KeyworthMelton Mowbray

Keymel three
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By Hugh Hudson on 12 Jan 2023


Distance

25km/16mi

Ascent

377m

Descent

372m

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Description

This is a compromise route that is far from perfect, as there are no perfect routes in much of this area. The two main problems that a route designer faces are the A46, which has a very limited number of safe crossing points (which for me do not include the one used in KEYMEL 1 which has no bridge) and the shortage of good paths out of the north to west sides of Melton Mowbray. So this route is significantly shorter than KEYMEL 2, and safer than KEYMEL 1.

This does not mean it is an easy walk - there are plenty of field paths, stiles that may challenge the less agile, and plenty of wet and muddy ground in winter, and in places the lines across fields are not clearly marked, and some may feel that the Welby Lane approach to Melton is a little unsafe because it has no pavement, but having tried them, the alternatives are no better, and have their own problems. I walked this route in wet winter conditions, so I know it can be done, but I can't give it an unconditional recommendation.

There are a few places where my GPX line deviates from the rights of way on the map - these all reflect what the signposted routes do on the ground (and in one case the only easy way through a wood), and the path through the east side of Wysall has been formally diverted for a new building development. There are a few more places where the trodden lines stay closer to field boundaries than the rights of way, but where these are minor I have stuck to the right of way lines.

[Apologies for the confusing title of the GPX file - my bus route back from Melton was through Loughborough and I put Loughborough instead of Melton without thinking when creating it, and I can't update it now it is uploaded.]

This is a compromise route that is far from perfect, as there are no perfect routes in much of this area. The two main problems that a route designer faces are the A46, which has a very limited number of safe crossing points (which for me do not include the one used in KEYMEL 1 which has no bridge) and the shortage of good paths out of the north to west sides of Melton Mowbray. So this route is significantly shorter than KEYMEL 2, and safer than KEYMEL 1.

This does not mean it is an easy walk - there are plenty of field paths, stiles that may challenge the less agile, and plenty of wet and muddy ground in winter, and in places the lines across fields are not clearly marked, and some may feel that the Welby Lane approach to Melton is a little unsafe because it has no pavement, but having tried them, the alternatives are no better, and have their own problems. I walked this route in wet winter conditions, so I know it can be done, but I can't give it an unconditional recommendation.

There are a few places where my GPX line deviates from the rights of way on the map - these all reflect what the signposted routes do on the ground (and in one case the only easy way through a wood), and the path through the east side of Wysall has been formally diverted for a new building development. There are a few more places where the trodden lines stay closer to field boundaries than the rights of way, but where these are minor I have stuck to the right of way lines.

[Apologies for the confusing title of the GPX file - my bus route back from Melton was through Loughborough and I put Loughborough instead of Melton without thinking when creating it, and I can't update it now it is uploaded.]

Status

This route has been reviewed by 1 person.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Keymel three

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Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 1

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (1)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 1

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 4X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Maybe present Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Maybe present Vegan restaurant (1)
Present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Maybe present Campsite (1)
Maybe present Bothy (1)
Maybe present Free wifi (1)
Maybe present Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Not present at time of survey Train station (1)
Present at time of survey Bench (1)
Maybe present Picnic table (1)
Present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Maybe present Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Maybe present Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Not present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Gates (1)
Present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 30.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient East: no data

The steepest uphill gradient West: no data

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

5.0% of the route is on roads (1)

3.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

10.0% of the route is paved (1)

20.0% of the route is muddy (1)

5.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

5.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

4X January 2023 by Hugh Hudson
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Keyworth
Grid Ref SK6181631159
Lat / Lon 52.87439° / -1.08301°
Easting / Northing 461,816E / 331,160N
What3Words debate.inches.dispenser
Melton Mowbray
Grid Ref SK7527519116
Lat / Lon 52.76443° / -0.88585°
Easting / Northing 475,275E / 319,116N
What3Words liner.pulse.libraries

Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.

review


Hugh Hudson

12 Jan 2023 Winter

Walked from Keyworth to Melton Mowbray on a mostly fine winter day after a lot of rainy days. No major show stoppers, but it is quite a tough walk with quite a lot of rough and slippery ground, awkward stiles and places where the correct lines across fields are not well marked. Overall I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who can handle the more challenging sections.

The route from Keyworth to Wysall is shared with LOUKEY 2. From the Keyworth meeting point we head west up Church Drive, take the path left beyond the school field that leads to the park and Elm Avenue, then follow Selby Lane and Main Street, going straight on down Lings Lane where the road turns right and becomes Wysall Lane. Just before the bridleway forks, follow the footpath sign right past a pool and through a series of fields and across Fairham Brook and a rather curious overgrown old lane to reach Wysall through Tuckwood Court.

We turn right onto Widmerpool Road, and take the footpath lwft past a building site (note that this path is now further west than the right of way line on the OS map). This leads past a garden and a field to a T junction of paths where we go left. The field path is not always marked on the ground, but navigation is not difficult. It crosses Kingston Brook and takes a shortcut over a small hill, then crosses the brook again to join the path from Widmerpool. We continue alongside the brook across more fields and stiles, and eventually cross a large field upwards to the left to reach West Thorpe, where we go left a short distance and take the field path right that leads to Willoughby Church (part of this path was under several inches of unavoidable water when I walked it). The bridge across the brook has a few steps. Beyond the churchyard we follow Church Lane right then left to pick up a surfaced path that leads to another Church Lane. Our route takes another surfaced field path, the main branch of which heads left to a park - our route goes down a narrow slightly overgrown older path from the corner. We turn right at Widmerpool Lane and left along Main Street, which we follow around a long right turn to find the signposted bridlepath along Bryans Lane. Our path soon leaves the bridleway to head right over a rather dilapidated stile and another small field to a large field (usually full of sheep in summer) which we cross diagonally to join Back Lane. This road has no pavement but does have wide carriageways and verges, so I had no safety concerns about walking on it. We take the right branch over the A46 bridge.

On the far side, we pass a go-karting centre and continue along Station Road. The path right has no fingerpost and the small footpath marker could easily be missed. The path crosses fields on a fairly well marked line, but the final field before Nottingham Lane has a couple of challenges - the right of way line crosses a drainage ditch on a small plank bridge but the exit from the field is slightly further south/uphill than the OS map would suggest, and involves a slightly awkward overgrown stile. We head right up the hill, then left along Longcliff Hill and right down Debdale Hill, a gated road that leads steeply down into Old Dalby to emerge at the Crown Inn.

Our route takes a surfaced path right just before the inn which passes the pub garden and emerges on Chapel Lane. We turn left and follow the lane to the junction with Main Road (noting the bench and village sign. We continue a short distance along Main Road and turn right onto a narrow path between garden fences that reaches Paradise Lane down a short flight of steps. We go left and find the field path right and crosses fields to join a track that leads up the hill. The OS map suggests that the right of way deviates from this track in places but it is easier just to stay on it all the way up to Six Hills Lane.

Here we go left a short distance then follow the footpath right. This stays on the east side of the hedge and crosses a gate tied with string. Our route follows a line of trees into a wood, where the path is fairly clear but does not take the straight line suggested by the right of way line - it does follow the black footpath on the OS map around the edge of the wood (in one place a partly fallen tree creates a chest high obstacle that taller walkers may find awkward. On emerging from the wood we cross the field and take the path that goes through the garden on the right hand side of the farmhouse to join the lane. A short distance further we take the signposted path right which follows the edges of fields. The final field is awkward - a large clayfield which has no marked line across it in winter (I have done this path at other times of year and there is sometimes a more visible line). Other walkers seem to have followed the right hand edge of the field all the way round, which adds distance. One way or another, you should emerge at the corner of Ostler Lane just to the right of the house. We follow the lane right to the T junction in Saxelbye, where we turn left and follow the road out of the village to another T junction where we go left again onto Saxelby Road. Beyond the first set of farm buildings the signposted bridleway goes right, then crosses more clayfields to emerge on a semi-surfaced road which emerges on the road opposite the electric substation (or subtation according to the sign).

We go left a short distance then right down Welby Lane, which is narrow and has no pavement but is fairly quiet. This emerges at a T junction by the industrial estate where we cross and follow the pavement left up the hill. Our route takes the shortest road route into Melton, but this involves two roads that lack pavements (anyone nervous about this may prefer the less direct line staying on St Bartholomews Way). We follow Welby Lane right and then left, noting the private path reserved for MoD personnel that runs parallel to the road. Beyond the junction with James Lambert Drive there is a pavement on the left (north) side of our road. Lower down we cross to the right hand side and follow this down to Nottingham Road, which can be crossed on a pelican crossing just right/south of Welby Lane. We follow Nottingham Road as far as the junction with Norman Way, which is crossed on three more pelican crossings, some of which are slow to respond. Beyond this crossing the route down through the market place is obvious.

Overall I enjoyed this walk, but it is not one to be undertaken lightly as it is quite long and is definitely not suitable for any wheeled transport or for anyone who has trouble with constrained stiles. In my opinion it is still the best of the three KEYMEL routes and it is difficult to see how it could be improved much.


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Other Routes for Keyworth—Melton Mowbray See all Slow Ways

Keyworth—Melton Mowbray

Keymel one

Distance

25km/15mi

Ascent

326 m

Descent

329 m

Keyworth—Melton Mowbray

Keymel two

Distance

27km/17mi

Ascent

345 m

Descent

349 m

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