Wonderful West Lancashire Walks

A varied collection of hikes in the northwest of England which will take you from canals to beaches and moorland.

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Looking across the dunes to the beach

by Charlie Boscoe

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Formby Beach

by Charlie Boscoe

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The sort of walkway which characterises much of the route

by Charlie Boscoe

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Typically charming terrain in the woods

by Charlie Boscoe

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It's hard to get lost with these marking every junction!

by Charlie Boscoe

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There's no shortage of information en route!

by Charlie Boscoe

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At the Rufford Junction

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking at the canal from the stone bridge in Parbold

by Charlie Boscoe

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The gorgeous stone bridge close to Burscough

by Charlie Boscoe

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Typically charming scenes on the route

by Charlie Boscoe

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Arriving at the stone bridge

by Charlie Boscoe

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Beginning the section next to the river

by Charlie Boscoe

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Heading across Croston Moss towards the wind turbines

by Charlie Boscoe

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Getting onto Croston Moss

by Charlie Boscoe

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Heading for the wind turbines on the way back to the village.

by Charlie Boscoe

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A peaceful track on the way back to Gales Lane.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The woods just off Black Moor Road

by Charlie Boscoe

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Entering the moss proper

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking towards Winter Hill on the traverse over to the Harrock Hill windmill.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Just above the canal, on the beginning of the first climb.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking back down towards the canal on the way up to the Beacon

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking north from the Beacon

by Charlie Boscoe

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Dalton Beacon

by Charlie Boscoe

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Racing the daylight on the way back down to the canal.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The small but scenic High Bullogh Reservoir

by Charlie Boscoe

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On the start of the stroll to White Coppice.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Descending into the forests from the Moorland

by Charlie Boscoe

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On the way up to Great Hill

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking across to Winter Hill from Great Hill

by Charlie Boscoe

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Yarrow Reservoir

by Charlie Boscoe

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Peaceful woods on the way down to Yarrow Reservoir

by Charlie Boscoe

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Barren views on the moorland

by Charlie Boscoe

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Description

With Liverpool and Manchester to the south-west and south-east respectively, Preston to the north and traditional industrial towns all around, West Lancashire isn't somewhere you'd naturally assume has good hiking, and whilst much of the area is urban, there are also some gorgeous pockets of countryside for hikers to enjoy.

This guidebook showcases the diversity of hiking which can be found in West Lancashire, and in here you'll find a peaceful stroll alongside a canal, a journey across a famous beach, a loop over barren moorland, and just about everything in between. By doing all of these hikes you'll see much of north-west England as you drive between the Merseyside coast and the Pennine Hills, stopping off on the Lancashire plains in between.

One of the beauties of Lancashire is not just its hiking, but also it's proximity to both Snowdonia - https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/34958/the-10-finest-day-hikes-in-snowdonia - and the Lake District - https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/34491/in-the-heart-of-the-lake-district-:-ambleside-hikes. Suffice to say that there's a summer's worth of hiking for those who are keen and willing to explore the underrated north-west corner of England!

Adventures

Rufford plains

A lovely - and remarkably flat - journey alongside rivers and across huge, open plains.

Harrock Hill Loop

A bucolic stroll through some lovely fields and past some fascinating ruins.

Great Hill Loop

A varied trip through quiet forests and across barren moorland.