Walking the Hodder - Stage 2
Higher Hodder Bridge to Doeford Bridge
Distance 9.12 miles : time about 4 hours

Walk up the hill past Hodder Cottages, turn left at the cross roads. Continue along the road, the FP starts on the left just after the Y-junction.
(Alternatively continue to The Red Pump Inn after which the FP starts 50 yds up the road. Turn left into the farm road and follow the waymarkers through the farm yard. The path is now well waymarked over stiles and fields to Aigden Farm. (35 min))
Shortly after the small pond take the stile on the right and walk across the field to the stile just left of the tall ash tree. Follow the hedge on the right to the stile under the large holly tree. Again follow the hedge on the right to the next stile. Walk across the field to the plank footbridge and follow the fence on the left to the double gate. A stile is seen to the right of the gate; the path leads to Aigden Farm. Go through the farm yard and look for the path on the left just after the last barn. The path now crosses Aigden Clough by a series of wood steps. On leaving the Clough the path passes in front of Buck Thorn and way markers point the way across the field to the next stile. Paper Mill Wood is directly ahead. After a stile the path goes steeply down hill by a series of wooden steps to the Hodder bank side. (70 min)
The path now follows close to the Hodder. After the ladder stile, walk diagonally up the escarpment on the right. Crossing this high ground with the Hodder far below leads to the entrance of the Limes Wood Conservation Area. Carry straight on over the foot bridge and the over the next bridge high above Mill Brook. After a pleasant woodland walk, the path emerges at a stile and continues in an almost straight line over a series of fields and stiles. The path ends at a farm track. Turn left and then right to meet the main road. At the road turn left and walk to Doeford Bridge. (65 min)
The FP continues at a ladder stile 40 yd on the left after the Bridge. Bear left to the wood side and look for a plank foot bridge. Follow the hedge on the right over a series of fields to the barn. At the barn turn right to the main road. Walk to Cherry Tree House; the FP start on the right. Walk diagonally across the field to the stile and carry on to Bradley Hall. Just before the house the FP diverts to the right through the cottages; turn left at the road. Continue along the road to the entrance to Rakefoot. The FP is found a few yards after the entrance and follows an old wooded path direct to what was the Craven Heifer pub which is now permanently closed. (45 min)
Continue along the road to Walker Fold; the start of the FP is seen on the right. The path ascends the very steep grassy fellside and meets with the path going along Longridge Fell. Turn left and follow this well-defined forest path (white waymarkers) which ends at Birdy Brow. Turn left at the road; a steep descent leads to Higher Hodder Bridge. (60 min)