Longridge Fell
Longridge Fell is well named. The long narrow wedge of upland stretches for six miles beyond the town that takes its name. Moreover it is the most southerly hill to have the name “Fell” indicating linguistically the extent of Norse settlement. Although much managed especially for its forestry, it nonetheless feels like a wild place when explored on foot. En route from Hurst Green you will pass through Hobbit territory – the landscape that inspired J R R Tolkein’s Middle Earth adventures.
Start: Hurst Green. Road parking close to the war memorial. From Junction 31a M6 follow signs for Longridge. At the Old Oak Inn bear right at mini roundabout towards Clitheroe and Ribchester. At the next junction turn right and then at the Corporation Arms turn left onto B6243. Hurst Green is 3 ½ miles along this road.
Summary: Distance: 9k 5 ½ miles
Time: 2 ½ - 3 hours
Terrain: A real mix - woodland tracks, pasture and a to finish over a mile of road walking. Be prepared for mud!
Maps: OS OL 41 Forest of Bowland OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors
Map by kind permission of Blackpool Gazette
Directions: Hurst Green to Hare Hill. From the war memorial walk up past the Bayley Arms towards the entrance to Stonyhurst College. Just past the Almshouses turn left onto a public footpath.
Keep ahead on this as it enters woodland and then drops to the fast running Dean Brook. Bear left over a stone bridge and begin to climb away from the stream.
After leaving the wood the path reaches a junction with a farm track.
Keep ahead to pass the imposing Green Gore farmhouse on your left. Continue on a clear path, soon with a more open aspect, to come to the large farm of Crowshaw House about 15 mins from Green Gore.
Follow the farm drive up to Clitheroe Old Road and turn right. A short distance along turn left onto a public footpath that quickly leads into a dense plantation of conifers.
From this point on you will encounter a great deal of boggy ground. The path crosses Brownslow Brook on a footbridge and then follows the edge of a large pasture towards Green Thorn farm.
Keep on the path as it swings right behind the farm buildings to begin a long traverse of the fellside, at first through trees and then onto the open fellside.
After crossing a forestry track it continues upwards on a waymarked path to reach a second track close to the summit ridge.
Turn right. Soon you cross the highest section of the route - Hare Hill.
Hare Hill to Hurst Green. The intermediate aim is to return to Clitheroe Old Road - 2 kilometres east of where you crossed it on the outward leg. A straightforward way will be to stay on the forest tracks - turning right at a junction 800m ½ mile from where you joined it, and then turning left to descend the hill to a car park close by the road. (At the time of writing firmly locked). A more interesting descent can be gained by continuing past the junction.
A short way ahead a break in the trees allows a wonderful viewpoint of the Hodder Valley and Bowland Fells.
After this the track demotes itself into a path and after a right-left dog leg begins its descent to the road. Keeping on track demands a greater degree of concentration - especially over sections where the trees have been cleared.
The path follows the edge of the escarpment and will bring you to the road at the top of Birdy Brow.
Turn left, and then right at Kemple End.
Where the drive forks bear right. This leads down past attractive cottages on the right, and then past Morton House Farm - also on the right.
The track beyond quickly deteriorates and becomes excessively muddy after rain.
After a metal gate keep ahead across the next field to pass through a gate between a wall and fence. Now with a fence on your left continue to reach a stile close by a barn.
Cross the stile into lane and turn left. At the next junction turn right. The lane leads round to the grounds of Stonyhurst, the Catholic public school.
When you reach the main drive turn right and follow it back to Hurst Green.