Sunday, 22nd January 2017

15walkers set out from the leisure centre car park and crossed Edisford Bridge turning right for Bashall Eaves. After 100 yards we turned left onto farmland to cross over 4 fields to eventually reach a road where we turned left  and down along the road to reach Higher Hodder Bridge and our coffee stop. After the break we followed a steady path following the river Hodder taking us into Over Hacking Wood. Partway through the woods we passed an unmarked stone cross, locals say it is a memorial to a young man who drowned in the river, but there are no records to say. Just after 2miles on we stopped for lunch on the banks of the river Hodder. We followed the track until we reached Lower Hodder Bridge and turned left for an uphill climb. On the right of the bridge is the ruins of Cromwell’s Bridge where in 1648 Cromwell led an 8,000 strong army over the bridge on his way to the Battle of Preston. At the top of the hill we turned right for the village of Great Mitton where in the village we then crossed Mitton Bridge over the River Ribble and joined the Ribble Way. Following the Ribble Way we eventually reached Edisford Bridge and the start point of our days walk.