Melbourne (South Derbyshire)Coalville

Melcoa two
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Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Melcoa here.

By Ken on 25 Mar 2024


Distance

14km/9mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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Description

Perhaps it’s me or my computer. While Melcoa plotting has some excellent sections, elsewhere it offers no guidance of the route. This part of North West Leicestershire is awash with footpaths so the plot needs precision and even then there could be places where choices are too many. I hope you find this an acceptable plot and route

Perhaps it’s me or my computer. While Melcoa plotting has some excellent sections, elsewhere it offers no guidance of the route. This part of North West Leicestershire is awash with footpaths so the plot needs precision and even then there could be places where choices are too many. I hope you find this an acceptable plot and route

Status

This route has been reviewed by 2 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Melcoa two

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.


Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 2

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (2)

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 2X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles.
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.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Maybe present Vegan restaurant (1)
Maybe present Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Maybe present Free wifi (1)
Maybe present Public phone (1)
Maybe present 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)
Bus stop (0)
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)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Maybe present Long grass sections (1)
Present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Maybe present Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Maybe present Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Not 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)
Maybe present Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Free of stiles (0)
Free of single steps/kerbs (0)
Free of flights of steps (0)
Free of other obstacles (0)

Measurements

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

Narrowest part of path: no data

The steepest uphill gradient East: no data

The steepest uphill gradient West: no data

The steepest camber: no data

We don't have clear data on the waymarking (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)

5.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

2.0% of the route is paved (1)

95.0% of the route is muddy (1)

25.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

10.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

2X March 2024 by Ken
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
Grid Ref SK3862125185
Lat / Lon 52.82284° / -1.42831°
Easting / Northing 438,621E / 325,185N
What3Words backpack.bitter.coaster
Coalville
Grid Ref SK4234614425
Lat / Lon 52.72584° / -1.37442°
Easting / Northing 442,346E / 314,425N
What3Words comic.adults.racing

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

reviews


Hugh Hudson

09 May 2024 (edited 10 May 2024) Spring

Walked from Melbourne to Coalville. No major issues, but I found this pretty tough for a walk of its distance, with a lot of stiles, some constrained and awkward, and a few places where navigation is a bit tricky and quite a lot of slightly rough ground. Maybe walking towards the sun on a hot day didn't help, but at least the ground is now dry in most places.

Starting at the square in Melbourne, we go west a short distance to find the path alongside the churchyard, then follow the lane left most of the way back to the Church Street. At the last bend left, follow what looks like an access path to the right hand house and you will find a gap under the upper floor of the houses that leads to an alleyway and the main village church. Here we join the crowds (not many of those on a midweek spring morning) around the lake. Just beyond the south end of the lake we leave the well trodden track to go straight on through the fields, with a few stiles, on a path that is well marked.

We join a farm track for a while, but leave it where it turns left to cross a large pasture (some docile horned cattle here). An easy ford takes us across the stream takes us to the trodden but otherwise unmarked that leads up to Burney Lane, where we go straight across using two slightly constrained stiles. We then cross a large ploughed field with no sign of a path, aiming for the south east corner where there is a waymarker post (we are now in Leicestershire!).

We follow more field edges down through a farmyard where we join the Ivanhoe Way. A short road section is followed by a private that takes us under the busy A42 dual carriageway and on towards Worthington. Beyond a farmhouse the path is through fields, and there is a footbridge with a few steps on each side. As Ken says, the route visits a playground with a bench and passes the village shop (easily missed in this direction), then rejoins the Ivanhoe Way out of the village. In the first field, an ungrazed pasture, the best trodden path is not the right of way, so look out for the stile to the left. Beyond the road (Main Street!) the path is less well trodden. One gap where the right of way crosses a hedge is very easily missed, as from the north the waymark post is hidden by the underground. Further on we cross a large field where the farmer has hidden the waymarker indicating that the Ivanhoe Way goes straight across, but a little careful navigation reveals the way forward, past two more awkward stiles to the surprisingly busy Rempstone Road, which has a pavement on the north side.

Here we turn right, then left beyond the pub and right through a garden shed sales yard and a Christmas tree plantation. The exit from the plantation track into a garden is also easily missed, but Aqueduct Road is reached easily enough. We go left then double back right on a fairly well marked footpath. Here I forgot to look at the map and followed the wrong footpath and emerged on Lower Moor Road, and rather than retracing my steps into the garden where the junction is, I used the Chapel Lane footpath to rejoin the route. Stoney Lane is accessed through what appears to be a narrow strip of garden.

The path south from Stoney Lane starts clearly enough, but I completely lost it in an area of horse stables and parked farm vehicles and ended up taking the lane left and climbing a locked gate to reach Bakewell Lane. The George Inn offered a welcome respite from the heat. We take the path opposite which is well marked through the trees, but the straight line across the field is uncut, and the exit stile on Moor Lane is a little awkward. The field path beyond is easy to follow, but the stile by the locked gate on Limby Hall Lane is defended by a small pool of what looked and smelled like pig slurry. I used the bottom rung of the gate to avoid the worst of it.

From here all is easier, first a slightly muddy path through a wood, then quiet streets and pavements as far as the Robin Hood pub. Big Lane is a signposted cycle route (even on a bike 8 minutes to Coalville as suggested by the first sign seems optimistic). This takes us over a small hill through a gap in the woods and past a fishing lake to reach the busy Stephenson Way Coalville bypass, where there are pelican crossings at the junction. A simple pavement walk then takes us to the meeting point at the Coalville war memorial, which is conveniently placed for the bus stops.

Overall I quite enjoyed most of this walk, but I am reaching an age where I struggle with getting over constrained stiles, and this element and the hot sun made it hard work (and put paid to my original plan to continue to Ibstock).


Ken

25 Mar 2024 Spring

Some lovely countryside and a good mix of paths lots of stiles, mostly good quality but quite high. Plenty of grass fields or field edge paths but horses and cattle will be encountered. At the south end there are a few service options but not as much north of half way so the minor detour at Worthington passes a shop and then through a small play area which has a seat. Other seats may be available.

I started from Coalville, taking the road that dips under the railway. There is a link from Wolsley Road but crossing here from the steps is not recommended. Likewise use the central reservation between the Lidl and Aldi entrances to avoid crossing the car park approach roads. Lights offer a safe crossing of the next road.

The Byway starts with abuse by motorised dirt riders although they appear to be mostly on the adjoining land rather than the lane. It doesn’t last long so the lane becomes a pleasant walk through Cuckoo Gap Wood to Swannington. This was the destination of an early railway which carried coal to Leicester and broke the monopoly of the Derbyshire collieries. The Robin Hood Inn was the only service that I spotted.

The path through Walkers Wood leads to Limby Hall Lane. The next field had horses and the gateway was rather muddy but otherwise a good path. Approaching Moor Lane don’t miss the impressive windmill to the right.

At the crossing of the A512 there is another inn and a bus stop so an option to bail out or take a rest. From here to Gelsmoor there are many paths some passing through large gardens or equestrian sites. The stiles are good and yellow posts help locate them but care is needed. Another inn / restaurant on Rempstone Road then a section along this busy road which does have a good grass verge.

Taking the next path we join the Ivanhoe Way but it’s not the best maintained Leicestershire promoted route. We are now in real countryside and approaching Worthington the red worked face of Cloud Hill Quarry can be seen. If the shop and seat are not needed they can be missed as we pass through the village.

The next path has a gate, perhaps the first or last, there are a few more as we head north. The path here is well walked although all have shown signs of some use. Crossing under the A42 the next road is quite busy and fast but again has a wide verge. After passing between the buildings of Lodge Farm we leave the Ivanhoe Way and our path is to the west of the hedge. It offers a good view of the church on the hill at Breedon.

A broken stile offers a welcome into Derbyshire but the delightful valley followed by Melbourne FP 24 soon fades that memory. The path here is well used and I met my first walking explores out on this bright Sunday. As Melbourne draws close a collection of ‘things’, I can think of no other word to describe the eclectic mix of glamping shelters in ‘The Field of Dreams’. Once on the track the crowds confirm the pulling power of Melbourne’s pool. It surprises me that the landowner allowed this popular path to be added to the definitive map as a public, but they did and it’s much appreciated.


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Other Routes for Melbourne (South Derbyshire)—Coalville See all Slow Ways

Melbourne (South Derbyshire)—Coalville

Melcoa one

Distance

14km/9mi

Ascent

156 m

Descent

245 m

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