Melbor two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Melbor here.

I walked this route from Borrowash in January. I had already walked from Derby along Derbor2, and returned to Derby on the hourly bus from Melbourne. It made for a good circular expedition.
Leaving Borrowash, we start on the pavement of a residential street. Once the former canal is crossed the pavement continues over the river bridge. Then we cross the road and take to the river bank. A good path follows the flood bank on the south side of the river Derwent (signed the Derwent Valley Heritage Way (DVHW)). Before long the DVHW is signposted away from the river to meet tarmac at Ambaston. This section was frozen (fortunately) it would be wet and muddy after heavy rain or when the river is in flood. There is a short section of road through Ambaston before we levave the DVHW and take a footpath through the sand-quarry workings and pass along the drive from Bellington farm to eventually emerge on the side of the B5010. Across the road and across fields towards Aston on Trent. The construction of the A50 has disrupted the path network here and we are diverted eastwards before climbing steep steps onto the road bridge over the dual carriageway. South of the bridge a footpath leads eastward and emerges in to the village of Aston-on-Trent (refreshments).
Leaving the village, we pick up a farm lane southwards through farmland and reach the Trent and Mersey Canal at Weston Grange. There is a 2 mile stretch along the towpath. Good views here and various features of interest. After passing under the iron railway bridge we take a sharp left turn to join the tarmac surface of the cycle route. After three-quarters of a mile we climb away from the railway path and enter the village of Kings Newton (I chose not to cut the corner on muddy field paths, but walked a little further round the roads). There are some interesting buildings here and refreshments are available. It is then roads all the way to the Melbourne hub in the market place.

I thoroughly enjoyed this route. Mixed surfaces, plenty of visual interest and enough route finding decisions to keep you thinking. Highly recommended.

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