Minions and The Cheesewring Loop

Getting there and back

Effectively none. Minions is a place you drive or ride to.

Parking

The Hurlers car park in Minions is free and rarely full outside bank holidays.

Conditions

Firm moor grass, granite gravel and the level bed of the old quarry tramway; wet patches linger between the circles after rain.

Navigation

Paths braid across the open moor. Aim for the circles, then the tor on the skyline, and come home on the obvious tramway line.

Season

Clear days give views to both coasts. In low cloud the circles arrive out of nowhere, which is its own reward if your navigation is up to it.

Dogs

Leads for the livestock; otherwise a fine dog loop with granite to sniff for days.

Good for

• A leg-stretcher with four thousand years of context
• Moor running without full moor commitment
• Adding hill reps up Stowe's Hill to taste

Watch for

• !Mist flattens every landmark here fast — take a phone map even for this distance
• !Old shafts and quarry edges off the worn paths
• !Ponies and sheep with right of way and no manners

On the ground

• Free car park in Minions
• Village shop and tearoom, hours worth checking in winter