Walk of the Rings

This part of the Ribble Valley is steeped in history, from an old bridge over the nearby River Hodder crossed by Cromwell's army to the alms houses of Hurst Green village.

But the Jewel in the Crown is the magnificent towers and gardens of Stonyhurst College, Lancashire's famous Catholic school, founded by the Jesuits in 1794 but originally built in 1592 as the family seat of the local Shireburn family. The splendid grounds of Stonyhurst form a fitting end to this walk, which starts in the centre of unspoilt Hurst Green and heads down to join a riverside path along the River Ribble, which forms part of the long distance route, the Ribble Way.

A fine suspension bridge over the river at Dinckley is viewed before the walk heads back to Stonyhurst, a college which includes among its most famous pupils Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Hollywood actor Charles Laughton. Most interesting of all, Oxford don JRR Tolkien stayed at the college in the 1940s while his eldest son was studying for the priesthood. He penned a large chunk of the epic The Lord of the Rings here, inspired by the rural patchwork of hedges, meadows and woodlands rolling down to the lazy River Ribble.

DISTANCE: 6 miles (allow three hours)

START: Hurst Green village (OS Grid Ref. 686379). Parking available on the main village street between the Shireburn Arms and the Bayley Arms. Hurst Green is situated on the north side of the B6243 running between Longridge and Clitheroe. Turn on to the main village street via the memorial opposite the Shireburn Arms.

Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant OS Explorer map (Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors).

OPPOSITE the Bayley Arms pub on the main village street, turn left along The Dene (leading to Shire Lane), a side lane starting alongside a public footpath. Ignore the footpath but follow the lane and keep to it for about half a mile. It meanders past houses, crosses a stream and climbs uphill, bearing right then left through open country. It leaves the village behind and eventually reaches a junction with the B road near the Punch Bowl Inn. Bear right along the B road and immediately after passing the pub on the left. turn left and join the footpath leaving the road on the far side of the pub. The path leads along a track and soon swings left around a cottage to climb uphill. After passing over the brow of a small hill leave the track and bear diagonally right across a field along a path indicated by a waymarker, this leads to a wooden footbridge on the far side of the large Field. Cross this and bear left across the next field heading for the edge of a wood. this leads to a stile at the woodland boundary. Cross this and follow the path downhill through the wood to cross a footbridge over a stream in the valley bottom. Climb the path on the opposite side of the bridge to cross another stile and join a farm road.

Turn left and follow the farm road and it eventually crosses a cattle grid beyond a cottage at dough Head. Go through a gate to the left of the farm road leading to Hey Hurst and the waymarked Ribble Way is joined. Follow the waymarkers along a field edge to reach a footbridge below trees. Cross the bridge and continue with the field edge on your immediate right. Keep to the boundary and cross further stiles until a track is joined running downhill from a conifer woodland. As the track swings left towards farm buildings look out on your right for a stile. Cross this to divert along a path to view the Dinckley suspension footbridge (opened in 1951) across the River Kibble.

To continue the walk, rejoin the track by the stile and continue to the farm buildings. Pass these and keep to the main track running uphill until woodland is reached on the right. Leave the track on the right here, crossing a stile in the hedge and following a waymarked permissive path to cross another stile to follow the path along the top edge of woodland. Another stile is eventually reached and joins another footpath. Turn right and go down the steps through woodland to reach a footbridge. Continue along the riverside path beyond the trees leading to an aqueduct over the Ribble.

Continue along the riverside path beyond the aqueduct for about half a mile crossing stiles along the way. Leave the riverside when a track on the left leads away from the river towards a farm. Join this track and head for the farm (Fox Fields) turning right just before barns are reached to follow a waymarked path along a farm road. Continue along this for about a 1/3 mile as it runs alongside a stream until the entrance to an 1898 house is passed on the right. Go through a gate on the left and walk uphill alone a field boundary. Go through further gates to rejoin the B road.

Turn left and follow the pavement for a short distance uphill until a path is reached on the opposite side of the road. Join this path at a stile and it leads along a hedge and continues as a track leading straight to the towers of Stonyhurst College. Beyond farm buildings continue along the lane leading to the church and school buildings The path continues straight past the entrance to the College through woodland to reach a road. Turn eft along the road then left again to follow the winding lane which meanders downhill to give an impressive view of the College from the ornamental lakes. Continue along the lane past memorials and it turns sharp left to re-enter the village along the main street leading to alms houses and the Bayley Arms.

COUNTRY CLIPS

There are events galore at Cheshire's National Trust properties this Autumn. Check out:

Apple Day at Quarry Bank Mill, Styal on October 5. A celebration of the English Apple with tasting, menus, trails and activities. Tel: 01625 527468 for info.

Upstairs Downstairs at Dunham Massey on October 12. Drama, music and cookery recall bygone days at the old hall. Tel: 016l 941 1025.