Swaash one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Swaash here.

It would appear that this poorly plotted route is fairly easy to follow Swadlincote to Ashby. I walked the other direction and had problems so can't verify this route. I offer Swaash two which is the same route but with improved plotting.

I walked this route Ashby to Swadlincote on a crisp dry day. Following two other reviews I had hoped to snail the route but the poor plotting when walked east to west proved a need to fail it.

It starts well in Ashby and the link to leave the main road was known and found with ease. The paths through the new build are evident on the ground so easy to find and walk as far as Blackfordby. Here an inn will offer refreshments when it's open and newly installed colourful covid memorial seats offer a perch for weary legs.

The sign 'To the school' fails to mention that it's also a public footpath then it's a bit messy but much improved on my last visit in 2014. The difficulty with poor plotting at Woodville is added to by my Garmin which only has the OS 1:50,000 mapping and a path diversion around an expanded factory then a mass of paths through Swadlincote Woodlands. All very nice and off road but a challenge to follow.

Finally, pressure to catch the bus back to Ashby spoilt a walk that started very well. I offer Swadash-2 which uses the same route but an improved plot should make navigation easier.

The first thing I noticed when starting this thoroughly enjoyable walk was that the plotting is out, as if the route was submitted when the plotter was not zoomed in properly in the OS app. As it turns out, at no stage do you not know where to go so it isn't a deal-breaker. The route starts at the bus station which is right by the town centre and then heads out through the residential streets of "Swad". It soon picks up a footpath which takes you through the edgeland landscape of Swadlincote and then Woodville incorporating alleyways, pavements and parks including the relaxing Swadlincote Woodlands. As you reach the far side of Woodville you cross the county border into Leicestershire. The route is now utterly rural. You cross rolling fields and then take a series of woodland paths to Blackfordby where there are plenty of places to sit down and a pub with a garden for refreshments. At half way this a nice option to have. From there, it is a very straight route through fields to Ashby de la Zouche. As you get to the edge of the seemingly expanding Ashby at
SK 3458 1699, 100m of the path has been closed but only temporarily. I diverted via Moira Road to get to the other end of the blockage and the path is all still there and ready to be reopened. If memory serves it is closed for four weeks from 4 June which means it should have reopened but not yet. The footpath from there is rather overgrown and clearly not often used but is passable. I can see this route being replaced by one via the new estates (not featured on my OS app!) but that's for the future to decide. The last section into Ashby is by pavement along the main road. Straight, direct with teases of the town centre before you get there. The meeting place is right in the centre on a bench by a war memorial. I only had to cross the road to get my bus back to Burton.

The route had a variety of terrain of paths, unpaved roads, fields, road. I would walk it again as it was relatively easy and pleasant. In Swadlincote the walk was more urban and got greener as you approached the national forest area/woods. I wold recommend it to other walkers but not cyclists or parents with buggy's/prams. The photos show the path is occasionally narrow although not usually for long distance.
It felt safe (my walk was at midday) but the start of the walk had some neglected looking paths/area. The route is accurate (my map reading less good) and only at the end as you left the National Forest to enter boundary of Ashby were there access issues. This should be resolved after a month by mid-July 2021.
I wish there could be diversion signs before you reach the closed off path. The final mile was therefore more road than it should have been and this made the walk a little extended. It was very easy to then catch a bus back from Ashby high street back to Swadlincote.

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