THE TOLKIEN TRAIL — WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF J.R.R TOLKIEN
This trail in Lancashire takes you along the landscape that inspired Tolkien’s Middle-earth
Start: Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe
Distance: 7 miles
Duration: 2.5 hours
Elevation: 500 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Navigation: Follow step-by-step on komoot, or download GPX file
J.R.R. Tolkien — one of the most ground-breaking writers of our time.
But did you know Tolkien was renowned for his love of nature and wooded landscapes found here on this 7 mile walk in the Ribble Valley? It was whilst Tolkien spent time at Stonyhurst College in the Ribble Valley (the starting point of our trail), that he penned the long awaited follow up to The Hobbit. During WW2. Tolkien visited his eldest son, John, who was studying for the priesthood. John had been evacuated with the English College in Rome, to the Jesuit seminary at St Mary's Hall, which is now Stonyhurst College.
"Some of the most dramatic and vivid chapters were written during the war years - from Gandalf's fall into darkness in Moria, written in 1941, to the long, painful journey of Frodo and Sam into Moria , which occupied much of 1944.”
But his relationship with the area doesn’t end there. Tolkien's son Michael, taught Classics at Stonyhurst College in the late 1960's to the early 1970's. And as you walk across the trail, you’ll certainly find specific nods of inspiration in the form of places like The Shireburn Arms.
Walking the trail
J. R. R. Tolkien was renowned for his love of nature and wooded landscapes and the countryside around Stonyhurst is richly beautiful. A number of names which occur in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are similar to those found locally, including Shire Lane (in Hurst Green) and the River Shirebourn (similar to the name of the family which built Stonyhurst).
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, and the view from Tom Bombadil’s house may have been based on that from New Lodge, which is a Master’s house at nearby Stonyhurst College. Hacking Boat House is part of the Foxfields Farm estate.
If you fancy following in the footsteps of the author and walking this gentle circular route, we recommend you download our map here. You can then plot this route on your chosen map (such as Ordnance Survey or komoot), or simply follow along via our komoot route here.
Our walk starts at Stonyhurst College — a place that holds incredible significance to J.R.R. Tolkien and his writings. And as for the college itself? Well, it’s definitely worth a peep if you’re able to book in advance. Picture a real-life Hogwarts hidden in the Ribble Valley countryside. Unreal.
Good-to-knows
What kit do I need?
This is a gentle, circular walk that can easily be enjoyed in half a day, so you don’t need to go as far as carrying trekking poles and survival whistles. That said, we’d never head off on any walk without proper shoes, a proper coat, and some good layers (this is the North of England, after all). Some sections of this route can get very muddy, so I’d still bring your boots along with you.
Plus, you’ll find several scenic spots along the way perfect for a pitstop, so if the weather’s looking good it’s definitely worth bringing some picnic essentials with you.
Parking
We parked roadside at Stonyhurst College, but there is also ample parking in Hurst Green — including a car park at The Memorial Hall. The car park is free of charge, with an optional donation of £2 to help towards the upkeep of the memorial hall.
Places to eat/drink:
The Shireburn Arms: Does it get any more LOTR than a pitstop at The Shireburn Arms mid-route? Plus, inside, it gets even better. Expect open fireplaces and cosy corners, and proper pub grub aplenty.
Millie’s: A charming cafe in the heart of Hurst Green, close to the start of the route. This place serves up beautiful home baked cakes, so if you prefer your sweet treat pitstop to be at the latter end of the route, we’d reccommend following the walk in reverse. Millie’s is also home to an impressive LOTR map donning one of its walls making it well worth the visit in itself.
Fancy giving this one ago? Check out our full guide on Instagram
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