Gradbach, Three Shires Head

Time: 1Hr 21mins

Distance: 3.44 miles (5.54 Km)

Parking: Narrow lane between Manor Farm and Gradbach Mill YHA

OS Grid Ref: SJ998662

At time of writing, Gradbach Mill YHA has been sold so YHA signs may soon disappear. Will update this site if any changes take place.

From car park head upstream to wooden bridge.
Over bridge, continue upstream until field narrows then take gate on right to road.
At road turn right, follow bend round to the left and take the path on the left beside farmhouse.
Follow the well signposted path (signposted “DVW” - Dane Valley Way) uphill through series of gates, keeping the wall on your left.
Continue straight on when wall stops to reach a marker post.
Turn left at the post, through a gate and follow the grassy track to reach a well defined farm track where you turn left onto it.
After 200 mtrs on the farm track, take the path on the right through a gate (signposted).
Follow this feint path along and when you reach the barn with the steel roof down to your left, head uphill; trending right to begin with then back left to reach a marker post at a wide path.
Turn left onto the wide track and follow this to the very photogenic bridge above Panniers Pool at Three Shires Head.
Cross the bridge, turn left and follow the path with the stream down to your left.
The path skirts round the hillside and then climbs uphill slightly. Look for the small marker post and path off to the left.
Follow this path through a gate which leads to a quiet road.
Turn left onto the road and follow this for some distance, passing Bennettsitch Farm on your left.
150 mtrs past the farm go through the metal gate and then turn left downhill.
Follow path down to road.
Left onto the road, cross bridge and take gate on right.
Through the field heading downstream, over bridge towards far end of field and turn right back to car park.