Keymel three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Keymel here.

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.]