Start Walk: Click Here Follow route using your GPS Position
MAP: Start GREEN dot → End RED dot
"53.836,-2.482":"Start the River Walk in The Shireburn Hotel car park. Please do not park your car here, it is for hotel patrons only.
Walk through the car park down to the kissing gate and follow the path through the fields towards Raid Deep Woods. It's about a 10 minute walk from here down to the River Ribble.Next message: 0.7 miles (15 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.836,-2.479":"Start the River Walk in The Shireburn Hotel car park. Please do not park your car here, it is for hotel patrons only.
Walk through the car park down to the kissing gate and follow the path through the fields towards Raid Deep Woods. It's about a 10 minute walk from here down to the River Ribble.Next message: 1.4 miles (30 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.834,-2.454":"You're approaching \"Jumbles Rocks\". Once a passing place when the river was low enough to ford it, Jumbles Rocks was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as part of the geographic boundaries in the area.Next message: 0.4 miles (10 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.830,-2.447":"You're approaching where the River Calder and River Ribble meet. Back in the 17th century Richard Shireburn set up \"Hacking Ferry\" here in order to get his people from the local community to the church on the other side of the River Ribble.
The ferry at Hacking Boat House (still working when J.R.R. Tolkien was here) may have provided the inspiration for the Buckleberry Ferry in the book.
In 1955, after almost 300 years, the Hacking Ferry service stopped and there is no evidence of its existence today.Next message: 0.8 miles (15 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.838,-2.443":"You're approaching where the River Hodder and River Ribble meet. The River Hodder begins on the eastern slopes of White Hill, near Slaidburn, in Yorkshire. It flows through the Forest of Bowland (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) passing through the villages of Slaidburn, Newton, Dunsop Bridge, and Whitewell, before reaching here.Next message: 100 yards (2 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.839,-2.444":"You're approaching an ancient bulbous oak tree which may have been Tolkien's inspiration for the Ent leader called \"Treebeard\" of Fangorn forest. The name \"Ent\" is derived from an Old English word for \"giant\" ... and Tolkien couldn't have missed this amazing sight.
Spare a moment to study this wonderful tree and take a photo of this sentient giant!Next message: 1 mile (25 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.846,-2.456":"You're approaching the MAIN ROAD. Go through the metal kissing gate and cross the road to the bus shelter. Continue walking up Knowles Brow towards Stonyhurst College for 10 minutes.Next message: 0.4 miles (10 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.848,-2.463":"You're approaching the Stonyhurst College farm track. Take the next left when you see the sign \"Hall Barn Farm\".Next message: 0.4 miles (10 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.847,-2.465":"Look to the EAST and see PENDLE HILL rising majestically from the East Lancashire Moors.
Fully 557 METRES above sea level, Pendle Hill plays a large part in the history of the local area. Bronze age settlers climbed the peak to lay their dead to rest, the rocky cairns dotted on the hill pay testament to their ceremonies. And when George Fox stood atop the hill in 1652 he was inspired to set up the Quaker movement.
The most famous local incident took place in 1612 in the shadow of Pendle Hill, when ten Pendle residents were executed in the biggest witchcraft trial the country has ever seen. Perhaps this dark history was Tolkien's inspiration for Mount Doom and Mordor?Next message: 0.2 miles (4 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.845,-2.467":"Richard Shireburn inherited the estate at Stonyhurst in 1537. He decided to replace most of the medieval buildings (dating back to 1200 AD) to construct a bigger, grander hall.
Today, Stonyhurst College is the oldest Jesuit school in the world and is a co-educational Catholic school for students aged 3–18. It was founded in 1593 by Father Robert Persons SJ.
The school's striking campus is said to have a classic \"Harry Potter\" look and was a source of inspiration for J.K. Rowling when writing the Harry Potter books. Stonyhurst College has also been featured in films including \"Three Men and a Little Lady\" and \"Tractate Middoth\".Next message: 0.2 miles (5 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.845,-2.471":"You're approaching St Peter's Catholic Parish Church, built between 1832 to 1835 and designed by Joseph John Scoles in the Gothic Revival style.
. The building before the church with the domed roof is the College Observatory (built 1866).
Go through the metal gate (left after the Observatory) and continue along the path towards Hurst Green.Next message: 0.7 miles (15 minutes). Keep GPS map open.",
"53.837,-2.480":"Congratulations! You've reached the last section of the Tolkien Trail back into Hurst Green (unless you're walking the trail in the opposite direction).
Celebrate your walk in The Shireburn Arms or a well earned snack in Millie's Café.We would be grateful to have your feedback about our new GPS map (good and bad). Please click the MENU button and \"CONTACT US\" link.Thank you!"
"COSTUME WALKS: LIVE THE TOLKIEN DREAM!"
Gandalf Adult
Gandalf Child
Wig & Beard
Glowing Staff
Shireburn Arms Hotel Fireside Getaways
SPECIAL OFFER: click here
Quote "Tolkien Trail" when booking
Frodo Adult
Frodo Child
Frodo Wig
Legolas Adult
Legolas Child
Legolas Wig
The 3 Fishes (fine dining) Award-winning chef Nigel Haworth
WINTER MENU: click here
Quote "Tolkien Trail" when booking
Elf Female
Aragorn Adult
Aragorn Child
Aragorn Sword
The Aspinall Arms Local Pub Restaurant
BOOK NOW: click here
Quote "Tolkien Trail" when booking
Cape Adult
Cape Child
Beanie Hat
Beanie Hat
Wizard Hat
T-Shirt
T-Shirt
Baseball Hat
Trendy Scarf
Trendy Scarf
Hobbit Socks
Blanket Hoodie
Unisex Hoodie
Unisex Hoodie
Unisex Hoodie
Backpack
Backpack
Gym Bag
Baby Grow
Hobbit Feet
Elf Jewelry
Elf Ears
Goblin Mask
Snaga Mask
Gnome Mask
Book Set
GPS MAP FEEDBACK If you use the GPS Map please "Contact Us" (menu button top) and let us know your experience. This interactive feature is new and we want to make any improvements from your comments. Thank you.
A delightful walk following the River Ribble. This easy walk takes you past many beautiful features including where the River Calder and Hodder both join the River Ribble. You may be lucky and spot salmon jumping out of the water at Jumbles Rocks, or even a heron fishing in the shallows.
If you prefer not to walk along the main road footpath (back to Hurst Green) we recommend you turn around and walk back in the opposite direction after you reach Winckly Hall Farm (piggeries).
Start/End Shireburn Arms Car Park, Hurst Green (5.3 miles | 1½ hours)
Click button above to follow walks using Google Maps. You will need GPS LOCATION enabled.
