Great walks to explore in South Ribble
South Ribble's eclectic blend of landscapes makes it the perfect region for walking in the wilderness, and what better time to start discovering some of its best routes with friends and family than during the festive period?
The temperature has never stopped Brits enjoying a Boxing Day or New Year's Day walk, so we've prepared a list of local walks to help you burn off those cracking Christmas dinners and fabulously festive cocktails.
Short 'N' Sweet
A walk can be long or short, it's all about personal preference. A short, brisk walk gets us up out of the house and into the fresh air, but make sure to wrap up at this time of year!
The shorter walks in the region typically take less than an hour to complete, pace dependent of course, and they will help you hit that 10k steps mark for the day.
Farington Lodge
Farington Lodge's walk is a 1.5-mile loop around the grounds, starting in the car park and following the footpath round to the main roads on either side of the tracks.
You'll walk along Church Lane to Croston Road after turning right out of the kissing gate. Turn right onto the footpath and follow it past the double roundabouts before turning onto Flensburgh Way and taking the footpath back to Lodge Lane and the carpark.
The walk should take around 45 minutes and is across a mixture of pavement and soft walking path, so all comfortable footwear is suitable.
Tardy Gate
You can do a gentle walk around Tardy Gate in just under an hour. It's a popular walk for families as you can look out for trains when you reach the tracks.
If you start at the Hope Terrace car park and walk to Croston Road, turn left and walk towards the village and onto Coote Lane. Aim for Hern Avenue and follow it to the playing fields, following Croston Road again under the bridge.
Turn left onto Wellfield Road and head towards Morland Avenue, walking on the path through the trees and follow it through the park.
It's a pleasant 1.5 mile walk on mainly dry terrain and the park at the end makes it perfect for a dog walk.
Penwortham Heritage Trail
The trail is the perfect chance to see all the sights of Penwortham, making it a popular walk with people who are new to the area.
The walk starts at the Black Bull Inn, one of the oldest pubs in the area, before heading to King's Fold Farm and then onto Daniel's Farm which dates back to 1738. St. Leonard's Church is the next stop and then the regal Penwortham Hall that was built in 1800.
Walk through Middleforth green to reach the Pear Tree Inn and the Methodist Chapel. Manor Cottages on Greenbank Road is your next stop before finishing with the Fire Station and Penwortham Old Bridge / the Bridge Inn.
The trail is a great way to take in the areas heritage and doubles up as a pub crawl with some added culture.
Longer Wanders
South Ribble has plenty of walks that will keep you out of the house for the day, just make sure you wear the right footwear - you don't want to turn around halfway!
The region is blessed with woodland areas, waterways and village paths, so there is a walk for everyone. Here are some of the longer ones:
Nabs Head, Samlesbury walk
The Nabs Head walk is a ramble through all the different types of countryside that South Ribble has to offer so waterproofs are highly recommended. Parts of the walk can be strenuous as you follow footpaths close to the river valley.
It is a five mile walk in a relative loop, crossing the river Darwen at three different points and walking beside it in the final stretch. You can see Darwen tower, Hoghton tower and the stunning valleys around them during the opening leg of the journey.
As you get to the end, on a clear day, you'll be able to see the sea as you look out over Preston and beyond.
It is a very scenic walk, suited to people with some experience walking who will be able to navigate the tougher portions.
St. Mary's Parish Boundary walk
A lengthy but relatively easy walk - it is a 7.74-mile, cyclical route around the boundary of Higher Penwortham. It usually takes around three hours to complete and is suitable for walkers, wheelchairs and cyclists.
As a walk around a parish boundary, there are a number of religious artefacts to spot along the way, like the local churches and cross statue.
Penwortham is one of Lancashire's ancient parishes with its origins in the 11th century, meaning the walk is rich in religious history.
Start at St Mary's church and walk clockwise round Higher Penwortham, along the edge of Penwortham and past Hutton on the final stretch back to your starting point.
St Mary's Parish Boundary Walk
Did this blog make you dig out your walking boots?
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