Day 1 Burton to Melbourne

Here I am ready to set off on another long walk, pictured at the Trent Bridge, Burton upon Trent, in Staffordshire. The photo was taken by Julie, from the website ontrent, as I mentioned in a previous post. We had a cup of coffee in the Leisure Centre, where she was interested to see my route. As you can see it was a bright and sunny morning, it's looking good for a walk.

Here I am standing on a ramp off the side of the main bridge.....

which goes down to this house. Underneath is a weir.

This is the view from the other side towards the Leisure Centre and the town. The river can burst it's banks here and flood the fields when there is constant heavy rain.



I set off along the road to Newton Solney and passed the old Flour Mills. This used to be a dusty dilapidated old complex with wagons going in and out. Now it has been converted into smart looking apartments.

Over to the left I can see across to the main Derby Road, and the Sewage Works

On a sharp bend I climbed over a stile and took to the fields towards the church at Newton Solney.

Through the village I took a path to the river. I am trying to keep as close to the river as I can, though there will be times when I have to leave it when there is no path. This is a pipeline that goes over it, Willington Power Station is in the background.

Across a little wooden bridge over a deep ditch.

Along Parsons Hills, and I came to Repton, in Derbyshire. Lovely thatched roof cottages.

This is the main archway to the school. Repton is famous for it's school. It used to be only for boys, but now they take girls as well. Rich and famous people send their little darlings here, it has an excellent reputation, and the fees must cost a fortune.

Here is a map of the layout, it is spread around a large part of the village.

The entrance to the church.

I had a nosey round inside the gate, no one asked me what I was doing, but I suppose it was obvious I was a tourist, ha ha.

I stopped to speak to a woman and she said it reminds her of a mini Oxford. I agreed, it does look a lot like Oxford.

There were some workmen doing some repair work to the ancient timbers inside a hall.

I couldn't resist peeking inside to have a look.



A very pretty garden inside these gates. They must employ a lot of gardeners.

I sat in a bus shelter in the centre of the village and had a bite to eat, when the bell rang at the school for lunch. There were swarms of students everywhere, crossing the roads, hurrying to somewhere else.

I got on a path for the river again and as I was passing the village of Twyford on the opposite bank, I saw this old wooden post, with a broken lifebelt hanging from it. A farmer was driving across the field in his big 4 by 4 and he stopped to chat. He said there is an identical post on the opposite bank, there used to be a ferry going across at this point, many years ago, and it was hauled across on a chain attached to the posts. Fascinating I thought. The farmer was pretty fit as well :O)

Oh dear a broken stile.

The farmer mentioned that I should look for this little bridge as I needed to cross it. It took me flippin ages to find it hidden in the bushes and trees.

The map said I should cross this stile, oh dear, it's broken and has barbed wire across it. Before I tackled it I needed to answer the call of nature, very quiet round here, the ideal place.

Just as I put myself back together again I turned round to see I had an audience. I don't think I will go over the stile now. Best find another route, ha ha.

Oh dear another broken stile.


I walked along the road a short distance and turned left into a field full of sweetcorn.

Thank goodness there is a way through the middle.

It is taller than me.

Further along the river I came to some caves between Foremark and Ingleby, basically some holes in the rocks. Looks quite interesting.





A des res for me maybe :o)

I could put some lace curtains up at those windows.

Bit draughty without a door though :o)

This little pond looks a bit murky, needs a bit of a clean up.

That is Willington Power Station over there, the other side of it, you can see how far I have come.

This bush was full of red berries.

As I arrived in Melbourne for my first stop over at Paddy's I took a peek into the cemetary. It looks lovely and neat and tidy. I have never seen memorial stones in a circle like this.

Paddy was there to greet me, a beautiful smell wafted from her kitchen, food, yummmmm.