Connect Blackburn (Lancashire) with Slow Ways
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Give a hike!Blackburn (Lancashire)
Lancashire
Slow Ways linking Blackburn (Lancashire) and Bamber Bridge, Darwen, Great Harwood, Longridge, Oswaldtwistle, Preston, Rishton, Whalley, Wheelton
England / Lancashire / Blackburn (Lancashire)
Blackburn (Lancashire)’s nine Slow Ways are 44% checked
Help connect Blackburn (Lancashire)
Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.
Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.
Give a hike and help get a for every one of Blackburn (Lancashire)’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Blackburn (Lancashire) from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
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Bamber Bridge—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Bambla two |
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4 X |
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Verify me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent 187m | Descent 118m | ||
Bamber Bridge—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Bambla three |
|
4 X |
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Review me | Distance 15km/10mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Darwen
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Bladar one |
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|
U U |
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Double check | Distance 7km/4mi | Ascent 105m | Descent 163m | |
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Great Harwood
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Blagre one |
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U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 8km/5mi | Ascent 107m | Descent 97m | ||
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Oswaldtwistle
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Blaosw one |
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U U |
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Review me | Distance 6km/4mi | Ascent 77m | Descent 123m | ||
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Rishton
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Blaris one |
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U U |
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Double check | Distance 7km/4mi | Ascent 66m | Descent 91m | |
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Rishton
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Blaris two |
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2 X |
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Review me | Distance 7km/4mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Whalley
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Blawha one |
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U U |
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Review me | Distance 13km/8mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Blackburn (Lancashire)—Whalley
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Blawha two |
|
U U |
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Review me | Distance 12km/7mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Longridge—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Lonbla one |
|
U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 17km/10mi | Ascent 296m | Descent 302m | ||
Preston—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Prebla one |
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U U |
|
Review me | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent 356m | Descent 267m | ||
Preston—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Prebla two |
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4 X |
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Review me | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Preston—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Prebla three |
|
U U |
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Review me | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Wheelton—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Whebla one |
|
U U |
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Pioneer me | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent 399m | Descent 396m | ||
Wheelton—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Whebla two |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 128m | Descent 131m | |
Wheelton—Blackburn (Lancashire)
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Whebla three |
|
2 X |
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Verify me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent - | Descent - |
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
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Collective progress
53% of Blackburn (Lancashire)’s nine route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
16/16
13/16
5/16
0/16
7 people have contributed to Blackburn (Lancashire)’s Slow Ways
2 people have pledged to walk and review a route
6 people have surveyed a route in Blackburn (Lancashire)
175km out of 218km have been walked and reviewed
205km of reviews have been shared in Blackburn (Lancashire)
Latest Updates
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
Pick up the canal after 3/4 mile and the walk remains on the towpath until half a mile from Wheelton centre and the Red Lion....
William Huxham
There was a tiny section of quiet road at the Wheelton end, but apart from the ends, the entire route was along the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
Mary Oz
Mary Oz added Whebla three, a new walk from Wheelton to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeAlso, at the Wheelton end of the route, the footpath leaving the canal is currently closed due to a big hole in the path where I think it has collapsed....
Mary Oz
The only amendment I would suggest is to ignore the part where the path leaves the canal towpath and tracks through the streets of Little Harwood and the Philips Road Industrial Estate. Specifically, the path leaves and/or rejoins the canal towpath at SD 69539 28673 (What 3 Words ///wiring.dates.dices) and SD 70654 30152 (W3W ///tells.motion.trying)....
AndrewH
My only word of caution is when you need to cross Ribchester Rd near to the Wilpshire Hotel ///logo.round.ducks. As you look before crossing traffic heading to Whalley is stopped but the filter lane to Ribchester Rd is on green which makes it a dangerous crossing in my mind....
Stearsb
Stearsb added Blawha two, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Whalley
Walk this routeStearsb added Prebla three, a new walk from Preston to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeFollow the footpaths past the car parks towards a bridge and a striking building on East cliff. The section of the walk to Bamber Bridge is very enjoyable, it’s a good surface, you have to cross a minor road and there is a narrow gap 62 cm but it should present any issues (see picture). The route through Billinge wood is tricky to follow and you may want to head to Billinge End road when you get to ///given.dark.warm (the map suggests that there are mountain bike trails in the wood, although I didn’t encounter any bikes). After you exit the wood you follow Under Billinge lane, this is a very quiet track without a footpath (apart from the section just before you reach Lawley road)....
Stearsb
The train station is a good meeting point as it was easy for our out of town members to reach....
FourSeason Walking and Hiking Club
FourSeason Walking and Hiking Club took this photo on Blaosw one
Walk this routeFourSeason Walking and Hiking Club pledged to walk Blagre one
Walk this routeFourSeason Walking and Hiking Club pledged to walk Blaosw one
Walk this routeYou leave the towpath in Blackburn via an open pub car park. I think the canal towpath is probably the ideal route for this largely urban Slow Way....
Mary Oz
I haven't actually walked this but I investigated the motorway roundabout on Google streetview. There is no traffic control on and off the M65 roundabout for several of the essential crossings, in both directions round the roundabout. Also I suspect footpath from the roundabout will therefore be little used may be overgrown or blocked....
Mary Oz
Mary Oz added Blaris two, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Rishton
Walk this routeMary Oz added Bambla three, a new walk from Bamber Bridge to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeLeaving 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 route passes Blackburn Cathedral, and then the college. 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. I have walked the remainder of the route before, as PreBam Two, and it is very nice and very easy (once you’ve walked a couple of suburban roads), all along a quite rural-feeling cycle track, before you cross the River Ribble and arrive into Avenham Park and the centre of Preston....
Mary Oz
Mary Oz added Prebla two, a new walk from Preston to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeStrider added Blawha one, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Whalley
Walk this routemaslo added Whebla two, a new walk from Wheelton to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeThis isn't an ideal Slow Ways route because of the extent of road walking but I am familiar with the area and in my view this is the best option for a direct walking route, comprising a mix off off-road paths (some tarmac) and quiet roads. Some more quiet road walking follows, there is then a lovely section through Alum House Wood and across fields before joining the Witton Weavers Way at Close Farm. About half a mile later the recommended route leaves the Witton Weavers Way at SD 64465 27601 (///hungry.wells.sting) but thereafter a short section near Lower Fold appears to go through a back garden....
AndrewH
At one point close to the River Darwen the route became impassable with impenetrable scrub across the path so we had to retrace our steps and find a way round to meet the path again further on. Apart from that the route is very accessible but with little of interest along the way although it did cross over other planned walkways featuring the areas industrial path several times...
Ian Metcalfe
sasumner added Bambla two, a new walk from Bamber Bridge to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeRequires 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
F Berry added Blagre one, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Great Harwood
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Bladar one, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Darwen
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Blaosw one, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Oswaldtwistle
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Blaris one, a new walk from Blackburn (Lancashire) to Rishton
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Lonbla one, a new walk from Longridge to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Prebla one, a new walk from Preston to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Whebla one, a new walk from Wheelton to Blackburn (Lancashire)
Walk this routeBlackburn (Lancashire)’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SD6846227909
Lat / Lon
53.74662° / -2.47968°
Easting / Northing
368,463E / 427,910N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Blackburn (Lancashire) and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Blackburn (Lancashire)'s meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket or convenience shop
Restaurant, cafe or pub
Accommodation
Accommodation for under £50 a night
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town
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