Ribchester Via Higher Hud

The walk starts Ribchester Arms, Ribchester and follows clockwise circular route via Duddle Wood, Higher Hud and River Ribble.

Technical sheet

4290303
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.75 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 127 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 127 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 156 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Take Blackburn Road east in front of the car park. Take Stydd Lane north over Boyce Brook. Leave lane by taking footpath northeast. Pass through the gate and continue northeast along path. Cross Stydd Brook via footbridge and head briefly East to another bridge. Cross the bridge and continue northeast on the footpath on the west side of the fence. Cross the stile and continue north-west along the footpath.

(1) Take the bridge over the brook and head North across the field. Pass through gate continuing North along the path.

(2) Pass through the gate and turn northeast towards Duddel Wood. Take stile into the wood and take the path east down to the beck. Cross bridge and take path heading north through the wood. The path passes below millpond on approach to the bridge. Take the bridge over a stream and continue north on the undulating path along West side of the valley. Use stepping stones to cross the stream and ascend East side of the valley. Use stile to exit wood and head north along the east side of the wood. Cross stile and head diagonally northeast across the field towards B6243.

(3) Head briefly north-west along B6243. Take lane northeast opposite Pope Farm. Take gate on east of farm buildings across the field. Cross the bridge and follow footpath northeast. Take stile over a farm track and continue northeast along West side of the fence. Use pair of gates to enter the field and take path northeast towards Higher Hud Lee. Use stile at field corner to entre field below Higher Hud Lee.

(4) Take farm lane south to Longridge B6243 before turning east along road towards Hurst Green.

(5) Take lane south on the west side of Dean House. Leave lane, no footpath marker visible approx 400 yards down the lane, just south of highest point on the lane and head south-west towards the tree line. Cross the bridge and continue south-east on the footpath towards the wood.

(6) Take stile into the wood and descend east valley side. Cross brook via a bridge and ascend west side of the valley.

(7) Leave wood via a stile and take track south-east. Leave lane via a footpath, not marked clearly, and head south-west across the field to Haugh Wood. Use the gate to pass through the wood. Keep to the path heading west. Good view over Ribble and Salesbury Hall. Continue West on the footpath along the north side of Stewarts Wood. Pass through the gate and follow path south-west downhill.

(8) Pass through the gate and continue on the path through Dewhurst Farmyard. Take lane south-west along the bank of River Ribble. Continue south-west along the lane.

(9) Take footpath north-west across the field towards Ease Barn Farm. Take stile on the path between farm buildings then onto Gallows Lane. Turn briefly North along Gallows Lane. Take farm track West to farm and continue west through the farmyard.

(10) Take the path south-west from farm buildings. Leave path via a footpath which passes west diagonally across the field. Exit field via a gate and follow the path south back to start.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 29 m - Blackburn Road
  2. 1 : km 1.01 - alt. 32 m - Stydd Gate
  3. 2 : km 1.61 - alt. 68 m - Duddel Brook
  4. 3 : km 2.98 - alt. 121 m - Hurst Green Road
  5. 4 : km 4.24 - alt. 156 m - Higher Hud Farm
  6. 5 : km 5.41 - alt. 107 m - Bailey Hall lane
  7. 6 : km 6.24 - alt. 88 m - Clough Bank Exit
  8. 7 : km 6.64 - alt. 77 m - Starling Lane
  9. 8 : km 7.63 - alt. 43 m - Dewhurst Lane
  10. 9 : km 8.32 - alt. 28 m - Ribchester Bridge
  11. 10 : km 8.89 - alt. 30 m - Holmes Farm
  12. S/E : km 9.75 - alt. 29 m - Blackburn Road

Practical information

Reviews and comments

3.2 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
3 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.5 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
Julien VR
Julien VR ★

Hi JenT,
Thanks for taking the time to rate and review!
I’m happy to hear that you had a nice time. Your description of your day out sounds lovely! =)
Kind regards,
Julien

Content Manager & User support

JenT
JenT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Absolutely loved this walk, stunning scenery, from the babbling brook in the woods, the open green fields or looking across to the beauty of Pendle Hill, it’s gorgeous. Helped by the weather, as it was a lovely sunny day, 04/03/25, lambs in the fields, squirrels, buzzards and a welcoming drink at the Ribby Arms after. One of my favourites. Had to backtrack once or twice after my GPS dropped out (I just can’t follow written directions) but the GPS map worked very well overall.

gfl57
gfl57

Concerning the issues you raised

Routemap Quality
The routemap accurately represented the route and follows recognised OS paths (those are the green ones on the map)

Hidden Stile
Vegetation can be an issue this time of year. Strong boots, walking stick or only choosing walks along roads are possible solutions.

Handpainted Sign
As explained above the route follows recognised paths. If you have difficulty following route on map then consider using GPS app or standalone GPS device.

Duddle Wood
Path through Duddle Wood does follow course of Duddle Brook so can be slippery in wet weather, As you can see on the map there are alternative paths (in green) East and West of Duddle Wood that lead towards waypoint 3 avoiding Duddle Wood.

Aurelie-21
Aurelie-21 ★

Sorry about this experience and thank you for letting us know !

Cheers,
Aurélie - Community manager.

5Bears
5Bears

Overall rating : 1.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

The stile referred to early in the first pargraph is completely hidden by vegetation and made more of an issue by a handpainted footpath sign pointing in the opposite direction.

The path in Duddle Wood has been completely carried away by rains and presents an impassable hazard.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.