A lowland walk along the banks of the river Ribble and up to the imposing buildings of Stoneyhurst College, with wide ranging views of Pendle Hill and back down the river valley. As is sometimes the case in farming areas, some of the footpaths on this route have been moved or show signs of very little use and are hard to find on the ground, but it is an interesting walk and worth the effort

Click on this image to order the map for this walk direct from the Ordnance Survey

• Distance - 12.1 kilometres 227 metres ascent
• Terrain - about half the distance is on road or made tracks, but boots are essential as parts can be muddy, even in summer
• Map - Landranger 103, Blackburn (NB - be prepared to improvise - some footpaths have been moved since the map I used had been printed)
• Refreshments - Hurst Green has three pubs, all offering meals, and cold drinks and ice creams are available from the village shop
• The walk starts at or by a restaurant which has changed its name once or twice, but is usually known as (and is marked on OS maps as) the De Tabley Arms

1 - Park either at the end of the unclassified road by the bridge over the Ribble or in the restaurant car park - (the restaurant car par is much bigger than it needs and I've never had any problem parking there ... yet) Set out down the unclassified road. When I did this walk at the end of August, the hedgerows were full of berries, but if you pick anything, take care - they also contain Bittersweet, a poisonous plant. After passing the abandoned Salesbury Hall, the road starts to climb uphill. As it does, keep an eye open on your left for a signpost and a path leading into the woods

2 -Take the path down into the woods. A sweeping bend of the river soon becomes visible, and you follow the river upstream through woods and fields. At one point, by a row of tubes protecting a row of newly planted trees, a fallen oak on a bluff above the river provides a pleasant seat for lunch

3 -Cross the river at Dinkley suspension bridge to Trough House then up the track to Hurst Green, taking time to take in the views to Pendle Hill on the right and the open view down the valley behind you. Ignore the big dogs in the pig farm - they should be chained up. The track becomes Lambing Clough Road, and along its length, blackberries and elderberries were starting to ripen

4 - In Hurst Green, cross the main road and turn left, continuing uphill through the village. At the end of the village, you pass the Almshouses and then you enter the Trough of Bowland. You pass the graveyard on the left and a large statue of Our Lady on the left, and the road turns right, facing towards the college. Take the road down to the college gates and follow it round to the left, going round the college grounds. At the T-junction turn left and then take the footpath left into the college grounds by the gates. This takes you right infront of the college buildings and past the college chapel

5 -Just before the college observatory, go through the gate on the right - this is the public footpath shown on the map, though it shows little sign of use. Stay on the right hand side of the field, passing through three kissing gates, and you are back in the village by the almshouses. Turn left into the village, and retrace your steps across the main road and back down Lambing Clough Road

6 - Immediately after the cattle grid, take the gate on the right into the field. (NB. from here, the path is vague and the map inaccurate - you may choose just to retrace your steps back down to Dinkley Bridge and go back that way !). Staying on the right of the field, (the path is not obvious), follow the fence round until you come to a rickety gate in a depression. go through the gate and across the wooden footbridge over a stream . Head right towards a stone arch, climb up the left-hand side of the arch, then head up towards the open field. The map shows a number of small buildings at this point, but we found no trace more substantial than half a brick. Out in the open there is a small dry valley in front of you - Head up the valley, crossing the fence by means of the stile under the oak tree. At the end of the valley, where you meet the fence with the wood beyond, turn left and go downhill. At the end of the wood, turn right and cross another stream by means of a footbridge. From here, the map shows the footpath heading for and passing between the buildings at Hey Hurst. It no longer does that - instead, walk along the fence on your right going uphill till you meet a surfaced track. Go right up the track a few yards then another path is signposted on the left. Take this path, going through the gate ate the far corner, then down to another gap in a fence where there is a signpost for the Ribble way. Follow the signpost, heading across the field. You are heading towards a small post about 3 feet high and painted bright yellow - it may take some finding !

7 - From this post follow the path down to the riverside. It passes first through woods and then through more open country until you come to a farm, where another surfaced track will take you back to the bridge and the De Tabley Arms