A journey through Middle Earth

New Zealand may be more well known for the location of Lord of the Rings due to the early 2000s trilogy being filmed there, but in a corner of rural Lancashire you can visit the original inspiration for Tolkien’s epic. Located outside the village of Hurst Green, the Tolkien trail follows a 5 or 8 mile route through rolling hills and fields, woodland streams and eventually the Rivers Ribble and Calder. It was said that whilst working at the nearby Stonyhurst College during the Second World War, Tolkien was inspired to create the follow up to his fantasy novel The Hobbit. #lancashire