Three Shires Head from Wildboarclough

The walk starts from the Clough House car park, a mile north of Wildboarclough. A path follows Cumberland Brook upstream and a rough, rocky track climbs Cumberland Clough to the moor and the A54. Across the road a track drops south-east to the river Dane and follows it down to Three Shires Head, where a stone packhorse bridge, probably of the late 18th century, stands above Panniers' Pool at the meeting of the three counties. From the bridge the route contours round Cut-thorn Hill, crosses the A54 again and descends by field paths past Leach Wood to the valley lane near Crag Hall, which leads back north to the car park.

It is 7.0 km with 238 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy by time, but the ground is rough.

The tracks are stony, and boggy after rain, the moorland paths are faint in places, and there are stiles and a set of metal steps over a wall. Both crossings of the A54 need care. Sheep graze throughout and birds nest on the moor, so keep dogs on a short lead. The last stretch, more than a kilometre, is along the quiet lane through Wildboarclough.

The National Park car park is pay and display, with no toilets. There is no station nearby.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.