Start: Roadside parking opposite the war memorial at Hurst Green on Avenue Road, off B6243 between Longridge and Clitheroe.

 

Note: When this route was checked in April there were extensive forestry operations in progress in the plantation below Green Thorn. These may necessitate diversions.

Fact file: Distance: 11.5k 7m
               Time: 3- 4 hours
              Summary: Though this cannot be called a strenuous walk it does involve a long steady ascent that may test some readers' stamina. The view from the top makes all effort worthwhile. Prepare for muddy sections on the fell itself.
               Maps: OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors OS OL 41 The Forest of Bowland
 

 Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

Directions: Walking away from Clitheroe Road turn left into the Dene opposite the Bayley Arms Hotel.

The lane dips and climbs out of a dell not far from the parish church (to the left).

Continue along the lane to a cluster of properties turning right onto a bridleway just before a bungalow.

After 200 metres turn left onto a footpath opposite Moon Cottage.

 

 Over a stile aim first for a trig point and then to the right of a distinctive clump of trees.

 Drop down to the field corner and after crossing a stile keep ahead with the field boundary on your right.

After a footbridge aim for another close to an enclosed wood. 

Across this continue slightly right across a large meadow.

This will bring you to a metal gate.

Through this keep ahead to arrive at Lower Hud Lee Farm.

When you reach the main drive keep ahead on an unsigned footpath with the field boundary on your left.

After crossing a wooden stile continue to a junction of paths.

 Here take the muddy farm track to Carlinghurst.

Turn right when you come to the farm road which leads to Huntingdon Hall Lane.

Turn right onto the lane.

The way now is most decisively up. Walk past the rather grand Huntingdon Hall

and where the road bends keep ahead on a footpath with a wire fence on your left.

This crosses rough pasture to reach Clitheroe Old Road.

Turn left. In 300m turn right onto a bridleway in the direction of kennels.

After 700m the lane turns right but you need to keep going straight up the fellside.

 Initially the path follows a fence on the right

 and then crosses open access land

before entering dense conifer plantations on the highest part of the fell. 

When the stony path breaks out into the open cross a stile and then a wall in quick succession.

Turn right for the trig point.

 

The view from this part of the fell is stunning - especially towards the Bowland Fells. Continue on the ridge path crossing the wall on your right at a convenient point

and continue on a broad track. This leads to a stile leading into a dense plantation.

Over the stile follow the path for about 400m to its junction with a bridleway.

Here turn right onto a muddy forest path. This leads to a wide forestry track.

Turn right and then immediately left on a footpath leading downhill between stands of tall trees.

 Keep on the footpath when it crosses another wide track and continues downhill over open fellside to re-enter trees.

The path leads behind Green Thorn farm and then turns left.

With open pasture to your left keep ahead through trees to reach a plank footbridge across a stream.

Continue to follow the path through an area where there has been extensive forest operations.

The path leads to Old Clitheroe Road.

Turn right and then in 100m turn left on a farm road

that leads down to the large farm complex of Crowshaw.

Beyond the farm continue past a metal gate

and keep ahead with a wall on your left. This path leads down to Hurst Green. After the impressive farmhouse of Green Gore

 keep ahead on the footpath when the farm drive bends to the right.

After crossing Dean Brook

bear right and keep ahead to reach the village close to the handsome Shireburn Alms-houses.