Where Kate Didn't Go: Longridge Fell 10 Mile Walk

There's a picture of Princess Kate on the noticeboard at the summit of Longridge Fell, but this is the closest she's been to it. That said, in June she climbed the National Three Peaks in 24 hours so Longridge would just be child's play. The photo at the summit of this walk is a local jest which will no doubt someday morph into fact so long as enough people come to believe it.

Our walk starts in Hurst Green, gateway to Stonyhurst College and popular due to the Tolkien Trail, which capitalises on the belief J.R.R. Tolkien wrote parts of 'Lord of the Rings' while visiting the college. Our walk does not take in the trail but starts and ends in Shire country and travelling from Clitheroe or Longridge you'll likely pass local influences like Shire Lane or Cromwell's Bridge.

This circular walk includes quiet bridleways, pasture, wooded and moorland paths, and commercial farm and forestry tracks, with minimal road walking, all within the south west corner of the Forest of Bowland.

More info:

This is quiet walking territory with easy access from the the east via Clitheroe, west via Longridge, or south (from Blackburn). The walk climbs north from the village of Hurst Green before traversing and descending west and parallel with Longridge Fell through pasture and woodland. The following steady climb of the fell is across moorland and through forest with views over our shoulder to Pendle. Breaking through the forest we reach the trig point at the summit with views to the north over the village of Chipping and to the Forest of Bowland fells including Parlick to the west, Staple Oak to the north and Waddington Fell to the east.

Our route continues to the east where we re-enter the forest and emerge on to forest tracks with more views of Pendle with the Ribble Valley in the foreground, before descending to pasture and making our way back to Hurst Green.

The walk is 10 miles maximum and I may amend it on the day depending on the weather and group size.

Meet-up point:

Meet me in the car park at the Memorial Hall, Avenue Road, Hurst Green, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9QB. OS Grid reference SD 684 383. What3Words: ///spines.invents.mermaids.

PLEASE ARRIVE IN GOOD TIME TO CHECK-IN WITH ME, AND SO WE CAN BE READY TO MOVE OUT AT 1030 HRS.

Parking:

To find the car park and meet-up point drive into Hurst Green, you'll find the car park is on Avenue Road, which starts opposite the Shireburn Arms on the B6243. If the car park is full there is street parking on Avenue Road but please be respectful of residents.

Parking in the car park is at an honesty box, (£3 suggested donation). There are 40 spaces. There is no vehicle height restriction. As we're in the Shire there is no EV charging point.

Facilities:

There are public toilets on Avenue Road nearer to the junction and not far from the car park.

There is not a shop in the village. The nearest options for supplies are Clitheroe to the east, Ribchester to the south, Longridge to the west and Chipping to the north.

New members (2 and 4 legs):

If you're a first timer please don't be anxious! Members are friendly, social and there's a roughly equal split of ladies and gentlemen.

If you change your mind or cannot attend please make sure to cancel using the Meetup app. This has the effect of letting someone else take your place, prevents the group setting off late, and means you will be allowed to try again and book another of our walks at a later date.

To find the group, look for a black pick-up truck at the meet-up point discussed above. I'll be wearing a yellowish fleece. If it's pouring down I'll put on a yellow jacket!

Dogs

We love good dogs, if you're one then please bring your owner if he/ she is well behaved and on a lead. Please note that we will come across sheep and cattle, and will cross the territory of deer and ground nesting birds.

Good to know:

Please remember food for the trail, plenty of water, a hot drink if it's cold, and waterproofs including leggings.

Maximum altitude for the walk is about 800 ft, we start at 330. However this walk does feature an ascent to 700 ft and descent to 430 ft before climbing to the fell summit. Nearly all ascent is gradual but there is a steep sided gully toward the end of the walk. There is minimal road walking.

The walk finishes with drinks at the pub (optional!)

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday 17th October,
Andrew