Hurst Green is an attractive village dominated by Stonyhurst College, once the stately home of the Shireburn family.

The family's memorials are located in the splendidly proportioned church of All Hallows at Great Mitton.

In the 18th century the fiercely Catholic Shireburnes ran out of male heirs and in 1794 the Jesuits were allowed to establish a school.

Stonyhurst College has proud literary connections.

Old students include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who used the school as a setting for his Hound of the Baskervilles.

More recently JRR Tolkien spent time at Stonyhurst - his sons were educated there - and used the local scenery as a blueprint for his Lord of the Rings.

A circular walking trail has recently been designed following in his footsteps.

Not far away at Lower Hodder Bridge is Cromwell's Bridge a packhorse span which lay on Cromwell's march as he approached the battle of Preston in August 1648.

It was obviously too narrow for ordnance to pass over but by this bridge is an ancient ford and no doubt this was the actual crossing point.

The views of Stonyhurst are inspirational and so is the nearby Browsholme Hall, which has been the family seat of the Parker family for centuries.

The Parkers were the Bow bearers of Bowland and their hall is occasionally open to the public (01254 826719).

Group visits are welcome by appointment.