Melbourne: Derbyshire County Walk

By Derbyshire Life on November 11th 2011

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DIRECTIONS: From Derby take the A514 through Chellaston, round the A50 island to stay on the A514. In Swarkestone turn sharp left to cross the narrow Swarkestone Bridge. Drive up through Stanton-by-Bridge then keep straight on along the B587 to Melbourne. The A587 goes round a left-hand bend before taking a sharp right-hand turn. At the next right-hand turn keep straight on into Melbourne. In the centre of the town by the conical-roofed monument (built to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II, then restored in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee), now used as a shelter, bear up to the right (High Street). In a few metres, by the United Reform Church on the left, turn left or right to either of the two car parks.

DESCRIPTION: A pleasant walk at any time of the year. In the autumn the trees are a wonderful sight. The route can be shortened to four miles. The Cloud Trail has a flat tarmac surface that is suitable for wheel-chairs. Most of the route is fairly flat, the only steep ascent and descent is coming into Breedon. Both walks go through the pretty village of Wilson where the Bull’s Head would be a suitable refreshment stop. Breedon-on-the-Hill, another pretty village, also offers refreshment stops at the inn and the Breedon Priory.

1. From the car parks return to High Street and walk back down to the bus shelter where you bear round to the left to follow the main Derby Road. Pass Porter Street. At the Melbourne Hotel corner turn right down Chapel Street.

2. At the next road junction follow the King’s Newton route. Pass the Melbourne Adult Education Centre on the right and just past Oaklands Way turn right at the footpath sign to King’s Newton.

3. Follow the narrow path by the cemetery to cross a stile on the left (A) at the end of the path. Walk by the cemetery then up a hedged path. At a fork of the paths bear left to follow a hedge close on the right. Soon you will enter a driveway which leads down to the road.

4. Cross the road diagonally left to cross a way-marked stile.

5. Bear slightly right to follow a wall on the right. (B) At a wooden post and a crossing of paths keep straight on aiming for a single house.

6. Cross a stile in the field corner. Follow the trees close on the left to cross another stile in the field corner.

7. Turn left along the road for a few metres and just before the bridge turn left again (C) down to the Cloud Trail.

8. Turn right along the flat tarmac trail for about 1¼ miles. There are a number of seats along the trail.

9. (D) At the Cloud Trail blue and red sign turn right up the exit track (65 metres).

10. Turn right up a shale and grit track to the road.

11. Turn left into Wilson. Follow the main village road as it bends round to the right signed Breedon and Tonge. After passing The Bull’s Head and where the road takes a sharp left bend, turn right onto the ‘no through road’.

12. Walk along Green Lane for about ¼mile, passing the health club and the club house. Turn left by the footpath sign.(E)

13. Keep straight on up the golf course following the marked path. Soon you will have a hedge on the left then poplar trees. All the while head for Breedon Church. As you near the end of the golf course the path bears off right to a way-marked post after which you walk up a wide tree lined track.

14. Reach the road via a small gate.(F) Cross the road to follow a path parallel to the road which is on your right. Soon the path bears off left up a very steep slope to a road.(G)

15. Turn right to continue up the road to the church.

16. Walk in front of the church to cross a stile then continue ahead, passing the jubilee beacon, to cross another stile or staggered gap by the way-marked sign.

17. Follow the steep path down to Breedon ignoring all side paths.

18. At the road turn right then left to pass The Holly Bush. Keep straight on along the road across the green, passing the memorial to those killed in the two World Wars.

19. Join the main village road and bear round to the right passing the Breedon Priory (garden centre, golf courses, tea room and shops, antiques and crafts).

20. In about 100 metres from the Priory turn right (H), then left to walk along a wooded path which soon turns sharp right.

21. Cross the golf course following the way-marked posts and keeping close to the field boundary on the left.

22. Near the top of the golf course and having turned right and left, the path passes through copse with a short descent and ascent. Walk up to a way-marked post in the hedge passing a tee, and turn left. (I)

23. Walk up the rather muddy wide grass track then continue in the same direction, keeping the field boundary close on the right and following the way-marked posts.

24. At the road turn right for 150 metres then cross the stile by the footpath post on the right. (J)

25. Keep straight on, aiming for a fence stile and way-marked post. Cross the stile then go down the field diagonally to the field corner.

26. Cross two fences (not quite stiles when this walk was researched).

27. Bear right to cross a stile by a gate then aim for the bottom corner of the wood (The Coppice). (K)

28. Follow the wood on your left crossing two fields and stiles. Join a farm track which shortly winds its way through an open stand of trees. After passing through a gateway leave the track to keep straight on with a fence on the right. Cross a stile hidden in the field corner and climb six steps to turn right.

29. Follow the field boundary on the right to cross a stile. Now follow a clear path across two fields, cross a stile and go through a gate.

30. (L) Keep straight on towards Melbourne Hall passing the lake and through the gates to pass the church and the visitor centre. The tea rooms are open all year from 9am to 5pm; closed on Mondays.

31. At the road junction turn left to walk back into the centre of the town.

AN ALTERNATIVE 4-MILE WALK

1. Follow the long route to
Wilson to where you turn
into Green Lane.

2. Almost immediately turn right through the hedge gap.

3. Bear right to walk up the hill aiming to the right of a line
of trees then passing under the
power lines.

4. Cross the stile ahead at the top
of the field.

5. Follow a hedge on the right as you walk down the field which has been planted with trees; now in their full autumn glory.

6. At the bottom of the field keep straight on to cross a cattle grid.

7. Walk along the track to pass through a gateway then along a tree lined drive which bends round to the right.

Melbourne: Derbyshire County Walk

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