11/10/2026
The highest village in Britain is Flash on the Staffordshire Moorlands, and at 1519 feet above sea level that makes The New Inn the highest village pub. There are a couple of other pubs that stand higher but they're isolated and not village establishments.
Flash used to have quite the reputation for being a den of outlaws, its name thought to have derived from the term for counterfeit, or flash, coins during the 18th century. This has never been verified one way or the other but gangs of counterfeiters did work in the area, the most infamous being the Meg Lane gang who operated out of a farm 7 miles from Flash on the edge of Macclesfield.
It's said they would hand over bags of counterfeit coins at the Three Shires Head bridge halfway between Flash and Macclesfield, the point where three counties met and escape from the authorities was easier. I’m not sure where fact and folklore split on that one but it’s an interesting tradition nonetheless. Flash is said to have produced some bare-knuckle boxers who would fight at Three Shires Head, very different times!
Today Flash is a sleepy, peaceful village and the New Inn is a great place to slake your thirst, as some of Britain's best walking routes pass close by - and they do an excellent breakfast.
Have a great weekend - whatever you're doing.
