THE area around Hurst Green has been one of my favourite strolls over many years and often I have been there without seeing a soul.

"Now, however, as they say in Liverpool, I shall "Never Walk Alone" because this area has been discovered and will more than likely be the focus of a thriving tourist industry for many years to come.

The cause of this interest is a man by the name of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973). JRR was an eminent scholar and was Professor of English Literature at Oxford from 1945 to 1959.

This shy man wrote lots of academic books on literature but he also enjoyed writing stories about wizards, elves and magical tales initially to entertain his children. In 1937 he wrote The Hobbit and this was followed by a massive three-volume work called Lord of the Rings. These were published between 1954 and 1955. In 1977, three years after his death, a work called Silmarillion was published. Also in 1977 Humphrey Carpenter published a life of Tolkien.

Last week the blockbuster film of Lord of the Rings was released and Tolkien's work has now been thrust into the limelight. After the foot and mouth scare the tourist industry of Lancashire needs a shot in the arm and this film may well provide it.

It seems that the scenery around Hurst Green and Stonyhurst may have inspired Tolkien's writings. Both his sons had close associations with the school and the author spent a lot of time in the area. His eldest son John trained to be a Jesuit priest at Stonyhurst and his second son Michael was a tutor at the school. They were both former students at Stonyhurst.

Begin your walk at Hurst Green and follow the road up to Stonyhurst. Beyond the school grounds turn right and follow the road to Higher Hodder Bridge. Turn right and follow the footpath which is sandwiched between the River Hodder on the left and the woods on the right.

From Lower Hodder Bridge cross the road and explore Cromwell's Bridge. Then turn right and follow the road back to Hurst Green. There is a bus service from Clitheroe to Hurst Green.

Even before The Hobbit I have loved this walk. Stonyhurst, although now a school, has been wonderfully preserved for more than 200 years, can be seen as what it once was -- a magnificent mansion. So it would have remained but for a family tragedy. The Shireburne family's young son died by eating yew berries and the house was given to the Jesuits. The family tombs can be seen at the recently restored church at Great Mitton.

For many years I have been collecting old photographs relating to this area and some of the images dating from 1904 would have been familiar to Tolkien. They would also have been familiar to another major literary figure. Gerard Manley Hopkins (I884-1889) spent some time training to be a Jesuit priest at Stonyhurst from 1881 to 1884.

Manley Hopkins wrote lots of poetry inspired by the local countryside. Neither Hopkins nor Tolkien would have welcomed this publicity as they were both very very insular.

Hodder Woods between Higher and Lower Hodder Bridges is a joy at all seasons and haunts of birds such as green woodpecker, jay and nuthatch while kingfishers are common hereabouts.

Cromwell's Bridge is one of the finest packhorse bridges in England and has recently been restored. This span certainly has a magical ring to it and it could well have inspired Tolkien.

Just beyond Cromwell's Bridge, the River Hodder meets the Ribble and before bridges were constructed there was a ferry here. It ran until the 1950s so this area would have been known to both Hopkins and Tolkien.

The ferry was known as Hacking Boat, so named because its mooring was at Hacking Hall, another of the many Tudor buildings in the area. Hacking Hall still stands and is now an attractive farmhouse and the last Hacking row boat has been restored and is on display at the Castle Museum in Clitheroe.

I resisted the temptation to continue to Hacking Hall but continued from Cromwell's Bridge and arrived at Hurst Green inspired by the walk but tired from my exertions.

Why not see the film, read the books and perhaps also purchase a copy of the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins. The tourists will come because of The Hobbit and the Lords of the Rings. Those of us who love East Lancashire will have an extra excuse to walk around Hurst Green -- the scenery is wonderful whatever the season of the year.