Axe Edge Moor Trig Point

Axe Edge Moor is an extensive moorland in the Peak District National Park’s southwest. This vast upland has a profound effect on the surrounding countryside and is the source of no less than five rivers: the Dove, the Goyt, the Manifold, the Dane and Wye.

The moorland reaches a high point of 1,808 feet (551 m) to the southwest of Buxton. Gradual slopes approach the summit from the south and west, while its northern and eastern slopes fall steeply to the pastures below. Both the summit and the wider moorland are referred to as Axe Edge Moor, while Axe Edge is a subsidiary summit and escarpment to the south.

A vast gritstone moor in the southwest of the Peak District

Adventures exploring the paths and roads that cross the moor often include a visit to the Cat and Fiddle Inn, the second highest pub in England. Another popular objective is Three Shire Heads, where a charming packhorse bridge crosses the River Dane in what is a simply lovely upland setting. It’s also the spot where the borders of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire meet.

The moorland is a beautifully desolate place and its boggy paths mean that decent footwear is a must. Whichever way you decide to discover Axe Edge Moor, every now and again this open country reveals stupendous views of the surrounding landscapes and the valleys carved by the moor’s quintet of burgeoning rivers.

The spa town of Buxton is the obvious base for adventures here.