The Three Fishes and River Ribble

The Three Fishes and River Ribble is a 4.5 mile loop trail located near Clitheroe, Lancashire, England that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and camping.

Length4.5 miElevation gain770 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (6)

Getting There

Note: As of November, 2020, users have reported that The Three Fishes is closed. For now, a better starting point is at Aspinal Arms. A circular pub walk from The Three Fishes in Great Mitton, Lancashire. The Three Fishes is a welcoming country inn with plenty of character, the ideal spot for a bite to eat before or after your walk. The walking route introduces you to the heart of the Ribble Valley with superb views of Pendle Hill and a gentle riverside stroll. The walk has only steady gradients with nothing too steep. It follows footpaths through farms, fields and riverside meadows, some of which can be quite muddy. There is one stretch of road walking so take care of traffic at this point. You will need to negotiate kissing gates, footbridges and several stiles. You may be sharing some of the fields with cattle and sheep. Allow 2.5 hours.

Start to Enclosed Path

Leave the Three Fishes car park via the vehicle entrance. Taking care of traffic, turn right along the road and then almost immediately turn left into Church Lane. You will pass the fine medieval church of All Hallows on your right which is worth a quick visit. This wonderful medieval church has been a place of worship from 1270 to the present day. When you have finished at the church, continue along the lane and follow it as it bends sharply to the left. After about 100 metres (and just after passing a pair of houses and a stone driveway on the right), turn right onto an enclosed footpath, known as Malkin Lane.

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Enclosed Path to Tarmac Lane

Follow the enclosed path as it passes to the left of farm buildings. After a metal gate, keep ahead to reach a metal kissing gate on the left. Go through this kissing gate to enter a field and turn right. The route now follows the hedgerow on your right to cross a succession of fields (crossing a number of stiles along the way) to reach the end of a tarmac farm drive.

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Tarmac Lane to Edisford Bridge

Once over this drive, keep ahead along the tarmac access lane (still called Malkin Lane) for about 300 metres to reach a T-junction with the B6243 Clitheroe Road. Taking care of traffic, turn right along the road. In a little over half a mile, ignore a side road on the left and soon after you will reach the beautiful Edisford Bridge. This is the halfway point of the walk.

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Edisford Bridge to Henthorn Road

Cross the bridge and turn right into an area of parkland, which is very popular in the summer months. With the River Ribble on your right, keep ahead on the riverside path. We have now joined the Ribble Way, a 70 mile long distance path that follows the Ribble from its source in the Yorkshire Dales to its estuary near Longton (to the west of Preston). Of all the major rivers that have their source in the Yorkshire Dales, the Ribble is the only one to flow west. Stay with the path ahead as it leaves the park. Soon after, on a very attractive riverside stretch, the path climbs up a rise and then, on an enclosed path, swings left to leave the riverside. The path swings right to bring you to a farm track. Turn left to reach a junction with Henthorn Road.

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Henthorn Road to Aqueduct

Turn right onto Henthorn Road. After passing a household recycling centre on your left, the route continues ahead to reach Fishes and Peggy Hill Farm. After entering the farm complex, take a footpath on the right to diagonally cross a paddock in front of a barn (via two kissing gates). On the far side continue past the barn on your left, on a track which soon reaches fields. Follow the track ahead to reach an aqueduct, a concrete bridge which carries water pipes across the river (on your right).

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Aqueduct to End

Where the track turns away to the left at this aqueduct, do NOT follow it, instead keep ahead on the grass path, once more close to the river (on your right). Pass a utility building and then bear left to locate a footbridge in the hedgerow ahead. Cross this footbridge (with low stiles each end) and climb a rise to a pass through a wooden gate. Continue with woodland on your right to reach and pass through a second gate. From here bear right, following the fence line on your right and swinging left to emerge to Whalley Road via a gate. Turn right along the road to cross Mitton Bridge, leading you back over the River Ribble. Stay with the road, climbing uphill to reach the Three Fishes on your left for some well-earned hospitality.

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The village of Great Mitton is located about 3 miles south-west of Clitheroe. The walk starts and finishes from The Three Fishes pub, on the main B6246. If you are coming by public transport, there are bus stops in the village. If you are coming by car, the pub has its own large car park. Approximate post code BB7 9PQ.

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (12)

Photos (39)

Recordings (8)

Completed (25)

Charlotte Harrison

November 6, 2020

HikingMuddy

Extremely muddy, however we didn’t choose the best day weather wise for it! Three fishes is closed so it’s better to start from Aspinal Arms. There were 3 wild peacocks spotted by the clitheroe tip!

Blaire Potter-Harthern

September 20, 2020

Hiking

Really great walk, one of my favourites I have done. Mostly footpath, field walking, especially if you turn right along footpath to river then onto bridge instead of taking the road to the bridge. Great for a dog as hardly any road. Loved it, would definitely do again

View Blaire's Recording

Dave Rooney

September 14, 2019

Hiking

First to Review

Mostly walking through farmers fields and on roads but the half a mile down the river Ribble is nice. The three fishes is closed so park at the Aspinall Arms and end on a really nice lunch there. Better walk would be to follow the path in reverse starting at the Aspinall Arms up to the caravan site where there is a park and benches and nice view over the River Ribble. then head back down the same path and cross over the road to mitton hall and go down the side and back to enjoy the view of the hills. Lunch or dinner at mitton hall is also 10/10