Stanton Moor and the Nine Ladies Stone Circle

Only 3 of us this week, myself, Geoff & Ike and we set off in mist at 07:00 and parked up on the Birchover Rd. close to the footpath to the Cork Stone in clear sunshine at 07:35. After we got to the Cork Stone we took the left path and followed it until we spotted the trig point and made for that. Ike placed a very small stone on the cairn next to the trig point and challenged anyone to put a smaller one on top of that. From there we just had a leisurely stroll to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle. It really is a very special magical place. We saw a tent close by and went over for a chat, the camper was just putting a brew on and was very chatty, i think he was happy to have a chin wag early in the morning. The return footpath took us along what is know as the Dukes Drive which went along the edge of cliffs with some spectacular views. On the way around we passed the Earl Grey Tower built by William Pole Thornhill and dedicated to the Reform Act 1832. I spotted this odd thing on an oak leaf and picked it up and photographed it. It turned out to be an OAK APPLE which I'd heard about but never seen one. We had our breakfast under an oak tree where we put the world to rights as we usually do. From there it was just following the footpath back to the Cork Stone and then the car. On the way back the sun rays were coming through the tree's onto the road in front of us and Geoff stopped the car so i could get a shot.

This weeks route just under 2 1/2 miles

This block of stone is in the car park

The Cork Stone

/the Cork Stone looks almost like the sphinx from this angle. Ike & Geoff on the right

Ike

Geoff

Trig point with the moon above

Geoff & Ike

Ike putting a stone on top of the cairn

A brilliant spiders web

 

Geoff & Ike

Geoff' at the King Stone

Birch tree's and the King Stone

The King Stone and the circle in the distance

The Earl Grey Tower built by William Pole Thornhill and dedicated to the Reform Act 1832.

Sun lighting up a fern

I call these angels

Angels shining down on Ike

Geoff & Ike

Ike

Oak apple or oak gall is the common name for a large, round, vaguely apple-like gall commonly found on many species of oak. Oak apples range in size from 2–5 cm in diameter and are caused by chemicals injected by the larva of certain kinds of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae.

 

Mist down in the valley below

Geoff

Breakfast time

Ike

Geoff

Trekking through the bracken

Back to the Cork Stone

Geoff's car

The Mire Trough in the village of Birchover

God rays coming through the trees

 This was a very nice stroll on the moors only 2 1/2 miles in good weather and visibility. We met a couple of interesting people and learned a bit more about plans for opening up more quarries in this area of outstanding beauty, i just hope they don't spoil it for future generations.
See you next week