Three Shire Heads from Wildboarclough

After leaving the car at a small abandoned quarry by the road in the Cheshire village of Wildboarclough, we walked northwards about a kilometre along the minor road and then left it to follow a track passing the small Cumberland Cottage. As it had been forecast, it was windy and wet.

At a bend in the track, we continued again to the north, on a path which followed a small valley with a small brook. There was a small ruined building which offered some shelter from the cold wind and as the rain had stopped for a while, we sat there to have a hot drink and some food.

The path continued for a short distance to arrive at a T-junction with a bridleway heading to the south-east and north-west towards the Cat and Fiddle inn. Following the rocky-surfaced bridleway brought us to the A54 road.

We crossed the road to the other side and followed a rougher track which brought us through the remains of the Danebower quarries and then after about half a kilometre we passed through a metal field gate with a smaller gate built inside it, to follow a footpath across boggy moorland to the south and then after a bend joined another rough track which leads down to Panniers Pool at Three Shire Heads.

We had another short stop at the picturesque pool and waterfalls and had another hot drink as someone on a trial bike road by despite there being no access allowed for motorised vehicles.

Continuing on again, we crossed the small pack-horse bridge and followed the stony track as it gradually rose and curved towards a minor road below Cut-thorn Hill where the route continued on the other side after passing a stile.

A vague path continued across fields to again arrive at the A54 again which we then recrossed to continue on a continuing path the other side which had short sections of raised wooden walkways due to the very boggy going.

After passing a small stone barn, we joined a minor road after walking a short distance through a small wood near the large Crag Hall in Wildboarclough.

After yet another short distance walking down the minor road, we again reached our starting point.