From Ashby we head west along Kilwardby Street and Moira Road, then take the short path through a gap in the hedge onto Highfield Close. This field had been ploughed, but the path line across it was already clear from boot marks so the path must be well used. Beyond the new houses we cross a farm road and enter another field, also recently ploughed, where the line was less obvious but the corner of the field made an obvious target....

Hugh Hudson

The path south of Trowell Street no longer takes the shortcut line across the field, which is now fenced off and flattened for development of some kind. From here we take a fenced path with a couple of stiles down to the fields, and a good field path takes us across to the Diamond Jubilee Wood, apparently the largest area of contiguous woodland in the National Forest. We go right a short distance along Coleorton Lane then take a very little used field path left....

Hugh Hudson

A mostly pleasant, safe and easy to follow route which I started in Ibstock. There are some amazing views from this route as you look to the west, towards Staffordshire....

David Sanderson

We meet the road and turn right along a tarmacked farm lane almost immediately, then follow the footpath sign left along the edge of the trees. We are now in very popular walking country, and we follow the main track left up the hill (right of the right of way line), and a very well cut field path takes us over the top and past a farmhouse before we take a sharp right turn on a narrower path that dips to cross a stream and climbs to a lane the other side. The path straight on towards the water tower is well marked used with obvious stiles, but does not follow the right of way line across the final field, using a straight line instead. Rather than doubling back to the water tower, we continue along the field edge to Robinson's Hill, where we turn right using the good pavement on the right hand side, then left up Ashby Road and right onto a partly surfaced field path which follows the bottom of a wood then rises to Penn Lane, where we go straight across to follow the fenced footpath into the centre of Melbourne....

Hugh Hudson

An alternative is the direct route along the pavements of Upper Packington road towards Packington. The suggested route exits the field onto Ashby Road, then almost immediately heads across the fields again, crossing Coleorton Lane and including a short walk on the grass verge along that Lane, before heading across the fields again towards Spring Lane. If the weather is not favourable, you can instead walk into Packington (where there is a good farm shop at the Northern end of the High Street), and out along Spring Lane....

davej-ashby

The path, interrupted by a short section of quiet road, takes us to the National Forest Way, which is on a wide track here, which we follow left over the Sence and up the hill beyond to reach Heather Lane, where we stay on the National Forest Way and turn left. The path into Normanton is direct and fairly well trodden but has a number of stiles, which is probably why the National Forest Way stays on the quiet road. Vicarage Lane leads us over the A42, and beyond we leave the National Forest Way to take a shorter route that starts on a path then joins Packington Nook Lane....

Hugh Hudson

I walked from Ashby and the route to Packington is great to link the settlements for all users. The definitive path and the plot might follow hedges now removed, so a straight line is best walked and may be marked out on the ground. Again approaching Normanton le Heath the lightly walked path may be off plot but as usual in Leicestershire yellow topped posts offer guidance. We leave the byway and avoid passing the loo block the other side of the hedge, so look out for it if it’s needed, don’t hold on hoping there’s one at the walk end....

Ken

We eventually reach Measham Road, where it is possible to stay off the road on a path to the right, then take the diagonal path across the fields, then follow Babelake Street into Packington village, going straight on at the crossroads onto Mill Street. Note that beyond the bridge over the brook, the well trodden path takes a shorter diagonal further left than the right of way line (and further from the road noise). We cross more fields to reach Lower Packington Road, which has a pavement on the far side which we follow left around the corner, then take an alleyway path onto Cambrian Way....

Hugh Hudson

This is a good direct route.Tracks and arable fields with asmall amount of safe pavement walking form the route which is generally straightforward to follow.There is plenty of evidence of past industrial activity,Ravenstone has some interesting buildings and history (hospital lane area)No access or obstruction issues,reasonable public transport links at either end....

J w ollid

A short pavement walk and a safe road crossing lead into the village where Main Street has interesting houses. We left the road to take an invisible cross field path, this misses Packington but a visit to the village would be a road walk. The approach to Ashby is along the road then onto the wide footpath, Mount Walk with views of the castle remains....

Ken

Nice Pics !...

John Johnson

A really enjoyable route, mainly following footpaths across fields in open countryside. There was a brief bit of on road walking on the open Measham Road that I think can be avoided by a section of fenced in path, but it is a trifle....

David Sanderson

As Ken pointed out, the footpath is marked as being for the school, as if it isn't a through route but it's what you need to take. You walk down a series of steps to get to the footpath which takes you across a field and out of Leicestershire. The route takes you around the centre via a series of main roads to the meeting place at the bus station, it's a shame you don't get to see the High Street, although that isn't far if you need anything....

David Sanderson

Passing the old mill tower the correct line of the footpath is ignored by all including the landowner who has posted notices 'keep to the path' on the line of poles, so follow the crowd. Well walked at White Leys but not quite on line, but this is Derbyshire. The embankment at Heath End was the Ticknall tramway but the link is a scramble so best use this short section of road. Heath End once had an Inn, The Saracen’s Head, now a private house and the footpath to it has been diverted. The countryside across Old Parks continues to delight with lots of sheep grazed pasture until crossing the deep gouge of Black Ditches after which a short section of rather muddy fenced path is encountered....

Ken

Cutting across to Leicester Road the route soon enters pleasant grassy fields grazed by sheep. After crossing the next road the farming becomes arable but the path is well walked and easy to locate. A narrow permissive path avoid a short section of road but the verges are wide so take your pick. The next short section alongside the road is narrow and muddy but I didn't feel the route as a whole should be marked down for this. Entering the current edge of Ashby at Mill Farm the route needs care to navigate but takes you along quiet estate roads and linking footpaths to a hidden bridge under the railway into Bath Grounds, once home to the Ivanhoe Spa, now a green open space....

Ken

It would appear that this poorly plotted route is fairly easy to follow Swadlincote to Ashby. 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....

Ken

I walked this route Ashby to Swadlincote on a crisp dry day. Following two other reviews of swaash-1 I had hoped to snail that route but the poor plotting when walked east to west proved a need to fail it....

Ken

There is a section of the footpath in Ashby which passes through a heavy goods yard. Beyond Heath End, as you enter Derbyshire, Ashmel turns left and follows a route through a series of fields rather than continuing with the lane (there is a path running parallel which would keep you offroad). It runs along a series of footpaths through Calke Abbey, a National Trust property and then beyond to the outskirts of Melbourne. There was a section of the path route White Leys where the footpath no longer but there was an obvious workaround and it didn't really inconvenience us....

David Sanderson

This is a diversion to avoid the grassy roadside verges of Alton Hill, but the 'purple line' in some places does not correspond to actual footpaths, and the footpaths that are there are not well maintained (long grass, damp on the September day that I followed the trail). Overall, on the way back to Ashby I was much happier to walk along the Alton Hill verge!. 2) The exit from Corkscrew Lane is not where the purple line is on the map. There are a couple of places in that stretch where we can enter the wood, though, and there are tracks through the wood, which roughly follow the purple line. I eventually navigated through this and found myself walking beside the Alton Hill road, just the other side of a tall hedge. I would recommend you look at a map before walking this section.. 3) The purple line crosses the Alton Hill road at a point where there are 'beware pipeline' markings on both sides of the road. There is no proper hole in the hedge on the north side of the road here! The sensible exit seems to be a gate that can be climbed, a little further up the road towards Ashby. Then walk down the road to get back to the pipeline warning signs, where there is another fence on the south side that can be climbed to get away from the road.....

davej-ashby

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. The route starts at the bus station which is right by the town centre and then heads out through the residential streets of "Swad". From there, it is a very straight route through fields to Ashby de la Zouche....

David Sanderson

In Swadlincote the walk was more urban and got greener as you approached the national forest area/woods. It felt safe (my walk was at midday) but the start of the walk had some neglected looking paths/area....

[email protected]

The cross-field route from Redburrow Lane to Normanton Le Heath follows a footpath down to a field of cows, but then the path seems to disappear. Having passed through the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee wood, the route heads directly for Ravenstone Road, and then follows this for a few hundred yards....

davej-ashby

A bit difficult to find the Public Right of Way through Calke Park (before the Ponds) but as long as you stick it you won't be charged by the National Trust (£8:00)!...

histman