Fifteen miles on the Cumberland Gap – not quite – but we made three shire head

We set off from Clough house car park.

A weathered poster told of the local area – it could do with a clean.

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We headed out of the back of the car park and across Cumberland Brook.

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Looking along the brook there is a clear view of Shuttlingsloe on the horizon.

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Undaunted by the drizzle we set off up the hill…

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…the steady rain made it quite a pull along the stream by the trees…

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…and then into the open heading towards the Cumberland Gap but not the one of Lonnie Donegan fame – that’s near Middlesborough – A number one hit when ! was nine!

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Up to where the little water fall flows…

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…by the side of a Rowan tree.

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At the top we turned to the right, heading across the moor.

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Looking behind us the views were equally good.

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The insistent rain had brought out loats of toadstools.

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The sign reassured us that we were still on the right path.

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We crossed the main road and took the steps down to the path…

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…across the fields and down to the stream…

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…and along the path…

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…then back by the stream where the heather looked great…

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…until we reached the bridge at ‘Three Shires Head’…

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…over Panniers Pool.

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Here I have memories of our kids playing about 25 years ago.

We took our break here.

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The view from the bridge is great…

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…in both directions…

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…and to think it is Staffordshire to the left of the stream…

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Cheshire to the right…

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…and Derbyshire behind us.

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We took the road back…

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…with another view of Shuttlingsloe directly ahead…

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…then across the moor and through a wooded path back down to the road.

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With the end in sight a rainbow greeted us…

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…and signalled the way back towards Clough Farm.

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When we finally arrived the weather at last smiled!

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