aldi supermarket right next to the path by the garage. The track continues, crossing a bridge under London Road and meandering into Alvaston Park, which takes us to the Derwent. We then follow the riverside path/cycletrack left. Beyond the railway bridge we cross a footbridge over a side stream. I followed the GPX line left here, which means crossing the A601 using pelican crossings. There would normally be a pedestrian route by the car park by the bus station, but this area is currently coned off for building work, so if using the route literally the best thing is to cross to the right hand end of the bus station then walk through the bus station.

There are two better alternatives for this final section, one is to leave the riverside path at the railway bridge and head down Siddals Road, or (slightly longer but free of road crossings) stay by the river under Holmes Bridge and follow the Boulevard to the meeting point by the bus station. I don't think either of these is a big enough change to justify a new route, but for me the choice of route into the bus station denies the whole route what would otherwise be five star status.

I walked this route from Derby. Access to the river bank from the Morledge is a pedestrian street. The riverbank section is enjoyable. The section through Alvaston Park was scenic and well used (school holidays !). Then onto the line of the Derby Canal, which provides a nice green line through the outer housing estates. Trent and Mersey towpath (newly tarmacked) and then the old railway to the outskirts of Melbourne. The couple of footpaths cut the corner effectively, and then quiet pavements to the centre. A thoroughly enjoyable route nearly all on surfaced cycleways.

Starting from Melbourne I found this a really charming Slow Way at first. Melbourne itself is pretty and a good combination of pavement and then footpath gets you into the countryside. It's a good opportunity to look ahead to where you are going, as from the hill you can see Derby in the distance. For a while you are following the old Derby to Ashby railway line and as it crosses the Trent Valley, including the Trent itself you get a great sense of space from the firm path. The next section is along the Trent and Mersey Canal, including a section near Swarkestone, Swarkestone Bridge being the furthest southern advance of the Jacobite Army under Bonnie Prince Charlie. You soon leave the Trent and Mersey Canal to join the route of the old Derby Canal. This walkway takes you right through Derby to the River Derwent, a short section of which you follow to the meeting place by Derby Bus Station. Until I got into Derby I was set to give this walk 5 stars. The walk from Chellaston, following the Cloud Trail, is a marvel in that you only need to cross a couple of roads and don't actually share space with cars at all. It's relaxing, really easy to follow, and popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. The problem is that in the 14km of this route between central Melbourne and central Derby you do not pass one single pub, cafe or shop. I think there would be a better, cleverer version of this route that incorporates a pub or shop somewhere in the south of the city. The section that passes near the bus station is not the most pedestrian friendly but was navigable. Overall though, a nice walk, as long as you bring your own refreshments!.

This is nearly all cycle route so mostly good surfaced paths. The towpath section is a bit narrow and the footpath section at the Melbourne end does have stiles but could be avoided. The route to or from Derby bus station is not the best so use Morledge under the car park, or Derbor off road route.

From Melbourne the old railway section offer a pleasant crossing of the Trent. The Trent and Mersey canal towpath is followed to Swarkestone then along the long infilled Derby canal now a continuation of the cycle route, this is a wide surfaced path and well used. North of London Road where you could leave and follow the road into Derby, the track enters the well kept Alveston Park before the cycle track meets Derbor and the Derwent Valley Heritage Way to follow the river side cycle path into Derby. A good route easy to follow and felt safe.

This is a pleasant route from Melbourne to Chellaston where it follows village and rural footpaths then a disused railway line and the canal tow path. Beyond Chellaston it follows the old Derby Canal cycle path. Some areas nearer the city centre are not particularly pleasant. Can't think of any good routes at present to access Derby city centre from Chellaston.

Living in Chellaston (south of Derby) I walk this route to Melbourne quite often. The old canal path takes you south to the Trent Mersey canal. Here onwards is the most scenic part of the route, although the canal path can become muddy in winter.
Leaving the canal to cross the river Trent follows an old railway line with a spectacular bridge.

The route north from Chellaston into Derby follows the old canal path. Unfortunately not so scenic, passing industrial estates and dull housing estates. However it keeps you well away from roads. The stretch through Alvaston park might need some care as a well known anti-social behaviour area. Lastly into Derby through Pride Park is scenic by the river, but be aware of Derby County FC match days as this is a very popular, busy route to the ground.

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