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A new 65-mile circular walk has been mapped out around the Ribble Valley as the borough’s Mayor, Stuart Hirst, takes the first steps in a bid to raise money for charity.

The circular trail starts in Whalley and takes in Pendle Hill, Downham, Bolton-by-Bowland, Slaidburn, Chipping, Hurst Green and Mellor, before finishing in Whalley.

The seven-stage walk around the picturesque borough is predicted to take six days to complete. The trail has been marked out to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee and will be launched on Thursday, September 1.

Named ‘The Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail’, the trek has readily accessible route maps and a dedicated app available at ribblevalley.gov.uk. The lengthy walk features a range of terrains requiring a degree of fitness and competence to fully complete.

Councillor Stuart Hirst describes himself as a 'keen walker'. He is using the new trail to support his Mayoral charities and is seeking walk sponsorship for three charities.

The Ribble Valley Mayor, Councillor (Cllr) Hirst intends to put his best foot forward to commemorate the Queen’s platinum jubilee and in a bid to raise cash for his three chosen charities, the MS Society, the Pink Ribbon Foundation and Project Linus.

He has set a generous £5,000 fundraising target for the charities during his mayoral year and is asking for sponsorship and donations on the following link: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ribble-valley-borough-mayor, or by phoning Ribble Valley Mayor’s secretary Olwen Heap on 01200 425111.

The six-day trek will begin for Mayor, who desrcribes himself as a keen walker, at 1pm from outdoor shop: Whalley Warm and Dry. Who has already been named as a ‘generous’ sponsor for the walk.

Councillor Hirst said: “Ribble Valley is one of the most scenic boroughs in the country, much of it designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a veritable walker’s paradise, with rolling hills, picturesque villages, stunning landscapes and some of the best food and drink for many a mile.

The Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail: The Mayor’s Circular Walking Trail around the beautiful Ribble Valley.

“Ribble Valley has a close association with Her Majesty the Queen and this trail takes in some of her Duchy of Lancaster land, particularly the centre of the kingdom at Dunsop Bridge.

“I hope the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail will become a popular attraction for keen hikers and ramblers across the country, and to get the ball rolling I will be walking it to raise funds for my chosen charities.”

Further information and the trail app will be available from September 1 at ribblevalley.gov.uk.

New Ribble Valley 65-mile walk to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee