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Start : The Aspinall Arms (BB7 9PQ) Grif ref. SD 716 386
(S/E) Leave the pub car park via the vehicle entrance. Turn left for a few paces and then left again through a wooden kissing gate to join the signed footpath, the Ribble Way. (Note: you may come across cattle in any of the fields so take care with dogs).
Follow the left-hand edge of this large grass field passing a derelict barn and then the pub’s overflow car park on the left. Beyond this, the views to the left open up. You’ll see the River Ribble (A) below and the church at Great Mitton sitting high on the banks on the opposite side.
Continue on the field edge path as it swings steadily right and then left to reach a stile. Cross this into the next pasture and continue staying close to the fence on the left. Take time to enjoy the views across the hills to the right. Pass through the kissing gate and continue straight ahead through the centre of the next grass pasture. At the far side you’ll come to a footbridge over a stream.
(1) Cross the footbridge (which has low stiles each end) to reach the next large open field. Cross this field heading for the small brick building alongside the river, a river flow measurement station. As you reach this, simply continue on the riverside grass track, heading for the concrete bridge visible ahead. This section of the river is particularly picturesque, with shallow clear water flowing over the rocky bed. If you take a close look you may see evidence of its healthy fish population.
When you draw level with the concrete bridge, you’ll be able to see that it is an aqueduct carrying water pipes across the river. Simply keep ahead on the riverside stone farm track.
Continue into the farm yard, passing the farm buildings to the right. Beyond the barns, pass through the wooden kissing gate and cross the small grass field diagonally to emerge via another kissing gate onto the access lane for Shuttleworth Farm.
(2) Turn right here (going back on yourself) and then swing left, passing the old stone barn to the right. Pass through the gate heading directly for the cottage in front of you. As you reach the cottage, turn right through the next gate and then swing left (passing a timber barn on the right) to join a wide surfaced track between hedgerows. Follow this stone track as it swings right and then continues straight for some distance.
A little way along, the hedge on the right ends and the track continues along the left-hand edge of another large open pasture. Where the stone track fades out (probably with some piles of spoil ahead), simply skirt round these to continue ahead on the grass path running close to the hedge on the left. Continue down to the bottom left-hand corner of the field, where a kissing gate leads you to a path through a small belt of trees.
(3) Cross the sleeper bridge and pass through the next gate to reach the corner of a large rough moorland pasture. Keep straight ahead (close to the right-hand fence) passing under the boughs of an ancient oak tree. Continue for just a few yards and you’ll see an old stone trough on the left, marking a T-junction of paths. In fact, the stone trough is the base of an ancient stone cross which was probably used to mark a boundary.
(4) Turn right at this T-junction. Continue along the moorland path. Step over the stream and then bear a little right to join the path following the right-hand fence. As you reach the field corner, follow the boundary left for a few yards and then turn right over the footbridge (via a stile and gate) across Barrow Brook. Follow the path ahead through a small section of woodland and you will emerge via a gate to Mitton Road.
(5) Cross over with care and then turn right along the pavement. The pavement is fairly narrow so take care with children and dogs. Follow the road past Laneside Farm, Little Mitton Farm and then Mitton Hall (B) on the left. (S/E)
Walker
Easy 
