Most of the road crossings are controlled but some uncontrolled crossings need to be negotiated particularly on the Derby Road approach to Hilton....

Malcolm

I was only passed by a handful of cars on the whole length of Sutton Lane, though part of the road through Sutton was closed for pothole repairs. We turn left on Common Lane then take the footpath north just beyond the houses. Longford Lane is reached with no further alarms, and we follow the lane through the village then take the path straight on at the T-junction on Long Lane. We pass through the right edge of its yard then continue along the lane, turning left onto the Bonnie Prince Charlie Way, which is quite a good path here as it follows an old lane north, eventually emerging just south of Shirley....

Hugh Hudson

There is an argument that a more direct route (maybe accessing Askew Grove from High Street) through the pretty historic village of Repton might be better, especially as the start of Brook End is narrow and has no space for a pavement, but these are minor quibbles and would not justify a new route. The path out of Repton from Springfield Road to Milton is well marked and well trodden, but note that where it emerges on Main Street the road out has been diverted right a little by new houses, and now emerges almost opposite the path we continue on. Beyond the school we follow a roughly surfaced lane up the hill and through Heath Wood, then continue straight on down to Seven Spouts Farm, where we follow the waymarker left down a slightly muddy lane to a pool, where another path heads right and then uphill past a fenced off horse pasture. We head straight across the A514 and down to St Brides Farm, following the muddiest footpath of the day then skirting a disused airfield and up another small hill to Cockshut Lane, where we follow the pavement left past playing fields....

Hugh Hudson

A direct, safe, relaxing, well plotted route. This takes a more obvious direct route out of Hilton....

David Sanderson

This is a good direct route,I walked from Hilton to Derby.leaving Hilton via Welland road and joining Hilton greenway one soon arrives at Eggington Road after a small amount of pavement walking one joins the disused railway line(great northern greenway)This stretch of the route is good walking but is very straight and has very little to offer.Eventually arriving at the former site of Mickleover station one heads towards Mickleover (Station road)take a left Onslow road follow the signs for City Centre.This section of the route was a real suprise a green corridor amongst new developments and constant traffic noise.Arriving at the A38 which one passes under the route is straightforward from this point to Derby bus station.There were no issues regarding obstructions etc.Both ends of the walk have a good bus service(every half hour)Care needed on some of the road crossings but an enjoyable walk....

J w ollid

Nice and straightforward walk easy to follow directions. Quirky shed cafe at the end if you make a slight diversion in the village...

Douglap

The missing link here is a direct Slow Way Burton to Derby which would be far better along the canal to Swarkestone then the cycle route using the old Derby canal route. I walked from Hilton which after a short section of estate road goes off road along a popular dog walking cycle track. After the fourth bridge the cycle track has cross the canal and runs alongside but separate from the towpath, this is a bonded surface so may be an option if you don’t mind sharing it with bikes....

Ken

I walked this route from Hilton to Burton using public transport at either end.It is good direct route,leaving Hilton and crossing the Derby/Crewe train line(manned level crossing)passing Derby Airport the route crosses several fields and on to Eggington.A track can then be used to access the A38(any road sections do have a pavement but care is needed on the A38 section as it is a cycle route and offers no protection from fast moving commercial and general traffic which pass ) crossing the A38 at Clay mills bridge and joining the canal (Trent and Mersey)heading towards Burton on Trent.Leaving the canal at Shobnall It is a straightforward walk to the finish at Burton on trent railway station.There were no access or obstruction issues...

J w ollid

There is a section of cycle lane alongside the A38, a noisy and not particularly enjoyable section, but preferable to the alternatives of lane walking, or trying to cross it. A cycle lane running parallel is set slightly higher and away from the towpath and can be preferable, but dodging cyclists can be an issue here....

David Sanderson

Overall, even after lots of rain and soft going this walk is pleasant with lots of easy sections. While the route to Sutton is all on road it is very quiet after crossing the A50, I say quiet that is traffic on this road. From Sutton Mill the route leaves the road and takes to the fields which were a bit muddy as I passed but we had had lots of rain as sand bags at the Mill House confirmed. The easy walk continues along a dead end metalled road which continues through to Osmaston as a well surfaced bridleway. The bypass road crossing has good visibility then we hit the outskirts of Ashbourne. Old Hill is a direct route which has a pavement and limited traffic, so offers a good approach or exit....

Ken

I know this area really well - the vast majority of this route follows a very dangerous fast road with many blind bends - this route should be removed....

simonalcock

We follow this road into Stretton and turn left onto the old railway, which has a good surfaced track. Here we turn left and follow the pavement through the village and just beyond St Mary's Church, turning right onto Marston Lane. We follow another footpath on the far side, then follow Uttoxeter Road right into Hilton, taking the right branch (Egginton Lane) where it forks....

Hugh Hudson

Starting at Hilton, we pass the large Tesco Express store on the left, emerging at the end of Welland Road, which we follow past a small roundabout to a gravel path where we turn left, crossing Washford Road and emerging on the Mease, where we follow the cycle route signs right and left onto another surfaced track, which leads through an industrial estate onto Egginton Road, which we cross, and follow another cycle track sign on the far side, which leads us onto the old railway, which forms most of the route. We follow the right-hand track, where the old railway path/cycle track continues without any navigational challenges (or anything else of any great interest - there are a few gates but no steps or stiles) until the track leaves the old railway at the old Mickleover station, emerging on Station Road, where we turn right, ignoring the new housing development on the left and turning left onto Onslow Road, which we follow until just after it turns south, taking the signposted surfaced track through Mickleover Meadows and on through a surprisingly pleasant urban green space. The route onwards follow a series of suburban streets as directly as is possible to emerge on Uttoxeter Old Road, where we turn left, crossing the pelican crossing and turning right into South Street and left along Vernon Street to emerge on Friar Gate, which we follow right under the old railway bridge and into Derby city centre....

Hugh Hudson

It ignores footpaths where available, misses potential services at Draycott and at Marchington....

Ken

A walk of two part which offers a good link from Hilton to Hatton and Tutbury. The path across from Hilton to Marston on Dove is well walked although the section to the shared parish church less used but has good stiles. The dead end road west to Hatton offers easy walking and while the diversion around the Nescafe factory is well surfaced it does spoil an otherwise direct path. Not much can be seen of the castle but the exit path offers a good view of the river valley. The short section of road has a wide mown verge to the path along the access road to the Fauld Industrial Estate which has reminders of military use. The very short section of busy road offers a pavement. Apart from a nettle infested short section near the level rail foot crossing the route is good....

Ken

Crossing the road from the bus station the route uses busy city shop lined streets which fad away before passing under the neglected Frigate bridge which once carried the rail line that we will later be walking along. The signed cycle route is close by but our walking route takes a more direct course through New Zealand, passing shops before going under the busy A38. There a brief section of estate road walking before crossing a main road. This is an improvement on the original Hilder which had a level crossing of the busy road. The next section is alongside an industrail area but the old lane is traffic free and provides a quite route into Hilton passing shops close by the meeting place....

Ken

I walked Hilton to Derby this is the most direct route which involves some mostly wide roadside pavement for 1.5km. A possible to loop into Etwall using Hilder-2 but otherwise railway path then divert into Mickleover for shops and buses....

Ken

The northern link to or from the cycle route crosses fields with stiles and cattle and some may find the road crossing dangerous with poor visibility....

Ken