2024 Ribble Valley District Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

A journey through Middle Earth

New Zealand may be more well known for the location of Lord of the Rings due to the early 2000s trilogy being filmed there, but in a corner of rural Lancashire you can visit the original inspiration for Tolkien’s epic. Located outside the village of Hurst Green, the Tolkien trail follows a 5 or 8 mile route through rolling hills and fields, woodland streams and eventually the Rivers Ribble and Calder. It was said that whilst working at the nearby Stonyhurst College during the Second World War, Tolkien was inspired to create the follow up to his fantasy novel The Hobbit. #lancashire

The most Southerly ‘fell’ in England

Many people are put off by hiking some of the fells of Northern England by how strenuous they might be. Longridge Fell just outside the town of the same name may be the answer, despite its elevation and isolated looking location, the walk from the easily accessible village of Hurst Green is one that can be tackled by anyone with a moderate amount of fitness. #hike

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