Lancashire

The M6 motorway provides a physical line which neatly divides Lancashire into its two primary regions. To the west lies the coastal plain with its low sandy beaches between the Ribble estuary and the Cumbria border. This region is often referred to as the 'Lungs of Lancashire' and includes the popular holiday resorts of Blackpool and Morecambe. To the east of the M6 lies Lancashire's Hill country which is by far the most attractive and interesting for walking. The beautiful countryside in this region embraces the rugged and varied terrain of the Forest of Bowland, a designated AONB, and the secluded open moors in the South and West Pennines. Pendle, famous for its witches, and the Ribble Valley are both great locations for walking in Lancashire. There are stunning views, attractive villages, lovely rivers and streams, woodland, reservoirs, canal side paths and much else to explore and enjoy. The West Pennine Moors is a designated recreational area in the heart of Lancashire. It extends to 90 square miles, comprising of moorland, valleys, wooded cloughs, forestry, farmland and reservoirs.

The guides below all have walking routes to take you to the most attractive locations in whichever part of Lancashire you want to explore.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Bowland by: Paul Hannon. The Forest of Bowland is one of the country's largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty with tiny Slaidburn its capital. It is a landscape of both grandeur and isolation, of gritstone fells and heather grass moor, and of fine ancient woodlands within its foothill fringes. This guide contains 22 walks, illustrated and concisely described, leading you to the heart of Yorkshire/Lancashire border country. Stride out over the spacious uplands of Parlick, Clougha Pike and Ward's Stone, with wide panoramas of dales and coast. Explore valleys rich in woodland and wildlife, from the Brock and the Lune to the renowned charm of the sparkling Hodder. For each walk the route instructions are supported with a sketch map and notes on points of interest along the way.
	Walking in the Forest of Bowland by: Gladys Sellers. The Forest of Bowland is that extensive area of high moorland so admirably seen from the M6 between Preston and Lancaster. Despite its seeming accessibility it is one of the remotest upland areas of England. In 1964 some 300 square miles were designated as an AONB, but in the high country 62 square miles are private moors with limited access which this guidebook shows the visitor how to use to best advantage. The walks are grouped into five chapters: Chipping and Bleasdale; Slaidburn, Dunsop Bridge and Whitewell; Wyresdale and its fells; the Northern fringe; the Southern fringe. Gladys Sellers is an excellent writer and as usual there's plenty of history to flesh out the walk details and keep you engrossed along the way.
	Best Pub Walks in Lancashire by: Neil Coates. Lancashire possesses a veritable cornucopia of landscapes; from eerie saltmarshes to high moors, and craggy hillsides to lush velvety green watermeadows, every walker's dream is here. Uncluttered and largely undiscovered, this is how walking country should be. And if the walk itself is not reward enough, then a pint or two of real ale at any of the 25 pubs on which the walks are based will be more than adequate recompense. The walks aren't aimed at the dedicated long distance walker, but neither are they for the armchair rambler. Varying between 5 and 11 miles. each walk explores a new facet of this facinating and historic county.
	East Lancashire Walks by: Michael Smout. Visit a haunted house near Warrington; a giant on the banks of the Mersey; deserted hill farms close to Chorley; ancient halls at Wigan and Leyland; an American wood at Aspull; a remote cricket ground near to Bolton. Add to that canals, rivers, streams and secret valleys and here's the recipe for peace and tranquillity away from it all. The 20 routes in this book cover the lowland area west of the Pennines, between Blackburn in the north and Warrington in the south. None is more than six miles in length and all are within an hour's drive from Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, Wigan, Widnes, Warrington and St. Helens.
	West Pennine Walks by: Mike Cresswell. This is the book for all those who love Lancashire, and for those yet to discover its hidden charms. There's superb walking in this compact area nestling in the south-east of the county; rushing streams, narrow valleys, stone-built villages and welcoming small towns; and all so accessible by car and public transport. The 30 routes, all of which are circular, are between 2.5 and 13.5 miles. They can be split and linked, giving up to 100 walks to cater for all tastes and abilities. The first edition appeared in 1988; Mike has now re-walked every route, taking account of changes in the man-made landscape ranging from new gates and stiles to an entire new motorway.
	Pub Walks in Lancashire by: Terry Marsh. This guide contains twenty-five circular rambles amid the hills and valleys of Lancashire. These walks, from 3 to 9 miles, all feature a reviving visit to a traditional Lancashire pub. The routes and many points of interest, natural and man made, are described by experienced writer and walker Terry Marsh. Each walk has a neatly drawn detailed sketch map outlining the route. The walk locations are: Silverdale; Yealand Conyers; Conder Green; Bilsborrow; Slaidburn; Whitewell; Chipping; Sabden; Newton-in-Bowland; Gisburn; Sawley; Downham; Grindleton; Waddington; Hurst Green; Ribchester; Whalley; Haigh; Wigan Pier; Bispham Green; Entwistle; Hoghton; Salterforth; Blacko; Wycoller
	Pendle and the Ribble by: Paul Hannon. At the heart of Lancashire its most famous hill overlooks its major river, and the result is some splendid walking country. This guide contains 22 walks, well illustrated and concisely described, leading you to Pendle Hill's lofty summit and the Ribble's lush banks. Stride out over the moorland heights of Waddington and Longridge Fells, walk through history at Sawley and Whalley. Explore the very heart of the 'Witch Country', and discover beautiful villages such as Waddington and Downham. A short introductory chapter describes the region and throughout the text information is provided on points of interest along the way, as well as practical and safety information.
	West Pennine Moors by: Paul Hannon. The 22 walks in this guide embrace a wide geographical spread, each featuring numerous places of interest and leading you to every corner of this unsung Pennine Walking country. The walk locations are: Great Hill; White Coppice; Anglezarke Moor and reservoir; Winter Hill, from Rivington and from Belmont; Longworth Clough; Turton Moor; Darwen Tower; Roddlesworth Woods and Abbey Village; Darwen Moor; Grey Stone Hill and Calf Hey; Oswaldwistle Moor; Haslingden Grane; Musbury Clough; Holcombe Moor; Peel Tower; Turton Tower; Yarnsdale; Broadhead Clough and Whittlestone Head.
	Walks in the Silverdale and Arnside AONB by: R. Brian Evans. 24 well written and nicely illustrated walking routes as follows: Silverdale, Heald Brow and Woodwell; Silverdale, Heathwaite and Arnside Tower; Crag Foot, Leighton Hall, Silverdale Green; Warton Crag Nature Reserve; Castlebarrow, the Pepper Pot and Eaves Wood Nature Trail; Middlebarrow; Haweswater, Hazelslack and Fairy Steps; Yealand Storrs, Cringlebarrow, Leighton Moss and Trowbarrow; Cringlebarrow and Deepdale Woods from Yealand Redmayne; Shore walk Arnside and Arnside Knott; Milnthorpe, Beetham and Haverbrack Fell; The Beetham Trail; The Cross Sands Walk; Farleton Fell; Hutton Roof Crags (three different routes); Canal circuit from Holme to Farleton Fell and Burton; Canal circuit from Borwick to Cappernwray, River Keer, Yealand Conyers and Tewitfield; Levens Hall and Levens Park.
	Discovery Walks in Lancashire by: Brian Conduit. 30 routes of assorted lengths with a heritage theme. The walk locations are: Silverdale and Leighton Hall; Hornby and the River Lune; Lancaster; Sunderland Point and Overton; The Lune estuary and Cockersand Abbey; Slaidburn, Newton and the River Hodder; Whitewell and Browsholme Hall; Garstang and Calder Vale; Kirkham, Wesham and Wrea Green; Ribchester and the River Ribble; Stonyhurst and Three Rivers; Whalley and the Calder Valley; Clitheroe and Mitton; Downham and Sawley Abbey; Pendle Hill; Wycoller; Hurstwood, Worsthorne and Gorple Road; Witton Country Park and Houghton Tower; Roddlesworth Woodland and Darwen Tower; Haslingden Grane; Mere Sands Wood and Rufford Old Hall; Rivington Country Park; Turton Tower and Last Drop Village; Blackstone Edge; Manchester; Worsley and the Bridgewater Canal; Haigh Hall and Wigan Pier; Formby Point; Liverpool; Croxteth Hall and Country Park.
	Walks in Mysterious Lancashire by: Graham Dugdale. Stride with the Devil at Cockerham; hear of hauntings at Heysham; be chilled in Chipping and Chingle; visit remote Ribbles haunted halls; read of magic and myths in the moorland of Darwen; meet witches, real or imagined, in the landscape around Pendle. History and legend are inextricably linked in this succession of fine walks set in the superb Lancashire landscape. Lucid walking directions and the author's ornate hand drawn maps complement the entertaining commentary. Locations include: Borwick; Warton; Sunderland; Aughton; Hornby; Melling; Cowan Bridge; Cockerham; Garstang; Stocks-in-Bowland; Kirkham; Woodplumpton; Fernyhalgh; Chipping; Samlesbury; Osbaldeston; Brungerley Bridge; Pendle Hill; Croston.
	Walks in Lancashire Witch Country by: Jack Keighley. 30 walks which have starting points within eight miles of Pendle's summit. Locations are: Higham (the heart of witch country); Downham and Twiston; Over Spence Moor; The Vale of Wycoller; Ascent of Pendle Hill from Nick o' Pendle; Three Rivers Walk; Bowland byways; Walverden Reservoir; Noggarth Ridge and Newchurch; Grindleton Fell; Ascent of Weets Hill from Barnoldswick; Sabden; Worsaw Hill; Salley Abbey and the Ribble Gorge; Great Edge and Noyna Rocks; Ascent of Pendle Hill from Barley; Waddington; Canalside walk in Craven; Nick o' Pendle from Wiswell; Roughlee and the water meetings; Bracewell; Ascent of Pendle Hill from Worston; Read Heights; White Moor and Admergill Water; Whalley and the Nab; Ascent of Boulsworth Hill from Trawden; Kelbrook Moor; Gisburne Park and Paythorne.
	North West Rail Trails by: Gordon Suggitt. 25, mostly circular, routes from 2 to 5 miles which give considerable insight into how the development of the railways influenced the industries, towns and countryside of Lancashire and Greater Manchester. For an even more 'in depth' exploration of the area, the walks contain sections of canal paths and pass through landscape as varied as heritage sites, country parks and nature reserves. The walk locations are: Caton to Halton; Glasson Dock; Earby; Preston Junction; Abbey Village; Rishton; Accrington to Baxenden; Helmshore; Irwell Vale; Tottington; Stacksteads; Britannia; Whitworth; Adlington; Haigh; Pennington; Tyldesley; Worsley; Outwood; Grotton to Lees; Park Bridge; Mossley; Delph.
	Village Walks in Lancashire by: Nick Burton. Within Lancashire's villages, close by, lies a rich heritage of ancient manor houses, farms, abbeys, mill workers' cottages, parish churches, rivers and footpaths. The twenty routes in this book introduce the walker to a nature reserve, a bird watching sanctuary, a craft centre, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Silverdale and the Forest of Bowland. The villages on which the routes are based have been carefully chosen for their interest and beauty. Among those not to be missed are Slaidburn, Chipping, Wrea Green, Wheelton and Parbold. In addition there is a brief history of the featured village and a seperate section about other places of interest to visit nearby. The walks vary in length from 2 to 8.5 miles. Temporarily out of print.
	Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire by: Terry Marsh. Enjoy Lancashire at its best with these fifty glorious walks. There are short woodland walks, riverside rambles and invigorating excursions on the West Pennine Moors and in the Forest of Bowland. Text gives an insight into the history of the area, an example of industrial archaeology, an illustration of a geological formation or some particularly spectacular scenery. There is a spellbinding excursion into Pendle witch country, a glimpse of the past at Hornby Castle and a bracing walk in the wild scenery of the Forest of Bowland. Add the gentler charms of walking by canals and along quiet river valleys, and you will be swayed to Terry Marsh's view that Lancashire's places of beauty and expanses of good walking country really are worth many a visit. Title is now out of print, but may be available at libraries.