Melbourne Walk (5.25 Miles)

This is a lovely relaxing walk-through rolling South Derbyshire countryside. The starting point is Melbourne’s medieval marketplace. In the early part of the walk two of the county’s gems, Melbourne Hall, and the Parish Church of St Michael’s, are passed. Soon afterwards Staunton Harold Reservoir a popular spot for leisure activities is reached. After leaving the reservoir behind the walk passes through Ticknall Lime Yards before reaching the village. From there you head towards Robin Wood, returning to Melbourne past St Bride’s Farm, which is of particular interest to archaeologists.

The highlights of this walk are:

• Staunton Harold Reservoir
  • Built between 1959 and 1964 to supply water to the Leicester area, and now serves as a site for leisure and a nature reserve. Please note that swimming in the reservoir isn’t allowed and dogs must be kept out of the water for their own safety.
• Ticknall and the Ticknall Limeyards
  • Ticknall Limeyards are currently a major home for wildlife within the area, but still serve as a monument to Ticknall’s industrial heritage. The area has now been reclaimed by nature, but remnants of spoil heaps, rock outcrops and limekilns still remain underneath.
• Robin Wood
  • An area of ancient woodland, offering a range of surfaced paths suitable for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. Formerly owned by the 5th Baronet of Foremarke, Sir Francis Burdett, whose radical views on universal male suffrage and abuses of power by government resulted in his imprisonment in the Tower of London and fined. Many of the trees within Robin Wood were felled and the lumber sold in order to pay off the fine.
• St. Bride’s Farm
  • St. Bride’s Farm dates back to Norman England that serves as an important landmark for walkers in the area. The site is also archeologically important too – it seems the site is standing on the ruins of a former Norman Chapel, some of which has been built into the farmhouse. A 12th Century skeleton was also found under the house.

Melbourne is easily reachable on the B587, just off the A514 Derby to Swadlincote road.

Visit Discover Derby – who put the walk together – for the route directions and more information on the key landmarks.