GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

The Three Shires Way

37.28 miles (60 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap The Three Shires Way is a long distance bridleway which runs between Tathall End in north-east Buckinghamshire and Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire. The shared cycling and walking route traces the outline of ancient trackways and passes through a beautiful rural landscape. Along the way it skirts several small, historic villages, meanders through remnants of ancient woodland, and has many spectacular views.
The route is (sometimes) signposted with the Three Shires Way logo and officially runs for 37 miles, though it's nearer 39 miles long if starting/finishing at the Grafham Water Car Park. I'd recommend cycling north to south (unless faced by a strong south or south-west wind), hence : Start at Grafham Water Car Park, Cambs : TL166680 Finish at Tathall End, Milton Keynes : SP820468 A circular route around Grafham Water is also available, which extends the total distance to almost 47 miles. It passes through Easton, Spaldwick, Covington, Shelton, Yielden, Knotting, Lavendon and Emberton before arriving at Tathall End. It is generally a quiet rural route, much of it on clay and very muddy at certain times of the year. Some parts are classified as a 'Byway Open to All Traffic' or a 'Road Used as a Public Path' (generally open April to October), and are therefore legally accessible by motor vehicles. These tracks can be very rutted indeed; a notable example is Forty Foot Lane. Beware!
Note : Mapped on the 1:25,000 series Submitted by:Mark Worthington November 2008

The Three Shires Way OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

The Three Shires Way Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Three Shires Way - geograph.org.uk - 1552457

Three Shires Way heading to Littless Wood on the Western side of Grafham Water

Three Shires Way - geograph.org.uk - 1552809

Public Byway heading to Spaldwick

The Three Shires Way leaves Podington Airfield - geograph.org.uk - 393085

The trail leaves Podington Airfield. Forty Acre Wood is seen in the background.

Public Byway - geograph.org.uk - 1552804

Public Byway with Restricted Byway heading up to Stow Longa

Farm track through Highfield farm - geograph.org.uk - 1278259

Farm track through Highfield farm. An off road route for National Cycle Network 12 and 51. It is also the route of the Three Shires Way.

Oak trees by Dungee Wood, near Bozeat - geograph.org.uk - 532289

Oak trees by Dungee Wood, near Bozeat View from the footpath. The hedge separates two wheat fields.

Straight and Narrow - geograph.org.uk - 246125

Straight & Narrow. The thin strip of grass between the ploughed field and the copse is part of both the trail and the Ouse Valley Way.

Restricted Byway - geograph.org.uk - 1552791

Near Bunkers Hill

Elevation Profile

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

The Three Shires Way.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

The Three Shires Way.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)