If you like a challenge, you need to ride Three Shires Head! Arguably, some of the toughest bridleways in the Peak District, these trails are steep and rocky with actual boulders to clamber over. This is a slow, scenic route, not a fast and furious. The pools at Three Shires Head are well worth the visit though! A natural beauty spot and the meeting point of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire – you’ll ride in three counties on this route!
Route Description
1. Head east from the parking spot and take the minor lane straight ahead. At the cross roads turn left and follow this lane to the end, past lots of sheep fields! At the T junction, turn right and head up hill round a sharp bend. If you’re lucky, you’ll see herds of red deer in the valley to your right! Just after the bend, take the driveway on the left to a small farm. The bridleway passes through the farm and out the other side, on a fenced off path skirting round fields of horses. Take care because this section can be boggy. Pass through the metal gate and continue in a straight line across the grassy field, keeping the fence on your left.
2. Drop down to a farm house and follow the driveway downhill to a road. Turn right then immediately left off the road onto a gravel bridleway that winds its way down hill. This is the alpaca farm! Follow the track over a bridge and then left descending down an eroded, dirt track. Pass through a gate with a small step the other side and then ford a stony river. Ride up the other side, keeping to the right and following the well defined track instead of the bridleway shown on the OS map. You will pop out onto a tarmac lane.
3. Turn left on the lane and follow this, past a motorcross play area on the right, through a metal gate and past a house on your right. After the house, the tarmac stops and the road becomes a rocky bridleway track heading to three shires head. Follow the track down to the waterfalls, cross over the packhorse bridge and ride back along the path on the other side.
4. Pass through a wooden gate onto another lane. Turn left and follow the lane downhill past several farms and lots of gates! This lane is coined the ‘gated road’ and you’ll soon see why!
5. At the end of the gated road. Turn left and follow the road downhill into Gradbach. Continue up the steep hill, past a farm and road the bend until you arrive at a small cottage next to a bridge. Turn right over the bridge and follow this road uphill until you get back to your parking spot.
Parking
There is free parking for several trailers on the corner of The Moss on the way into Gradbach. Be sure to not block any gates.
