Discover Lancashire’s wild beauty through a carefully curated collection of 40 circular day walks and one epic two-day trek, unveiling the heart of one of England’s most varied and captivating counties. Explore iconic landscapes such as the Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley, West Pennine Moors, and the dramatic fringes of the Dales. 

Ranging from gentle rambles to exhilarating upland hikes, these routes traverse the breadth of Lancashire, offering walkers a rich tapestry of rolling foothills, open moorlands, verdant valleys, and historic towns.

Ideal for both new and experienced walkers, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents 40 day walks from 8 to 16km (5–10 miles), each designed to be completed in 3–5 hours, alongside the Bowland Traverse: a challenging two-day, 46km (29 mile) adventure across the Bowland Fells between Wennington and Giggleswick. Whether you’re seeking wild weekend challenges or wildlife-rich family strolls, these routes can be tailored to your pace and preference.

• Experience the best Lancashire walks through the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, Ribble Valley, West Pennine Moors, and more.
• Enjoy year-round walking in Lancashire, from wildflower meadows in spring to panoramic winter walks on Pendle Hill and Great Hill.
• Choose from 40 day walks and a two-day trek, with routes accessible from Preston, Lancaster, Burnley, Blackburn, and Clitheroe.
• Find the perfect Lancashire walking route for families, seasoned hikers, or those seeking peaceful moorland escapes.
• Each hand-picked Lancashire walk includes a route summary, start and finish points, 1:50,000 OS map extracts, parking and public transport details, estimated walking time, and recommendations for local pubs, cafés, and artisan food producers.
• Lancashire is a top foodie destination, discover Michelin-starred restaurants, traditional inns, and local delicacies along your walking routes.
• Download free GPX tracks for every walking route, making navigation in Lancashire easy and reliable.

Plan your Lancashire adventure with confidence and experience the county’s celebrated blend of natural splendour, rich history, and renowned local food culture. With the definitive Cicerone guidebook, discover the best of Lancashire’s walking country at your own pace, in every season.

Walking in Lancashire – Quick Facts

Location: Lancashire, North West England
Number of routes: 40 day walks plus 1 two-day trek
Distance: 8–16 km (5–10 miles) per day walk; 46 km (29 miles) for the Bowland Traverse
Duration: 3–5 hours per day walk; 2 days for the Bowland Traverse
Areas covered: Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley, West Pennine Moors, Morecambe Bay, Pendle Hill, Great Hill, Dales fringes, Preston, Lancaster, Burnley, Blackburn, Clitheroe
Route type: Circular and linear routes on moorland, valley, woodland, riverside, and countryside trails
Difficulty: Suitable for beginners to experienced walkers; easy rambles to challenging upland hikes
Terrain: Rolling hills, gritstone moors, limestone edges, verdant valleys, wild uplands, historic villages
Navigation: 1:50,000 OS map extracts, detailed directions, free downloadable GPX tracks
Best season: Excellent walking year-round; wildflowers in spring, vivid colours in May/June, crisp views in winter
Highlights: Panoramic views, wildlife, artisan food producers, local pubs and cafés, historic sites, outstanding natural beauty
Equipment: Sturdy walking boots, weather-appropriate clothing, map or GPX device recommended
Refreshments & accommodation: Traditional pubs, cafés, Michelin-starred restaurants, B&Bs, hotels, and campsites throughout Lancashire 
 

Author Highlight

"With rolling foothills, verdant valleys and some of the most scenically stunning untamed landscapes in England, Lancashire has it all. Explore the gritstone moors, intimate valleys and bleak beauty of the lonely uplands of Lancashire, earning outstanding panoramic views from the summits of some surprisingly challenging hills in this varied selection of walks across the county.” 

- Mark Sutcliffe, author of Walking in Lancashire

Contents
Introduction
History
Landscape and geology
Wildlife
How to get there
Getting around
Bases
Food and drink
When to go
Access land
Footpaths
Safety
Before setting out
In an emergency
Maps
Using this guide
North Lancashire and the Bowland Fells
Walk 1 Beacon Fell and Brock Valley
Walk 2 Bleasdale Ridge circular
Walk 3 Clougha Pike
Walk 4 Cross o’ Greet and Bowland Knotts
Walk 5 Grizedale and Nicky Nook
Walk 6 Langden and Hareden Valleys
Walk 7 Parlick Pike and Fair Snape
Walk 8 Roeburndale – the enchanted valley
Walk 9 Stocks Reservoir circular
Walk 10 Tarnbrook and the Ward’s Stone
Walk 11 The Upper Wyre Way
Walk 12 Whin Fell and the Brennand Valley
Walk 13 Whitendale Hanging Stones
Walk 14 Whitewell and the Upper Hodder Valley
Walk 15 Glasson, Cockersand Abbey and Conder Green
Walk 16 Gragareth – Lancashire’s county top
Walk 17 Kirkby Lonsdale and Whittington
Walk 18 Sunderland Point
Walk 19 Silverdale and Warton Crag
Walk 20 Easington Fell and Beacon Hill from Grindleton
Walk 21 The Bowland Traverse
West Lancashire
Walk 22 Hurst Green and Ribchester
Walk 23 Longridge Fell
Walk 24 Jeffrey Hill
Walk 25 Great Eccleston and St Michael’s on Wyre
Walk 26 Rufford and Mere Sands Wood
South Lancashire and the West Pennine Moors
Walk 27 Barrowford and Foulridge
Walk 28 Holcombe Moor from Ramsbottom
Walk 29 Great Hameldon Hill from Accrington
Walk 30 Anglezarke and Great Hill
Walk 31 Belmont and Great Hill
Walk 32 Sunnyhurst Wood and Darwen’s Jubilee Tower
Walk 33 The foothills of Pendle from Downham
Walk 34 Pendle Hill from Pendleton
Walk 35 Pendle Hill and the Clarion House
Walk 36 Pleasington and Billinge
Walk 37 Weets Hill from Barnoldswick
Walk 38 Whalley Nab
Walk 39 The reservoirs of Worsthorne Moor
Walk 40 Wycoller and Boulsworth Hill

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
 

Seasons

Most of these walks can be completed all year round. Some higher level routes are challenging in winter, while lower level routes may become waterlogged after heavy rain.

Centres

Walks in the Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley and West Pennine Moors are all accessible from nearby towns and cities including Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Lancaster and Clitheroe.

Difficulty

Most of these walks are suitable for any walker with a reasonable level of fitness. Higher level routes that climb above 2,000ft and can be very challenging in winter conditions and require appropriate clothing and footwear, good navigational skills, and basic knowledge of mountain safety.

Must See

Ancient woodland and gritstone moors, historic Pendle and Pendle Hill, RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss, Neolithic Bleasdale Circle, Roman museum at Ribchester, tercet posts on the Lancashire Witches Way, Andy Goldsworthy's sculptures on Clougha Pike, the Inn at Whitewell, Jubilee Tower, the Abbey Lighthouse and Lancashire coast, Morecambe Bay, Gragareth.

May 2023

Walks 22 and 24 - OS map

May 2022

Walk 25

August 2021

Walk 36 (for clarity)

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