From the lay-by take the obvious entrance to Stanton Moor. You are at the correct place if there is a big red sign saying ‘Entrance to Stanton Moor’.
Cross the stile and continue along the path until, very shortly, you reach the Cork Stone. Are you brave enough to climb it? Iron staples set into the stone are there to help you if you decide to do so.
At the Cork Stone turn left, taking the obvious path to the right of the Cork Stone to head across the moor in the direction of the woods and phone mast, which, thankfully, soon disappears out of sight.
From this side of the moor the views extend across the valley to Youlgreave and beyond. On a clear day you can see as far as the High Peak moors located to the north of Buxton.
Having passed the site of old quarries the path eventually enters Stanton Moor Plantation. Remain on the path until just in front of a wire fence you meet another path. Turn right onto this path.
The path remains roughly parallel to the fence, crossing a clearing and then goes back into the trees. Where the fence forms an obvious corner the path splits. Take the path on the right, away from the fence, to a clearing.
Ahead of you is the King Stone watching over Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the clearing below. The story goes that the ladies were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath and that the King Stone was the fiddler.
Having admired the Nine Ladies Stone Circle cross the main path, next to the stone circle, to take a small path to the left of conifer trees. After a short distance you will come to a stile, over a fence, which you should cross.
Having crossed the stile turn right to follow the path next to the fence. Through the trees, on the left, the views now extend across Darley Dale to Beeley Moor but be careful, as there is a steep drop to the left of the path. The path will take you to the Reform Tower, which was
built to commemorate Earl Grey’s Reform Bill of 1832. Cross back over the fence by the stile located behind the Reform Tower.
Turn left to follow the path, which will soon bear right to bring you back out onto open moorland.
Follow the path around the edge of the moor, passing a small copse of trees on the right, until the path splits. You can stay on the path until it reaches the Cork Stone or take the path to the left to another strangely shaped boulder.
To explore this unnamed boulder you will have to cross the stile, but the views from it certainly justify the effort this requires. From here the views extend across Darley Dale and Matlock to Riber Castle and beyond.
Having crossed back over the stile take the narrow path that is almost in front of the stile and follow it around a large clump of rhododendrons until you rejoin the main path. Turn left along the path and continue along it, ignoring the path that crosses it, until you are back at the Cork Stone.
From the Cork Stone continue straight ahead to the stile you entered the moor by.
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