3 Counties and Dead Stones Route Details

This walk of approximately 10 miles mainly across open moorland is taken from the Cicerone Guide WALKING IN THE NORTH PENNINES by Paddy Dillon.

Start from Nenthead Mines car park

Route: From the car park head back towards the main A689 road, passing the public toilets on the way. Go straight across and take the minor road going uphill as it bends first to the left and then to the right then to the left again. After roughly 400m a track goes off to the right. This climbs gradually for a little over a kilometre before reaching a tarmacked road at the Cumbria/Northumberland boundary. Cross the road and take the path going up on the left hand side of the fence. After a little over half a kilometer a summit cairn is reached. This is the Three Counties Stone and marks the point where Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham meet. The route now follows the Durham/Cumbria border first to Killhope Cross on the main A689 road then to Knoutberry Hill, Nag’s Head and finally Dead Stones. The route is roughly due South and there is a fence/wall the whole way however if visibility is poor from The Three Counties Stone it may be easier to South-West and follow the new fence. From Dead Stones aim for the corner of the wall running alongside Hunter’s Cleugh. If visibility is poor follow the fence on the left down then along to the wall corner. From here there is a path down to the Priorsdale track. Turn right and follow this back to the car park.

Variation: The walk can be shortened by leaving the summit ridge at Nag’s Head and following the fence down Perry’s Dam and following the track from there to meet up with the Priorsdale track.

3 Counties and Dead Stones