Cnrunl AND Aucterur Cnusewnv A easy 6 mile walk, with larreaching views, to the tranquil riverside village ol Swarkestone - through a landscape carved through byriver, canal and railway. parking: Incar park in Melbourne town centre. Retreshments enroute: Crewe and Harpur pub at Swarkestone. ll starting lrom Melbourne, begin route at point A.lf starting lrom Stanton byBridge begin route at point C. lf starting from Weston-on- Trent follow the canal towpath to join the walk atSarson's Bridge'. Cross the churchyard and turn left at itsentrance gate, ignoring the footpath sign on the other side ofthe road. Head towards theRiver Trent and attheriverbank turn right and head lorthe Crewe and Harpur pub. Cross the Georgian bridge and turn right down road signed to Ingleby. You will shortly see a stile on the left by the entrance tothe sailing club. Follow the tarmac road (until it veers into the Club) alongside Swarkestone Causeway. Swatkestone Causeway is a scheduled ancient monument 'h nile long, dating nainly from the13th and 14th cen\rry. Do not turn right towards the club, but take the metal gate inlront of you and pick up the path alongside a stream that heads west away lrom the last arches ofthe bridge. Mount a stile and continue on the path ignoring the first stile 0n your left. Atthe second stile, head uphill and into Stanton by Bridge. A Leave the Market Place and head down Church Street towards the Parish Church past the Bluebell Inn. Turn left into Castle Street and right into Castle Lane (beyond Castle Farm) them immediately left into The Lilypool. Walk right along Station Road lora couple of hundred yards then left into Jawbone Lane. Atthe crossroads with the village cross inKings Newton go straight over down Trent Lane. Kngs Newton nay be anolder settlenent than the pr$ent day town of Melboume. And animpoftant Anglo Saxon cremation cemetery was discovered here in 1867. Just before a railway bridge veer left down tothe railway track, turn left and walk along the track (once a branch line between Derby and Ashby, but closed in 1973), watching out lorbikes, as this isa cycle route too. Afew hundred yards past the viaduct over the Biver Trent leave the track (to the left) and head down towards the canal bank. Turn lett along tne Trent and Mersey canal (completed here in 1777) and walk for jusl over a mile until you reach a canal bridge just after a canal mileage marker. Climb the track by the bridge and turn left along a path which almost immediately takes a turn right across a tield. Follow th's well marked way for about half a mile t0the Bullring atSwarkestone - anunexpected and amazing sight inthis location. Sonetines called tte Balcony, the Stand, the Fhvili,n, the Bu tingorBowl A eyHouse, this strange building rivals ffie Uidge asSwakestone's best know strudure. lt was built in 1632 in the style ofJohn Snythson, who was paftly responsible forthe rebuilding of Wiiam Cavendish's fairytale castle at Bolsovet lt served nainly asa gnndsbnd t1rthe bowling green in the rcctangular walled enclosure in front (known N 'The Cuttle'), a pavilion toretire toafter feasF at nearby Swarkestune Hall (denolished), hone of the Haryur family beforc Calke Abbey. ft has been restorcd bythe LandmarkTrust who letit asa holiday N1perty' B From the Bullring head tothe back of the parish church, passing on your lelt the 'Tithe Barn', now a house lts gardens back onto the site 0fthe Elizabethan hall and the walled enclosures once housed gardens. Swatkestone church was virtually rcbuilt in the1870s, h1wever the15th centtry tower and Haryur Chapel are from anearliet building. The font and fragnents in theeast aisle Mll arc Nornan. Swarkestone Bridge [photo: CBeech] C Visit the Anglo Saxon church here it you have time, then head east uphill along the main street until you reach the main road. Cross with care and turn right towards Melbourne. After 200 yards, turn left through a metal gate and head towards the Victorian pumping station Almost immediately join a footpath tothe right uphill towards an electricity pylon. Follow this path until it meets a track coming up from the Causeway and keep on this 'laggers' track into Kings Newton. With the Packhorse Inn infront 0f you, turn right along the main road - within a few yards a finger post points to l\4elbourne. Follow this by the backs oj the houses and market gardens until you reach Derby Road. Turn left and head back into Melb0urne. continued oveeaf...