7k Run Macclesfield: Scenic Journey to Three Shires Bridge

Route Overview & Local Insights

Tackle the rugged heart of the Peak District on this 6.8km trail circuit that masterfully blends technical climbs with sweeping, scenic descents. Starting near Wildboarclough, you’ll power up the Cumberland Brook on a challenging, stony path before emerging onto the high moorland. With over 200m of ascent, the route offers a gritty "SL" (Short/Local) feel that rewards effort with a visit to the iconic Three Shires Bridge. Expect a mix of terrain ranging from well-drained grit and grassy open spaces to a smooth 20% paved finish. Given the elevation reaches above 500m, runners should be prepared for exposed conditions and rapid weather shifts typical of the Macclesfield moorlands.

This route is steeped in local history, most notably at Three Shires Head, the picturesque packhorse bridge where the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire converge. Historically, this remote spot was a haven for illegal prize fighting and "whiskey-runners," as criminals could simply hop across the brook to evade the jurisdiction of different county constabularies. Today, it serves as a stunning backdrop for fell runners and hikers alike. Wildboarclough itself, once rumored to be the site where the last wild boar in England was killed, provides a dramatic, valley-bottom starting point that captures the atmospheric beauty of the southwestern Peak District.