Well Done You Made It

Well done – you made it!! Adjacent to the church is the final pub of the walk, the Sitwell Arms and if it’s open A WALK what better way to celebrate your magnificent achievement, you’ve earned it. around the three parishes of MORTON NOTE: to view inside Holy Cross, Morton SHIRLAND or St. Leonard’s, Shirland please ring the Rector on 01773 836003. and STONEBROOM Further information on service times and events is available on our website: www.msschurches.co.uk What a nice walk! It is a circular route of contrasting scenery covering approximately 5 miles and includes three churches and six pubs. Walking at a steady pace it should take about two and a half hours to complete; depending of course on how many of the hostelries you actually decide to pass! The route is a combination of road walking and a delightful cross-country section on a well defined and usually firm pathway. The recommended start-point would be one of the village churches, all of which differ in character and architecture and are well worth a visit. As the route is circular the walk can commence from any of the churches as a matter of personal Disclaimer preference, but for the purposes of this Please note that the author has absolutely no introduction we will commence at the control what-so-ever over the British weather or church of Holy Cross, Morton. the pub opening times.

Sponsored by the Diocese of Derby worth a visit; for purely educational unmetalled track and we are now reasons, of course! commencing the cross-country section of Also of note is the medieval market cross, a the walk with excellent views of open reminder that in days gone by this was the country. Continue along this track for about site of one of the largest markets in the a mile until you meet a more substantial county. roadway (Pasture Lane, although unmarked As we leave the village we now have on our at this point) leading off to the left; this will right excellent views of the countryside with pass between Pasture House and Pasture Crich Stand clearly visible (on a clear day) Farm and will shortly exit onto the main on the distant hilltop. high street leading through Stonebroom. Turn right onto the high street and proceed for about 500 metres, down a slight incline and passing the Methodist Church and The Star public house on the left. The church of Upon leaving the church turn immediately St. Peter, Stonebroom will now be visible. right and follow this road as it bends to the The church is open from 10am to 4pm right (Higham Lane). Continue along this every day. winding country lane, crossing over a bridge The Stand is a memorial to the 13,000 that spans a disused members of the Sherwood Foresters killed railway line. The route in the world wars. After a few hundred continues straight ahead metres we reach a small cross-road with following the signs for yet another pub on the corner (Shoulder of Higham and then climbs Mutton – open all day) and at this point we up Well Lane to meet the turn left onto Hallfield Gate Lane. Proceed A61 Chesterfield Road along this road and the church of St. and at this point we turn left onto the A61. Leonard, Shirland will soon become (It is worthy of note however that visible. immediately on the right is the Greyhound After leaving the On leaving the church turn left, and at the public house which is open all day for food church, walk in end of the perimeter wall turn left again and liquid refreshment). front of the Red onto the public footpath to Morton; follow After about 50 metres the A61 bends Lion Inn and turn this path, crossing a small stream, until it sharply to the left and at this point we immediately right exits as Pit Lane onto the main road in carry straight on in to Old Higham, a into Church Street. Morton, directly opposite the Old Pit Yard. collection of ancient stone cottages and, Within a hundred Turn left onto the main road and continue lo-and-behold, the Crown Inn and metres or so this up the hill until Holy Cross church once Higham Farm Hotel, both of which are becomes an again comes into view.