For me, the route became really nice from Hoghton onwards, with wide views across Lancashire’s hills, and a gorgeous area descending from the railway to Hoghton Bottoms. The last section through the outskirts of Blackburn followed the Blackburn Stride and Ride route (including a couple of annoying parked cars), and ended with a nice walk around the cathedral to the station....

Mary Oz

It's only the 500m section between North Bank Farm and Denham Springs Farm that is wet and muddy (most of the year I guess!). Pleasant rural footpaths take you to Hill Foot Farm before reaching North Bank Farm where the footpath quality declines rapidly....

greengibbo77

The final third of the walk became a bit tricky starting from when the route went under the M6. I wouldn't recommend it to women walking alone which is a shame because it's only a tiny bit of the overall walk!...

JessGreen

The route followed the River Lostock, and I was 65% through the route by the time I left the park altogether. This was once a short section of the Lancaster Canal which joined the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Johnson’s Hillock. The path went through the edge of a horse field, via stiles, and along the back of gardens to descend a slippery, steep, muddy path (a bit overgrown with Himalayan Balsam at the time) to go under the motorway. The path the other side, continuing along the River Lostock, was muddy and a bit overgrown too, but all these paths appear to be in use....

Mary Oz

When I walked this route, in September 2023, starting at Bamber Bridge, the footpath after crossing the A6 by its roundabout with the M6, was closed....

Mary Oz

Leaving the woods to cross fields the route is well signposted as Witton Weavers Way. The good waymarking and lovely route of WWW continues, often with glimpses of Preston in the distance, until you’ve crossed the River Darwen. There is a bit of paved road walking, two motorways to walk under, and a wooded footpath alongside the railway, before the route emerges close to the Bamber Bridge meeting point by the station....

Mary Oz

The “rural” section was very well signposted, but had electric fences restricting the width of the initial footpath. Someone helpful from the farm directed me through the gate instead and said the electric fences are only there in late winter/early spring because of the sheep....

Mary Oz

The access from Bristol Avenue to cross the A5083 to the “rural” section next to the M6, is incorrectly shown on this Slow Way, but is only wrong by a few tens of metres. The “rural” section was very well signposted, but had electric fences restricting the width of the initial footpath....

Mary Oz

The entrance to the cycle path that forms the bulk of this route, is through a cycle barrier which is 62cms wide at the top (see photo). The cycle track is a really pleasant rural route right into Preston....

Mary Oz

Exiting Preston centre via East Cliff Road (rather than the inaccessible place shown), it takes you through Avenham Park, across the River Ribble bridge and southwards to join the Old Tramway route through to Bamber Bridge. It’s all very green, flat, comfortable and quiet with only the last 1.5km in a built-up area. Requires a short detour via Brownedge Road underpass to avoid crossing the A6 roundabout....

sasumner

This is mostly easy strolling on the flat paths of Cuerden Valley Park, which is entered immediately on leaving Bamber Bridge. After leaving the park at Whittle-le-Woods, the route gets challenging for the final third: tricky navigation to find the long dark tunnel under the M61, some rough/steep terrain, and a climb up to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to reach Wheelton. Excellent route!...

sasumner

This is probably the optimum route between Leyland and Bamber Bridge, although it is mostly on fairly busy and/or residential roads. There is a short off-road section midway, the access to which from Bristol Avenue includes a flight of steps which is in a slightly different location to the gpx route....

sasumner

Requires careful navigation through the fields at Gregson Lane but otherwise it’s a clear route, including a loop to avoid the collapsed bridge over the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms. There are two railway level crossings (at Gregson Lane and Hoghton) and some steep sections....

sasumner