Three Shires Head
Hidden in a deep valley about 8 miles south-west of Buxton, Three Shires Head is the point where Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire converge at a mossy packhorse bridge straddling a tumbling waterfall on the River Dane — one of the most romantic and least-crowded beauty spots in the entire Peak District. Getting here requires a walk, which keeps the crowds thin and the atmosphere magical.
The Setting & the Walk
The most popular approach starts from the small car park at Panniers Pool, near the Cat and Fiddle road (A537), and follows a moorland path down into the valley for roughly 1.5 miles each way. The descent reveals an increasingly dramatic landscape of gritstone outcrops, heather moorland, and the sound of rushing water long before the bridge comes into view.
At the valley floor, the ancient packhorse bridge arches over a series of cascading waterfalls and deep, clear plunge pools known as Panniers Pool. In summer, walkers dip their feet (or more) in the pools; in autumn, the surrounding moorland blazes amber and the water runs fast and copper-coloured after rain.
History & the County Boundary
The packhorse bridge is genuinely old — built to carry the salt and cloth trade across the moors — and the three-county meeting point it spans was historically significant: in the days before unified policing, lawbreakers could cross from one county's jurisdiction to another in a single step, and Three Shires Head developed a reputation as a refuge for coiners and outlaws.
Today the spot sits within the Peak District National Park and the surrounding moorland is criss-crossed by ancient packhorse routes and bridleways that connect to Flash, the highest village in England, just a mile to the south-east.
Making the Most of the Visit
The out-and-back walk from Panniers Pool car park is around 3 miles and takes 1.5–2 hours at a gentle pace. For a longer loop, experienced walkers can extend the route via Axe Edge Moor and return through the hamlet of Flash, adding spectacular high moorland views to the valley drama.
Visit on a weekday morning in spring or autumn for the best chance of having the bridge almost to yourself. Weekends in summer see the pools become popular with wild swimmers, which adds a festive energy of its own — just arrive early to secure a spot on the bank.
Three Shires Head on video
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