From the main road in Youlgreave there is a road off to the south signposted to some toilets. Following this you come, unsurprisingly and perhaps conveniently, to some toilets and the black corrugated iron village hall and on past these to the riverside. Here you cross the river and follow a waymarked path steeply uphill and over a field, soon coming out at a lane. Straight over this and up to Mawstone Farm which you bypass on the left and keep heading up to the corner of Bleakley Plantation where you head straight on at a crossroads of foottaths. Just after this a big herd of cows blocked my way, including a bull. I strode boldly past unmolested. The bull lounged around and ignored me. The good path carries on south, skirting to the right of Anthony Hill to come out on Cliff Lane near Elton. You can follow the road round the corner or take a footpath cutting the corner over the fields. I did the latter which brought me ought in the village near the church.
Behind the church is a lane from where a path heads off ENE easily over fields to Dudwood Lane where you turn left. From the top of this a path leads off N then NW with Robin Hood’s Stride on your right and an old stone circle on your left. Here there were some more agreeably placid cows to negotiate before I reached the road. At this point there is a choice. The Limestone Way takes a bit of a meander through some woods while a more direct right of way cuts straight through Harthill Moor Farm. I took the latter route which leads straight up to the farm where it is not very clear which is the right way through. I decided against the gate which a notice saying “Beware of the Dogs” and in favour of heading left as the map seemed to suggest. This worked and once round the corner a waymark sign led me quickly away from the buildings round a hillside and back onto the Limestone Way which I followed pleasantly and easily back to Youlgreave.
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