I really enjoyed this walk through trails, tracks, green lanes and a few ploughed up fields with the route becoming quite hard or impossible to spot visually without the app running or an actual map. Passing through some beautiful fields and along some main roads at times. will do this walk again for sure....

Walk_Wiltshire

I will definitely do this again and maybe in reverse to admire the view from a different view point (which I did come and do on the 27/09/25)....

Walk_Wiltshire

A Slow Way which partially follows the Kennet & Avon Canal between Devizes and Pewsey, but also leaves it for a more direct route via Coate Road, footpaths, and farm access lanes. There’s a short urban walk out of Pewsey and then a footpath to the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath (Photo 1). The route between All Cannings and Coate is almost all along farm access track and lane. The Slow Way takes the Coate Road for a mile and a half to rejoin the Kennet & Avon Canal. The walk into Devizes is along the canal towpath (Photo 11). Overall, the Slow Way is fine, although there were certainly times (wandering lost along a track or on the Coate Road) when I yearned to be on the canal towpath. Otherwise, just Coate Road could be avoided via the byway west from Coate, which then joins the Wessex Ridgeway into Devizes....

Martin Ellis

Great route between Melksham and Devizes, avoiding the no doubt very wet ground elsewhere. I can confirm this route should be wheelable, and is perfectly good on foot too....

panifex

Walked from Devizes to Calne on 1/9/2023.The climb from Devizes gave fine views from the top of Roundway Hill but after reaching the outskirts of Headington the walk deteriorated.The footpath at Church Farm,ST99966 66091was obstructed by large bales of straw and there appeared no way through, so the walk continued down the lane and turning first left brought us back on route. Several fields were then found to covered in tall maize and detours were made the get back on route.Stile in hedge ST99729 67643 was overgrown and difficult to get through. The path at copse ST 99819 68623 was non existent and after battling though past old pheasant fences and brambles there was no way through to route and again a detour was forced....

Pete

We only encountered a problem as we neared Eddington that the field in which the footpath crossed to Cowleaze Lane, ST 93430 55316 had been planted with a cereal crop and the footpath was not visible and this necessitated walking around the edge of the field to regain the footpath....

Pete

I walked my suggested diversion to avoid fields with inquisitive bullocks by going via Crookwood Farm, a lovey thatched farm house with a duck pond....

Catharine Sharples

Very similar to Devmar two, but taking out the very wet section, and replacing it with a stone bridlepath. Very much enjoyed this route. There are multiple options leading into ML, so the sections with gates, narrow tracks can be avoided...

Brian

A very pleasant route through the outskirts of Devizes, past a nature reserve and up to enjoy extensive views before dropping down to cross lower meadowland, then climbing up again and weaving a way through lesser known parts of Easterton and Market Lavington....

Catharine Sharples

The roads are generally quiet, but two roads ( a ) just leaving Poulshot [ busy ], ( b ) Worton to Seend road [ v busy ] These are generally straight, have adjacent verges and total 0.30 mi. ( b ) You can avoid fields with cows, and 5 stiles by taking quiet road and Towmead Byway between ST 922 579 and ST 932 581......it adds 0.11 mi overall...

Brian

The Rose and Crown in Worton is ( as most pubs now ) closed weekdays.I recorded the route by GPS at 11.20 mi...

Brian

Undertook this route yesterday, and the first section was fine, generally being green lanes and quiet roads, thereafter the route took paths across fields towards Marston ( rather than green lanes ) which involved cows and stiles....

Brian

I walked this last week, as I needed to shave the time off between Bratton and Devizes, and this route largely follows Bradev one, but cuts out fields and stiles, in favour of quiet country lanes It is 0.75 mi shorter than Bradev one There is the Rose and Crown pub in Worton, but has no weekday openings, evenings only Mon to Thurs, with Fr to Sun lunchtimes and evenings...

Brian

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....

Brian

The route out of Devizes follows pavement along St Johns St, Long St, and the A342 to Wick Lane, which whilst scenic is busy with vehicles.There is a quieter route to Wick Lane which is the Devmar one and two routes. The section down to Drew's Pond, and up onto Potterne Field are very pretty,and the views on Potterne Field are fantastic ( assuming you do it in good weather ! )....

Brian

Off route, and halfway, there are exceptional views from Kings Play Hill (access land), The Plantation, Beacon Hill (access land), and Roundway Hill Covert....

DaveYearsley

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....

Peter Cooke

This route is ideal for people with mobility issues, or walking with a pushchair. It follows lit pavement, or unlit paved ( hardcore/grit ) canal towpath for the whole route. Zero stiles, cows, horses, crops etc etc....

Brian

This route is a safer option to Devimar one, avoiding the steep slope at Grubbe's Wood ( SU009 585 )....

Brian

There is the Ivy Pub and Convenience Store mid route ( check for opening days/times ) The paved sections in Calne and Devizes are fine, but Calne runs alongside the busy A4....

Brian

Having completed the route and posted a survey, I wanted to elaborate on the route. I would have given a review of 5 stars, but for the steep slippery slope mid section...

Brian

Some fields can be avoided after Rusty Lane Farm and taking the straight route (South South East) to the Canal - this is shown in Photo 11....

DaveYearsley

Walkers who can use an ordnance survey map might prefer a pleasanter route out of Melksham by following Clackers Brook to Redstocks and then joining the Kennet & Avon Canal via Rusty Lane Farm....

DaveYearsley

A slight amendment to Meldev two removing a couple of fields with stiles, replaced with more canal towpath...

Brian

A longer alternative to other Meldev routes which have field paths with stiles, but one suitable for wheelchairs/ pushchairs...

Brian

I have slightly amended the Meldev two route to take out footpaths with stiles, and replaced with additional canal towpath...

Brian

As comments on Meldev one, I have slightly amended the Meldev two route to take out field public footpaths with stiles, and replaced with additional canal towpath...

Brian