Another walk from the handily placed National Stone Centre car park, featuring Middleton Moor, but with a different take of it. In fact, we almost circumnavigated the whole Moor, in an anticlockwise direction, except for the bit abutting Middleton village. A good turnout too, considering those away on holiday. Most, I believe, returning today and by the looks of the pictures, already published on this site, they seem to have had some good walking and weather, considering the time of year. After the usual prep talk, we left the car park, going north to cross over the B 5035 and over the Steeple Grange Railway, bearing left onto the familiar path up to Middleton village going by the back of the school, by the sound of it was ‘playtime’. We left this good track, entering onto to Main Street, walking up it to cross and turning into Water Lane. A stiff climb up and continuing to climb but to a much lesser extent, taking the path past Mountain Cottage, taking the path along the northern edge of the Moor. All habitation now behind us, the next half mile was on a narrow path, through mostly Bracken, a lot easier now, because of die back, than it was a few weeks ago, when I did the Recce; for this walk. We then dropped down, through a lovely self-grown wood, to the former exit of Middleton Mine and Hopton Quarry, resting here for our morning break. Interesting to note the quarry produced some of the finest Limestone in the country, so much so, that it was used by the Imperial War Graves Commission, the quarry supplying over one hundred thousand headstones for use on the near-continent and here, nothing but the best for our heroes.

With our break over, we walked south, along a short stretch of road, taking the path through Arm Lees Farm, going under a former railway bridge(pictured) and on to Moor Farm. We then climbed up onto the top of Middleton Moor, turning across it to reach Middleton Top visitor centre, where we made a short break for those who wished to view the facilities there. It was all down-hill now, steeply down, the High Peak Trail incline, to the bottom and the car park where we began. Some of us made for the Quarry Café for some light refreshment and a natter, ending our outing in these comfortable surroundings. Good day, thanks to all for your support.