Melksham — Devizes

Meldev one
Not verified

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Meldev here.

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021

Distance

11km/7mi

Ascent

109m

Descent

19m

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So far it has been reviewed by three people and surveyed by one person and there are three issues flagged with this route.

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Melksham and Devizes.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Melksham and Devizes.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 3 people.

This route has been flagged (3 times) for reasons relating to access.

Photos for Meldev one

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 - 3

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  No (2) Maybe (1)

Problems reported -  Access (3)

Downloads - 13

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 3X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.
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)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Present at time of survey 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)
Not present at time of survey 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)
Present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Not present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Not present at time of survey Very muddy (1)
Not present at time of survey Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey 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)
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)
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)
Not 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)
Not 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)
Not 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)
Not 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 60.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 20.0% (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 10.0% (1)

The steepest camber gradient across the path 5.0% (1)

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.

Present at time of survey Small Pug-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Small Labrador-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Large St. Bernard-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard pram (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged pram (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard wheelchair (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged wheelchair (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard mobility scooter (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged mobility scooter (1)

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.

Present at time of survey Small Pug-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Small Labrador-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Large St. Bernard-sized dog (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard pram (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged pram (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard wheelchair (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged wheelchair (1)
Not present at time of survey Standard mobility scooter (1)
Not present at time of survey Off-road rugged mobility scooter (1)

Terrain

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

3.0% of the route is on roads (1)

17.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

62.0% of the route is paved (1)

5.0% of the route is muddy (1)

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

1.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

3X August 2022 by Brian
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Melksham
Grid Ref ST9045663638
Lat / Lon 51.37172° / -2.13849°
Easting / Northing 390,456E / 163,638N
What3Words amplified.diverged.digestion
Devizes
Grid Ref SU0040261483
Lat / Lon 51.35242° / -1.99561°
Easting / Northing 400,402E / 161,483N
What3Words barbarian.stop.likely

Meldev One's land is

Arable 13.4%
Pasture 54.7%
Urban 31.9%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews

Brian

11 Aug 2022 Summer
Report

Being a resident of Melksham I am fully aware of the state of the footpaths in the Melksham and surrounding areas, Wiltshire Council will NOT condemn landowners who annually flagrantly break the law by planting maize which complete blocks the network of paths. From June to October this is a no go area. Like Peter I undertook this walk yesterday from Devizes to Melksham, and the sections from Devizes, along the canal, across fields to Redstocks is fine. From Redstocks on, there was
a) a locked field gate, which I have reported on a number of occasions to Wilts Council....to no avail
b)Maize in the final two field approaching Melksham, which is IMPASSABLE.
Out side these times the landowner ploughs the fields...see Peters photos
Meldev one is the worst of the four routes
If you wish to undertake, I suggest that when you reach the kissing gate at Oakfields Football / Rugby ground, that you skirt the perimeter, with the long grass on your right, all the way round to the tarmac parking, follow this out to the by pass then continue the route from there.

Peter Cooke

10 Feb 2022 Winter
Report

I tried walking this route from Devizes to Melksham, The canal sections were fine - but the farmland sections became very problematic where some footpaths across fields were impassable due to deep ploughing across the entire field and other areas were very muddy/flooded. I needed to rely on my OS maps + GPS to pick through some fields. Having looked at the other variations for Melksham-Devizes I think that MelDev04 is the optimum one for the network as it looks like a more reliable, more accessible route.

Brian

06 May 2021 (edited 27 Jun 2023) Spring
Report

I agree with all the comments made to amend the route on Meldev two
I have slightly amended the Meldev two route to take out footpaths with stiles, and replaced with additional canal towpath.

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Overall ratings

3 reviews

0 reviews

1 reviews

0 reviews

0 reviews

2 reviews

Show all

Other Routes for Melksham—Devizes See all Slow Ways

Melksham—Devizes

Meldev two

3 X

Distance

12km/7mi

Ascent

117 m

Descent

27 m

Melksham—Devizes

Meldev three

4 X

Distance

12km/7mi

Ascent

104 m

Descent

14 m

Melksham—Devizes

Meldev four

2 Y

Distance

12km/8mi

Ascent

121 m

Descent

31 m

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