Sunday, 13th October 2024
| Walk: | The Tolkien Trail - Stonyhurst Observatory, River Hodder, Lower Hodder Bridge, Winckley Hall, Ribble Way, The Shireburn | ||
| Start Point: | Hurst Green Village Hall car park | Grid Reference: | SD 684 382 |
| Distance: | 7.2 miles | Ascent: | 587 feet |
| Time: | 4 hours | ||
| Weather: | Cold and dry | ||
| Comments: | 2021 saw the beginning of upgrades to this popular route, initially with artificial grass being added to a number of sections. This has been much ectended and today we found that some gates have been replaced by metal kissing gates and the ground has been improved to eliminate muddy sections. A very welcome improvement is the newly stepped and gravelled section heading up from the river to The Shireburn. | ||
Looking over Stonyhurst Cricket Pavilion to Pendle Hill
A long flight pf steps . . .
leads down to the bridge . . .
and into Over Hacking Wood
Visiting Hodder Place in 2016 we could see a statue of Gandalf but now the hedge has grown to hide it . . .
and further along the Tolkien Trail we have the best view of Hodder Place
Our first break on the banks of the River Hodder . . .
before reaching the Lower Hodder Bridge with a view of Cromwell Bridge
At Winckley Hall Farm . . .
footpath repairs cause a diversion
The Rivers Hodder and Ribble confluence
I wonder if he caught any fish?
The Rivers Ribble and Calder confluence jiust before reaching . . .
Hacking Hall, a Grade I listed early 17th century house
Jumbles rocks not visible here . . .
or further downstream, but still a good spot for our second break
Unusual breed of goats
The artificial grass was added in November 2021 but now it looks very different to this picture as it is now well worn and much of the path is fenced off making it quite narrow
Pendle Hill again, this time from near the end of the walk