Scalford Parish Walks

Scalford, four miles north of Melton Mowbray, is an ancient village, well over 1100 years old.  It’s Saxon name, originally ‘Shalford’, means ‘Shallow Ford’
P Car parking in the narrow village lanes can be difficult therefore the Recreation Ground at the end of Sandy Lane could be used.

Where is Scalford? Scalford is just north of Melton.

From the recreation ground walk back into the village, turn right towards the King’s Arms, then at King’s Street turn left.  Cross into South Street by the Plough and continue to reach a footpath on the right, running alongside No.14 “Meadow View”.
After about 100 metres, the route crosses a small field, then bears left along a hedge boundary.  After the brook walk up the hill to go over the bridges of two dismantled railway lines.
The first is the former Waltham Branch that served as a mineral line and the second is a former passenger and freight line.  Trains along this section ran between Market Harborough and Nottingham low-level stations and the old Great Northern Leicester Station (Belgrave Road) to Grantham.
A. Aim for a gate and follow the yellow waymarkers as the route continues across the fields until you reach a field of pronounced ridge and furrow, and some farm buildings.
B. Go between the buildings and turn right along the track to meet Melton Road.  Cross and continue along Holwell Lane, bearing right at the fork.
C. Turn left following the footpath sign along the track.  Once across the cattle grid turn right with the hedge on the right.  Follow the waymarkers to the road.
This area was once quarryed for ironstone.  Notice the sign warning of subsidence.  There are some bomb-like craters where the galleries have caved in causing subsidence in the overlying soft clay.
Further up the lane on the left is a nature reserve acquired by the Leics and Rutland Trust for Nature Conservation in 1973.  There is a 200 metre wheelchair friendly path to the view point to see an expanse of beautiful countryside.
D. Turn left, then at the triangular shaped grassy area the route turns back on itself.
With the hedge on the right walk through the field to a stile.  Turn left on the bridleway and once through the gate turn right to get back onto a footpath. Follow the waymarkers across the fields to reach the road.
E. Go up around the bend and cross the stile to the right.
On entering the field you will see a circular brick sheep wash built in 1879 and was last used in 1935, serving most of the surrounding villages for the washing of sheep prior to shearing, thus earning the farmer a halfpenny (old money) per pound more for a clean fleece.
In the next field climb diagonally left to the railings of the cemetery.  Continue straight on to reach the footpath leading back to South Street, Scalford.

From the car park cross the playing field and then bear left in the field to reach a track.  Go straight across onto the footpath that runs through 4 fields to reach the dismantled railway.
Once over aim to the left of the farm buildings ahead to reach a surfaced track.
1. Turn right, then just before the farm buildings go through the gate to the left.  Head for the far-left corner, and walk downhill along the rough track.
2.  In the next field the track becomes less obvious, but follow the indented path to reach a gate.  Pass a pond on the left then head back up hill, where the track becomes more obvious again.
3.  Just before Goadby Marwood, turn right and follow the surfaced lane towards Wycomb.
4. As the lane bends right go up the bank to the right to reach a footpath.  Follow this through two fields.  On reaching the brook, cross the bridge and head left along the bridleway.
5. Eventually cross the dismantled railway line again, and continue back towards Scalford and the start point.