Buxton Circular via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head walk
The vast Axe Edge Moor, the heads of 5 famous Peak District rivers, the popular and scenic Three Shires Head pools and waterfalls, disused quarries and some fine far views

Shutlingsloe in continuation of road by New Lodge Farm, Flash Bar/Hilltop
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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Panniers Bridge over River Dane, by Three Shires Head
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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View down old Macclesfield Turnpike Road to Axe Edge Moor
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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Solomon's Temple, Folly on Grin Low, Buxton Country Park
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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View from Flash across to Shutlingsloe, past Cut-thorn Hill
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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View down the Dane Valley from Back âoth Cross Cottage
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
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Cut-thorn Hill on left, Danebower and Whetstone Ridge ahead
SWC 387 - Buxton Circular (via Axe Edge Moor and Three Shires Head)
26-Aug-21 • thomasgrabow on Flickr
swcwalks swcwalk387 walkicon 51485053247 G-T-TG
Length |
27.0 km (16.8 mi), with 687m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options. |
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Toughness |
8 out of 10, with 7 hours walking time. |
Walk Notes |
You rise steeply out of the spa town of Buxton up the now wooded Grin Low, a formerly heavily quarried hill, with its hilltop folly, Solomonâs Temple, and a viewing platform. Continue through pastures higher up to the vast upland Axe Edge Moor, source of five of the most famous Peak District rivers: the Wye, Dove, Manifold, Dane and Goyt. The tops of all those valleys will be visited. The moor crossings are largely along broad grassy or gravel paths, but not without one stretch with âproperâ moorland terrain: bouncy to boggy, at times ill defined, paths passing groughs, cloughs and peat hags. Various remnants of historic mining activities are passed, some quite picturesque. On a good day the moor provides for fantastic views into the surrounding valleys, to neighbouring ridges and quarries and into the Cheshire Plain.
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Walk Options |
Buses at the start
A Shortcut follows the Dane Valley Way around Cheeks Hill and cuts out the middle section of the walk, this cuts 5.7 km and 140m ascent (not walked yet, so map-led).
Bus Line 58 (Macclesfield â Buxton via Cat & Fiddle), with an hourly service Monday-Saturday and five buses on Sundays and Bank Holidays, offers several stops on the route to shorten the walk by finishing the route early.
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Maps |
OS Explorer: OL24 (The Peak District â White Peak Area)
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Travel |
Buxton Station, map reference SK 059 737, is 22km southeast of Manchester, 299m above sea level and in Derbyshire. Buxton Station is the terminus of the Buxton Line from Manchester, with two trains per hour Mon-Sat daytime and one per hour else. Journey time is 60 mins from Manchester and ca. three hours from London (chg. at Stockport). A faster connection can be obtained by taking a train to Macclesfield and bus 58 to Buxton. Saturday Walkersâ Club: The walk is doable as a daywalk from London with a train no later than 07.20 hours. |
Elenvenses/Lunch |
The Knightâs Table A 53, Quarnford Flash Bar, Staffordshire, SK17 0SN (01298 23695). The Knightâs Table is located 10.5 km (6.5 mi) into the walk. This pub is currently closed.
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Tea |
The Cat & Fiddle Buxton New Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0AR (01298 73711). The Cat & Fiddle is located 7.1 km from the end of the walk. Built in 1813, and long Englandâs second highest pub, it closed in December 2015 with an uncertain future. Robinsonâs Brewery have recently sold it to the Forest Distillery though, who intend to open it as Britainâs highest altitude distillery, with a pub attached.
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Profile | |
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Help Us! |
After the walk, we would love to get your feedback You can upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:
swcwalks
swcwalk387
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By Train |
Out (not a train station) Back (not a train station) |
By Car |
Start SK17 6AQ Map Directions |
Amazon | |
Help |
National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Travelline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234 |
Version |
Sep-21 Thomas G |
Copyright | © Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. No derivatives. Free with attribution for one time non-commercial use only. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml |
Walk Directions
Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.
This is just the introduction. This walk's detailed directions are in a PDF available from wwww.walkingclub.org.uk