Factfile: Distance: 9k 5 ½ miles
              Time: 2 ½ - 3 hours
               Summary: Easy, across pastures muddy in places. Lots of stiles!
              Map: OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors

 

Directions: From the Corporation Arms walk along the road towards Longridge. After 200m turn left onto a broad farm drive.

Follow this past farm buildings to reach a stile in a fence.

Cross this and turn right to reach another stile.

 Cross this into a green lane. Turn left.

When you enter the next field bear left and then beyond a field corner turn left onto a track that takes you to Lower College Farm.

Using a pair of metal ladder stiles the route passes to the left of the farm to put you on its drive.

Walk down the drive to Hothersall Lane.

Cross the lane onto a footpath that skirts Lower Cockhill Farm on your right. Keep ahead on a rough track leading through trees.

 After crossing a stile bear right in the next field keeping to the right of a small wood, to a stile in a hedge.

Cross this and continue with a hedge on your right down across pastures to Eatoughs Farm which you pass on your right.

 On a rutted track keep ahead to a metal gate.

Once through this cross the next field on higher ground to the right to a stile.

Cross into the next field. This next section of the route needs care. Bear right and go through a gate in a depression

and then after climbing up the incline cross a stile on the left to follow a wooded gully on the left to the next stile.

Here you will be treated to extensive views - Pendle Hill to the east and the River Ribble to the west.

After passing below pylons you will join the Ribble Way on the edge of a wood.

Turn left and follow the path downhill to a stile.

 For a little under 200m keep on the Ribble Way and then after a stile bear left to a wooden gate next to a large tree.

With a hedge on your right continue passing again below pylons following the path as it enters a field on the right

 and then crosses it to a farm lane. Turn left. 

As you approach the property in 100m turn right over a stile. The route follows a fence on the left as it edges round and then continues up gently rising ground to a field corner 250m further on.

[If you find yourself at a wooden gate with a bridleway marker you have strayed 100m too far to the left.]

At the corner keep ahead to a stile.

Cross this and bear left downhill to a wooden footbridge over a confluence of three small streams.

Commence a gentle ascent with a wire fence on the right. When you join a track pass through a gate but then keep ahead with the hedge on your left.

 [DO NOT follow the track as it bends to the right.] Cross a stile and continue with the hedge on your right.

After 400m the path crosses to a gate diagonally left and joins an improving track that will bring you to Lord's Farm.

As you enter the main yard turn right and follow a footpath across pastures,

at first with the fence on your right, then on your left.

 After a stile with two waymarks on it turn left and cross a wooden stile. Keep ahead to reach Preston Road,.

 Cross  the road onto a track

and keep ahead through fields to arrive at an impressive property.

Here the path follows the edge of the grounds left to reach the drive.

 Turn right and immediately left to once again reach Preston Road. Turn right for the Corporation Arms.

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