Walking in Lancashire - 40 walks around the county

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route

Preface

Lancashire, a county in the northwest of England, has a great variety of landscape. It is often thought of as an area of industrial towns, but these are to be found in a cluster towards its southern end. To the north, east and west and in the central part there is splendid walking country, and even between the large towns vast stretches of lonely moorland tempt walkers onto their heights.

Lancashire does not have mountains such as those known as Munros or Corbetts, but it does have some high hills. They include Weets Hill, the heights above Darwen, the Bleasdale Fells, Pendle Hill, Thieveley Pike, Longridge Fell, Clougha Pike and Ward’s Stone, all of which tempt the walker to climb onto their long grassy ridges, from which there are panoramic views. Many of these are topped with sweet-smelling heather and some consist of peaty moorland where, generally, there is a path to help you along.

The county has a wealth of pretty villages, such as Arkholme, Nether Burrow, Chipping, Slaidburn, Ribchester, Bolton-by-Bowland, Downham and Croston, where you will want to linger. Try the walks in this book that either start in one of these villages, or pass through them.

Some of the walks take you beside Lancashire’s wonderful rivers, including the stately Lune, where salmon jump and sand martins tunnel into the banks to nest. Or you can seek out the delights of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, which unite to form the River Wyre below Abbeystead Reservoir. Another trio of fine rivers, the Ribble, the Hodder and the Calder, can be enjoyed on one of the walks.

Deciduous woodlands, beautiful in bluebell time, abound. Try walking in late April and early May to see carpets of these lovely flowers in Grize Dale, and in the woods near Aughton where they border the River Lune.

Those who prefer breezy coastal rambles will enjoy a bracing walk from Cockerham along the Cocker Channel, or a stroll on the embankment that edges part of Morecambe Bay on your return to Knott End, or a blustery walk round Sunderland Point – if the tide is right.

Lancashire offers a wealth of historic sites. The extensive ruins of Whalley Abbey can be visited at the beginning or end of a walk from Whalley itself. The bridges at Wycoller have to be seen to appreciate the workmanship of the builders – and from this lovely corner of the county there is a fine walk up onto the heights as well. Other bridges to be visited are Fairy Bridge near Downham, Cromwell’s Bridge not far from Stonyhurst College and the Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.

If level ground is your choice for walking Lancashire can fulfil this desire too. The Lancaster Canal provides great towpath walks, where you are often rewarded with a flash of petrol blue as a kingfisher flies low over the cut, perhaps at Glasson or Garstang. Or walk over the flat pastures between Martin Mere Wildfowl Centre and Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve.

But a word of caution: on walks over remote fells, through lonely valleys or along quiet shores the effects of weather changes should not be underestimated. Go prepared with waterproofs, wear walking boots, take the maps you need and a compass – and be able to use it.

The relevant Ordnance Survey maps, either Explorer or Landranger, or both, are listed for each walk, and the maps shown in the book are from the Landranger series, 1:50,000 scale.

All the walks start from car parks or recognised parking areas and the relevant grid references are given. Many starting points are approached along narrow, quiet lanes where care should be taken in case you meet a farm vehicle or a flock of sheep. These lanes can be accessed from the M6, a tiresome motorway but one that is very useful for taking walkers close to the area to be walked.

The walks range in length from 8 to 19km (5 to 12 miles) and all are suitable for most walkers. Some are gentle strolls that make a good introduction to the wonderful recreation of walking and help the less fit to prepare for more challenging walks.

Good walking!

Mary Welsh