LET’S TAKE A WALK…
HURST GREEN TO CHAIGLEY AROUND LONGRIDGE FELL
Start point: Hurst Green
Distance: Approx 8 miles Time: Approx 3 hours
1 Walk up the main street of Hurst Green turning right just before the Stonyhurst Estate and follow the bridle path. The path keeps to the high ground and descends to Dean Brook. After the bridge bear left and carry on along the bridleway to meet the road just before Greengore. The path now continues through a series of gates and stiles to Crowshaw House and then on to the main road. (35 min)
2 At the road turn right for a few yards and then immediately left into the wood. A stream is crossed via a wooden bridge after which the path becomes quite muddy. Avoid the mud by walking a few yards into the wood and walking parallel to the path. After Green Thorn a gentle climb up the fellside ensues. The path soon leaves the wood and continues up to meet the forestry road. Looking back from here gives a panoramic view over the Ribble Valley towards Blackburn in the distance. The forestry road leads to Kemple End.
The path continues across the road. After about 200 yards the next forest road is encountered at the top of the fell. Cross the road but be careful to take the second footpath on the left which is clearly waymarked. A gentle descent now starts – after about 200 yards the path meets a T-junction, take the left hand fork. After 100 yards look for a small path on the right-hand side. Now follows a steep descent with the path zig-zagging down the fellside through the trees. The path is steep in places and towards the end it is not too well defined. But eventually a well defined path is found. Turn right and after 100 yards turn left at the wire fence corner. After 10 yards a wide path is seen on the right, which leads on down to the main road. (50 min)
3 Turn right at the road to Walker Fold. About half a mile after leaving the hamlet, look for the footpath sign and stile on the right. The path is across pasture but is not well defined. Aim for the edge of the wood on the fellside seen in the distance. The next stile is found where the path crosses a brook. Follow the wire fence on the left to the next stile (100 yards).
4 Continue to follow the fence to its end and thereafter look for the dirt road after a further 200 yards. Follow the road towards the house but aim for the stile and waymarker found close to the right of the house. The path is now easy to follow – after the next stile the path skirts the wood and leads on to a wooden bench. Panoramic views are seen over Clitheroe towards Pendle. The path ends at the road at Kemple End. (50 min)
5 Cross the road and follow through the Kemple complex. After the farm the path follows an old quarry road to Stockbridge. Turn right at the road – the path continues after 250 yards on the left-hand side along the farm road to Higher Deer House. (25 min)
6 At the house turn left and walk downhill over the pasture to the stile at the edge of the wood. The path descends to a footbridge over the brook and then a stile leading onto Stonyhurst golf course. Follow the fence on the right to the footpath sign, turn left and walk across the course to the copse following waymarkers to the road next to the club house. Turn right along the road and then right at the white gates. Walk along the Avenue back to Hurst Green. (20 min)
With thanks to Michael Wainright of Fellscape. Please go to the Fellscape website: www.fellscape.co.uk for full details and an OS map
