... before climbing up over Stanton Moor ...
... through the heather ...
... to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, a Bronze Age circle of rocks said to be nine women turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath.
Nine Ladies (plus one) Stone Circle |
Druids wild camping in the bushes on Stanton Moor |
The route came off the gritstone across Bradford Dale and round the disused but still impressive Shiningbank (limestone) Quarry ...
...before dropping down to Alport and lunch near Bradford Village.
River Bradford |
Fish ponds in Bradford Dale |
Gritstone water troughs |
... to eventually reach Robin Hood's Stride. Legend has it that Robin strode between the tower-like stones at either end of the tor, but this is unlikely because they are 15 metres apart.
A diversion took us (not without some difficulty) to Cratcliffe Tor and a rock shelter known as the Hermit's Cave ...
... inside which is a carved crucifixion on the wall probably dating back to the 14th century.
And so back to Birchover for a drink.