Three Shires Head – Three Shires Head Trail loop from Leekfrith

Mountain biking trails

Staffordshire Moorlands

Leekfrith

Three Shires Head – Three Shires Head Trail loop from Leekfrith

Moderate

4.3

(16)

riders

Three Shires Head – Three Shires Head Trail loop from Leekfrith

02:14

26.8km

590m

Mountain biking

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 8, 2026

Tips

Includes a very steep uphill segment

You may need to push your bike.

After 5.60 km for 162 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.49 km

Start of Commissionary Cycleway

Highlight • Cycleway

From Roach End this lumpy, grassy track high up on the ridge leads to the Permissive cycleway and the Hanging Stone Rock. The start is a narrow slot in the …

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4.97 km

Permissive Bridleway near Hanging Stone, Peak District

Highlight • Cycleway

Narrow, grassy, embedded boulder strewn bridleway with the odd sloppy bog for good measure. Challenging route towards the Hanging Stone Rock, requires you to turn up North towards Lud's Church …

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6.83 km

Descent past the rocks at Lud's Church

Highlight • Forest

Fun, long, wide & smooth descent towards Gradbach through the woods, littered with embedded rocks. Watch out for walkers visiting Lud's Church (it's NOT a church - it's a deep, moss-covered chasm/gorge full of myths)

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13.3 km

Three Shires Head Stone Bridge and Waterfalls

Highlight • Viewpoint

Three Shires Head is the Grade II listed stream bridge (or waterfall, accounts differ) which marks the intersection of three counties; Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.

The run around cut-thorn hill …

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13.3 km

Three Shires Head

Highlight • Waterfall

Worth the walk down, a nice quiet spot

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13.3 km

Three Shires Head Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

It's bumpy so be careful. For those looking for a challenge it can be ridden on a gravel bike with a decent tyres. You can reward yourself with a cold deep when you get to the bottom safely 😉

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17.4 km

Bridleway Through Peak District Hills

Highlight • Viewpoint

watch out the Trail can become a bit vague! We became slightly geographically confused near here🤯🥴😳 There's a decent bit of riding here.😉

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26.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

13.1 km

6.52 km

4.58 km

1.81 km

874 m

Surfaces

12.4 km

4.13 km

3.60 km

3.40 km

3.05 km

219 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (430 m)

Lowest point (270 m)

Weather

Monday 5 October

19°C

12°C

60 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 5, 2024,Gradbach - The Roaches - Three Shires - Figure of 8🌶️🌶️🌶️

Humdinger! a gnarly, challenging ride with a big sense of achievement at the end. Bit of everything that a proper mtb ride should be, rather than an XC blast.
Some steep & rough, rutted terrain, rocky river crossings, downhill blasts and a bit of bog through beautiful countryside with views across valleys. Most definitely not a simple, easy or relaxing …