**My second walk in a row starting in Hurst Green but there the similarities end. As daylight hours shrink so will walk lengths. Nonetheless this walk is the longest (at 7 miles) of the 'Tolkien' trails, so named for the belief J.R.R. Tolkien wrote parts of 'Lord of the Rings' while visiting Stonyhurst College.** **From our start point in Hurst Green we pass, and take a peek at, the exterior of Stonyhurst College before woodland trails lead to the River Hodder, which we mostly walk alongside, including viewing Cromwell Bridge, until the Hodder meets the River Ribble. Following the Ribble's westward route takes us most of the way back to Hurst Green.** **This circular walk includes quiet bridleways, pasture, woodland, and riverside trails with great views of the rivers, Pendle, Longridge Fell and Stonyhurst College. There is only limited road walking. There are short ascents and descents. The walk is dog friendly with opportunities to let off-lead.** ***More info:*** This is easy walking territory. Some of the route is even carpeted with secondhand Astroturf, in some places with lines from whatever pitches it was removed from! Hurst Green offers easy access from the the east via Clitheroe, west via Longridge, or south (from Blackburn). The walk starts at the Memorial Hall and heads north-east before we soon stop to take a look at Stonyhurst College, a Catholic school of renown, and the world's longest serving Jesuit college. The hall itself dates back to the end of the 16th century, built for the Shireburn family. Woodland trails then bring us to the broad River Hodder on it's way to meet the Ribble. We follow both their courses, south then west, with a quick look en-route at Cromwell Bridge, (crossed by Cromwell's army on it's way to meet the Royalists at the Battle of Preston, and also believed to have influenced Tolkien's Brandywine Bridge in the Shire). The route returns us to Hurst Green from the south, conveniently climbing directly to the welcoming Shireburn A

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