I started from Melksham having got there from Bradford on Avon by the 69 bus. The path from Semington Road to Berryfield Lane was partially overgrown with brambles. More toilets in the station car park and cafes in Bradford centre....

JohnMyerson

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

It is flat, easy to follow and could be done by some forms of wheeled transport (although the path is narrow in places)....

Steven Melia

Very pleasant walk, however due to overgrown fields , and the path appearing not to be frequently walked the going at time was slightly strenuous.Several fields approaching Melksham have been planted with maize and with the footpath not being reinstated could be a problem as the season progresses....

Pete

A smidgen can be cut off the route by going down First Lane, instead of Middle Lane....

Brian

Stile now installed ( Jan '23 ) at problem location...

Brian

Referring to previous report the fields that were planted with maze have still not had foot path reinstated plus path between ST90370 66758 & 90404 67082....

Pete

I walked this route today from Corsham to Melksham, with no difficulties. The Market Tavern by the routes end in Melksham is also very much worth a visit....

panifex

Problem with stile at ST89409 64054 as previously mentioned, see photo, which had barbed wire & wooden bar on far side necessitating crawling underneath.Path after next stile overgrown but path then turns right past solar farm. The walk after that was excellent especially the view of Bath as we walked into city...

Pete

I think this is a great way to get between Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge - avoiding the uncertain footpaths while not adding much to the length....

panifex

I think this is the best route between Trowbridge and Melksham. It avoids the uncertain footpaths, and is not much longer. The road walk at the Melksham end is very quiet and pleasant....

panifex

Difficult to follow, and in one key location a completely non-existent footpath. Unfortunately I can’t recommend it as is - it needs a redraft....

panifex

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 is wheelchair / pushchair / mobility scooter friendly, as the majority of route is canal towpath, with the remainder being pavement out of Bath, and ditto into Melksham....

Brian

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

I consider this the best route between Melksham and Chippenham, but the Melksham area is blighted by crops ( partic maize ) in Autumn each year which can make the walk challenging...

Brian

Having compiled this route, and provided a review of the reason why, now having walked / surveyed the route, I want to add further comments....

Brian

The road section near Heddington Wick is a minor road, which is used as a rat run, and cars travel at speed, ditto Back Lane into Sandy Lane. The crossing of the A342 in Sandy Lane needs to be undertaken carefully, as the road is busy, and there is limited visibility The overall ascent of the walk is 600'...

Brian

Having undertaken all routes between Corsham and Melksham, this is easiest to undertake. All routes involve crossing the A350, and without extending the route a couple of miles it is probably the most rewarding visually. Unfortunately, as with a lot of West Wilts, some fields can be cropped in summer with maize, particularly close to Melksham...

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

This route is a substitute for Batmel one which is unachievable...

Brian

This route avoids public footpaths with stiles from Whaddon to Berryfields, by extending the canal towpath section to Semington, followed by quiet old A350 into Melksham, which is Wheelchair / Pushchair friendly....

Brian

This route avoids public footpaths with stiles from Whaddon to Berryfields, by extending the canal towpath section to Semington, followed by quiet old A350 into Melksham, which is Wheelchair / Pushchair friendly...

Brian

A significantly longer route than Batmel ( which is unachievable ) which is NOT wheelchair/pushchair friendly, without field paths with stiles. For a wheelchair friendly route, see Batmel four...

Brian

Route includes a hazardous crossing of the A350...

Brian

A route largely the same as Bramel one, but removing the hazardous crossing of the A350...

Brian

An improvement on Cormel one, by removing illegal element, but replacing with potential blocked path by maize...

Brian

Whilst the route is largely the same as Melcal one, it removes the illegal element through the Spye Park Estate...

Brian

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

The only area of concern is around Queenfield, where the path may disappear in the summer under crops, when the path is not reinstated...

Brian

Whilst the route is generally quiet, and attractive, there are fields between Lacock and Melksham which may have crops ( often maize ) without the footpath being reinstated...

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

There is a legal route alteration at ST 88712 61796 to ST 88860 61873 ( which has been well waymarked )...

Brian