We are the East Staffordshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in the East Staffordshire area to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
A memorable and historic walk in the Peak District with some terrific views.
We start from the car park next to the school on the edge of the village of Winster, once a busy place with its own market and prosperous lead mining industry, now full of impressive old buildings including The Old Market Hall, owned by the National Trust. First we walk downhill on field paths and then double back through Clough Wood, climbing up to Barn Farm, with it's popular campsite, and up onto Stanton Moor.
Stanton Moor is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with great views towards Darley Dale and Matlock. Our walk takes us to the Earl Grey Tower which was built to commemorate the Reform Act of 1832 and we visit the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, an early Bronze Age circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. We exit the Moor via the Cork Stone, one of several large, wind-eroded rock pillars found around the Moor.
We descend past Stanton Park Quarry and works, skirting Birchover, and joining the Limestone Way below the twin rock formations of Cratcliffe Tor and Robin Hood's Stride. There will be an opportunity to visit the Hermit's Cave on Cratcliffe Tor, complete with it's four foot high carving of Christ on the Cross, thought to date from the late 14th century.
We proceed through Harthill Moor Farm before turning sharp left, eventually crossing Cliff Lane and climbing up to the charming village of Elton. We walk through the village before rejoining the Limestone Way for a short distance before turning left onto field paths and back through Winster village to our starting point.
Park in free car park located at the edge of the village on the Wensley Road next to Winster CofE Primary School.
