Friday 11 October 2024
4.2 miles Leader David d.
Weather 11°C. Bright & sunny
No. walk 24 + 3 Dogs.
Of course, the weather helps, little or no wind to speak of, all went to making this a good walk and I was very pleased with the plaudits offered at the end. A big thankyou for all those who attended and not forgetting my backmarkers, bringing up the rear to ensure we didn’t lose anyone on the way round. As advertised, strenuous, due to the route we took up to the Star Disc, Waymarked “Ascent to the Stars”, more or less straight up from the bottom of the quarry, to the Star Disc at the top edge. Overall, we ascended over seven hundred feet, with most of the descents near the end. Every time we paused to look around the skyline, we had some of the best views of the year, with the autumnal colours now beginning to make an appearance. Walking in the rain or cloudy conditions, we tend not to look at the views, so today everything was clear and vivid. We had two breaks, one by the Star Disc, where some explored and others searched the stars laid out before them, their astrological names carved into the stone, one of note Aquarius, The Ram, held the attention of some!
The route we took was briefly as follows, starting from the Stone Centre café to go downhill, passing above Ravenstor Station, crossing directly over the B5023, climbing, west, straight up to the Star Circle and then walked a short way along Green Hill Lane, before entering on the path through Dale Quarry, here passing through a unique manmade tunnel, painted inside by members of the Wirksworth Art group. We then walked up along the southern edge of Dale quarry passing by Norbreck Farm, on footpath, not road, reaching a point near to the Standing Stone, which we didn’t see, turning to continue north to cross over the busy B5035 above Broxendale Farm. Soon we joined the High Peak Trail at the junction of many paths, making our way to Middleton Top, visitor centre to stop for our second break, picnic tables and toilets, free to use. With the break over we crossed Middleton Moor to enter Middleton via Water Lane making our way down Main Street, turning left off it to go along Chapel Lane. We then passed by the east end of Holy Trinity Parish Church and the village school. After climbing a little, we recrossed the B5035 near the Eco Centre and so to the car park, where once changed, more than half of us gathered on the patio of the Stone Centre café for a post walk cuppa and perhaps a cake or two for some!
