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
Walking in Lancashire is recommended to all walkers seeking the "Red Rose County (that) has it all."
Walking in Lancashire is a new addition to Cicerone's excellent collection of walking guides, although it is not a new title. Mark Sutcliffe was asked to update the late Mary Welsh's book of the same title. He is suitably qualified to do so. As well as being a Lancastrian, he is an experienced outdoor writer and editor of magazines such as Countryfile and Trail.
Walking in Lancashire is in Cicerone's usual compact format but includes a new feature: folded covers which stiffen the book and conveniently contains a map of Lancashire marked with the walks' numbers and a contents listing for ease of reference. I would have liked to see the covers being slightly wider so they could also serve as bookmarks.
Like the publisher's other walking guides, it is in very clear and easy to read layout and designed to be carried in a hand. The guide starts with a brief introduction of Lancashire's countryside and a potted history of the County Palatine of Lancashire, descriptions of its geology and wildlife, and practical information. Interestingly, the author makes reference to neglected footpath maintenance, stating the quality of stiles, etc varies quite widely across the county, but praises Pendle, Blackburn and Wyre for their "excellent job".
There are forty walks which are well distributed throughout the county, covering less obvious areas as well as the hotspots in the Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley, Pendle and West Pennines. The walks are circular and 5-10 miles long with most being around 7 miles long. One notable exception is the two-day 28 mile linear Bowland Traverse which includes what Alfred Wainwright described as "the best moorland walk in England". Each walk is headed with useful details of the start/finish locations, distance, total ascent, time, map number, refreshments, parking and public transport where available. These are followed by a short summary of the route. The routes are succinctly written with descriptions of highlighted features that do not interfere with its flow, and are accompanied by colour extracts of an OS 1:50k map clearly showing the route and colour photographs.
After the walks, there is a route summary table and blank pages for notes. In case any 'signpost baggers' are wondering, there is one photograph of a PNFS signpost in the book. As a Lancastrian, I found Walking in Lancashire to be a refreshing addition to my library of walking books of my county. As I've said on a previous review (Signpost 65), a Cicerone's walking guide has about everything what I want out of one. It is designed to be read easily whilst enjoying some of the most beautiful walking in the country. Walking in Lancashire is recommended to all walkers seeking the "Red Rose County (that) has it all."
- Shirley M Addy, Editor, Footpath Inspector, Courts and Inquiries Officer