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

Also, 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

Follow 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

You 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

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 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

This 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

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