Three Shires Head from Wildboarclough

It was a cold but dry morning and a bit frosty, so with the added hazard of loads of larch needles on the road, I took it easy driving along the road dropping down to Wildboarclough.
We parked in the layby at the bridge which was unusually quite busy.
On previous visits, we had walked along the road towards the farm where the public footpath passes a farmhouse and into the farmyard but I had noticed a route marked on the map which was parallel to the road and rose up quite high above the road and then dropped down again to rejoin the road opposite the farm.
This alternative start was actually on a tarmaced section of narrow road for half its length and then through a gate to a grass-covered track for the second half. As the road below is very quiet anyway, I wouldn't bother with this route again and just walk along the road.
Soon we were following the track by Cumberland Brook passing the small cottage where a group of kids seemed to be staying and some were joining a few adults with woodsaw and axe obviously looking for firewood.
Continuing onwards, we stepped off the track to let a couple of trial bikes pass by – who shouldn't have been there as the track is classified as a bridleway. At least they were going reasonably slowly.
Turning left to follow the rest of the brook on a narrow and rising path, we stopped for a few minutes at an old ruined building to have a drink from our flasks.
Afterwards, we followed the rest of the small valley to arrive at an open area of rough grassy moorland with views into the distance with a prominent hill of Shutingsloe and the large dish of Jodrell Bank radio telescope also easily visible. There were hills in the distance and we were wondering if these were in North Wales.
At the track leading from the Cat and Fiddle, we turned right and followed it towards the old Danebower quarry across the main road which we crossed and after crossing a stile, then followed a narrow path weaving along through spoil heaps and ruins belonging to the quarry.
There were a couple of male pheasants calling at each other as we wandered through the quarry remains and this brought us to a farm track and a gate.
Passing through the gate we followed the muddy track alongside a drystone-wall to reach a second gate in the wall, through which we also passed.
This brought us into a large walled off area of moor and a path led us past a small stone-built barn and then a short section of boarded path crossing a very boggy section following which the route brought us to another road crossing.
The route brought us gradually down to one of the tracks leading to the old pack-horse bridge at Three Shires Head where we stopped for lunch sitting on a stone wall by the smaller of the two bridges.
After lunch, we crossed the bridge and turned left following the old pack-horse trail following below Cutthorn Hill. In parts the track was very sandy but some sections are rutted and has a loose rocky surface due to the passing off road traffic, despite the sign at the road pointing out vehicle traffic is not allowed.

Crossing the road, the route led through a gate by a farmhouse and then across more walled off moor and then curved down to a gate and then a short rough track in a small wood to the road leading to Wildboarclough which was only around a quarter of a mile away.