Meloak three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Meloak here.

This is mostly quite a pretty route, and is not much longer than MELOAK 2. The main difference is that includes Burrough Hill, an iron age hillfort with excellent views. There is some road walking which requires a little care. There is also a short steep climb up to the fort, and a few short slightly overgrown sections, but I managed it in shorts without any stings or serious scratches. There are also a couple of large fields where the path line is not clear and navigation requires care. The other highlight for me was a section of the path between Somerby and Cold Overton which runs through a semi-wild area of long grass between a stream and a wood, which makes an excellent habitat for butterflies and damselflies.

From Melton, we head down Burton Street and cross the railway, then follow Ankle Hill and Sandy Lane to the edge of the town, continuing on the quiet single track Sandy Lane (national speed limit, but no sane driver would go very fast) beyond. More roughly surfaced lanes take us to Burrough Lane. In theory there is a right of way straight across, but this involves crossing a locked gate, so when drawing the route I opted for the easier path to the right that follows the edge of the field. Further up the path is a little overgrown, but once out of the wood we are in access land, so you can take any line you like up the steep slope right to reach the Burrough Hill fort. Some may wish to walk all the way round, but I opted for turning left past the trig point, then following the popular track to the car park, where there are picnic tables and public toilets.

The road onwards to Somerby has verges which can be used if necessary, but I found it more comfortable to walk on the road and had no issues with the level of traffic. Somerby boasts the local Camra branch's 2023 pub of the year (the Stilton Cheese), but sadly I didn't have time to sample it. There is also a small village shop. Beyond the village we take the field path to Cold Overton, which is not too difficult to follow, though at one point a degree of confidence is required to enter a farmyard, and it has a number of stiles. Eventually we cross a small wood and head up an open grass slope to reach the village.

The path beyond is not well signposted, and you could easily miss the stile if not looking for it. Further on our path tends left down the hill, so don't be tempted by the footpath marker pole straight ahead which belongs to another path. We cross the road and another large pasture, and beyond the paths through arable fields are well marked. The rest of the route is an easy walk down Cold Overton Road and a simple street walk through Oakham to the meeting point in the market place.

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