Midshires Way
362 km / 225 miles
The Way, designed for multi-use, links the Ridgeway National Trail with the Trans Pennine Trail across the shires of Middle England.
For the most part it follows bridleways and quiet lanes with, wherever possible, alternative waymarked footpath routes provided for walkers. In Derbyshire particularly, the bridleway development for other users has yet to be completed. The Brampton Valley Way (14 miles) is used between Boughton Crossing near Northampton and Little Bowden Crossing near Market Harborough. From Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire to Compstall in Greater Manchester the route is coincident with the Goyt Way (10 miles; see also E-Routes - E2). After this, part of the Etherow-Goyt Valley Way is used to the finish. All three Ways are named on OS mapping.
The folder listed below has details of the whole route and it is also obtainable from the Leicestershire website which has maps of the Leicestershire section.
Long Horse Bridge between Shardlow and Sawley has been dismantled. There are plans to rebuild this but at present (August 2008) walkers cannot cross the Trent at this point. There is a diversion, but this is not shown on the ground, just on a map on a poster in Shardlow warning about the bridge closure. The bridge is due to be replaced by Summer 2009.
The diversion is as follows:
Approaching by the Trent and Mersey Canal from the West, the diversion involves joining the B5010 at map reference SK443303. Turn right (South East) and walk beside the B5010 to a footpath on the left at map reference SK449298. Follow this footpath to the River Trent at SK449300, then turn right and follow the footpath with the river on the left to map reference Sk460308. Turn right here and you have rejoined the original footpath going towards Sawley.
See also E-Routes (E2) - Goyt Way.
Connected Paths:
Details:
| Waymark: | Named discs with letters MW in linked acorn form | |
| Attributes: | Horse Ride (Multi User) | |
| Start: | SP770012 - Bledlow, Bucks  |
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| Finish: | SJ893903 - Stockport, Gtr Man |
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| Web Sites: | Leicestershire CC - Walk Information | |
| Leicestershire CC Website - Midshires Way Information |
Maps:The map to the right is from the Ordnance Survey. You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a marker for more info. (interactive map help) |
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| Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 109, 110, 119, 128, 129, 141, 152, 165 |
| OS Landranger Active: | 110, 119 |
| OS Explorer: | 181, 192, 207, 223, 233, 245, 246, 259, 260, 268, 269, 277, 1, 24 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 181, 192, 207, 223, 233, 245, 246, 259, 260, 268, 269, 277, 1, 24 |
Route Profile:
| 360.2 Km (223.8 miles) 4,752 m (15,591 ft) ascent 468 m (1,535 ft) maximum height |
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Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Milton Keynes YHA, Vicarage Road, Milton Keynes, Bucks | < 1 Km |
| Camping Barn: | Middleton-by-Youlgreave Camping Barn YHA, Derbyshire | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Hartington YHA, Hall Bank, Hartington, nr Buxton, Derbyshire | 3 Km |
| Bunk House: | Sheen Bunkhouse YHA, Peakstones, Sheen, Buxton, Derbyshire | 4 Km |
| Camping Barn: | Nab End Camping Barn YHA, Hollinsclough, Buxton, Derbyshire | 4 Km |
| Camping Barn: | Taddington Camping Barn YHA, Buxton, Derbyshire | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Ravenstor YHA, Millers Dale, Buxton,Derbyshire | 5 Km |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Paperback: | Walking the Midshires Way: A Long-distance Walk Through Middle England (Sigma Leisure - 2003) |
| Folder: | Midshires Way (Derbyshire County Council - 1994) |
| Leaflet: | Brampton Valley Way (Northamptonshire County Council - 1993) |
| Leaflet: | Goyt Way (Derbyshire County Council) |