Middleton Circular

Park on the High St or in the pub car park.

(S/E) From The Green Man pub car park, turn left (West) and walk down the slight hill. Pass either side of a full-width metal vehicle gate and continue straight on. Pass alongside the clay pigeon shooting ground bearing slightly left along where the track becomes grassy. This is on the southern edge of the shooting ground.

If on a Sunday morning and they are shooting please press the button to sound the siren to let the shooters know you are there.

Past the shooting ground the track peters out. Continue straight towards some woods in the distance. The hedge will be on your right. Before you get to the woods the footpath switches to the other side of the hedge so it will then be on your left.

(1) Tum immediately left on entering the woods at a footpath crossroads. Don't go straight on. The left turn is a little hidden.

On exiting the woods the path crosses a field. Just carry on straight in front of you (South-East) to a substantial metal bridge across Langley Brook. Carry on up the track. You will pass Hill Farm on your right and find yourself on a well-maintained gravel drive.

(2) Turn right (South- East) and go through a large gap in the wooden fencing. If you get to a large vehicle gate across the drive you have gone too far. Cross the overgrown grassy field keeping straight ahead of you. Cross a stile and skirt around the edge of the next small field which has some equestrian enclosures.

Cross the stile to Middleton Lane. Bear left for a few yards and then turn right across a deep ditch. It is now straight across the field towards a stile that can just be made out in the distance. It is about 50 yards to the left of the white building.

(3) Pass by the stile and then cross into a garden. Keep to the left of the garden and the building and exit through some metal gates onto Green Lane. Turn right. (South -East) and opposite the hay barn turn left (East) through a gap in the hedge onto the Belfry Golf Course.

Keep to the left edge through some trees along a track. Soon you will see a brook on your left. Keep an eye out for a yellow topped marker post also on your left. Turn right just after that marker post to follow the brook. Do not cross the brook on the wide vehicle bridge.

Follow the brook and the earth bank that is on the other side of the brook until the bank runs out and the brook turns left. Cross a small bridge here and keep the brook to your right.

Pick up the tarmac path and follow until you have passed underneath the electricity lines. The tarmac path goes to the right and the footpath goes straight on into a yard and then over a stile to the left of a pair of galvanised iron vehicle gates.

(4) You are now at the junction of Wishaw Lane and Brick Kiln Lane. Turn left (North) up Wishaw Lane.

(5) At the top of the hill you come to a T junction. Go straight across to find the slightly hidden path that runs to the right of the house in front of you along the field edge. Pass through a small belt of woodland and head across a field often electric fenced off and containing horses.

(6) Cross a rickety but solid concrete bridge and follow the path back to Middleton High St. Turn left to return to The Green Man (S/E)

Car park : Park on the High St or in the pub car park.