In a perpendicular magnetic recording head in which a magnetic pole part of a main magnetic pole layer exposed at a medium-opposing surface exhibits a trapezoidal form narrower at a leading edge than at a trailing edge on the return yoke layer side, a magnetic shield layer having a pair of side shield parts separated at the leading edge so as to oppose both side faces of the magnetic pole part and a bottom shield part magnetically connected to the pair of side shield parts and positioned below the leading edge of the magnetic pole part is provided on the leading edge side in the track width direction of the magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer.