After a delayed start, due making sure we had all paid for our parking, we headed off down the High Peak Trail in the drizzle, so much so the mast on Bole Hill was obscured by low clouds, which mainly persisted throughout the walk. The normal views obscured with vague outlines of the hills, visible through the mist. The moss and ferns along the trail, providing a vivid green to offset the grey.

Leaving the trail at Intake Lane we crossed the fields at Moorside and out onto Cromford Hill, crossing the road. We then began the uphill section of the walk with some strenuous sections, the initial one being the very steep track at the side of Dene quarry. After our morning break we continued upwards, around the edge of the quarry and over the fields to Middleton. Our last uphill section took us up The Moor and then over Middleton Moor itself to reach the High Peak Trail at Middleton Top. We then headed steeply down to the Stone Centre, for a well-earned rest. Several of us deciding to visit the Quarry Cafe before heading home. The clouds lifted at last, revealing some of the wonderful views. Jayne 

Pictures by d.