The stile into a ditch and electric fence, photographed by Burnroyd, looked unsafe, although I didn't see it myself, as I was on the alternative route....

Mary Oz

This route is a mixture of mostly little-used farm field paths and quiet country roads. There are a lot of stiles (sometimes a bit rickety) and narrow bridges, and some lack of signposting, but it is a very pleasant rural route, with good views across expansive farmland, and quiet enough for curlew and hares. Apart from the short section of B road at the north it was very quiet, and the B road was not too bad....

Mary Oz

A section of country road leads to a field crossing with nice views all around. I could see where the route crossed a field by an unused footpath, but it was easier to follow the farm track which wiggled around the field edge. Then a wooded footpath (with snowdrops and wild garlic) leads to Ladyewell Shrine and via another muddy field, to the footbridge over the motorway. The Slow Way route proceeds along a 150-metre section of road before reaching the cycle track route 6 to head north. This is a mixed, mostly pleasant and rural route, which is a bit let down by some muddy unused field paths with some navigation issues....

Mary Oz

The footbridge over the M6, with a stile at each end, will make this route impractical for some people, as will later features of the walk. I didn’t find any problems navigating the section to and through Fell Foot Farm/Staveley’s Eggs, although I was forewarned to take care with navigation by Burnroyd’s photo survey. I could then see the long low buildings of the farm, headed towards them, then kept to the south of them, where the footpath signs showed. The gate to the north east (see Burnroyd’s photo) is intimidating to vehicle traffic, but there is a permanent opening for walkers....

Mary Oz

It is possible to stay on the railway line a bit longer than this route says, but sadly, not all the way into Grimsargh, and it is necessary to use the pavement alongside the fairly busy B6243, until a tricky road crossing takes the route back onto the old railway line briefly, through a narrow strip of parkland. The footpath away from the industrial estate and on to Green Nook Lane was tricky to spot, but it leads to a pleasant route into Longridge, culminating, appropriately, at the former railway station, now a café....

Mary Oz

The first part of the route broadly follows the peaceful and scenic River Hodder valley, apart from bypassing the village of Dunsop Bridge to traverse Hodder Bank Fell. The route leaves the Hodder Valley at Doeford Bridge and the route from here to Gibbon Bridge involves a potentially difficult stream crossing and parts of the footpath are impassable due to vegetation....

Burnroyd

There are limited facilities between Garstang and Longridge, but refreshments may be available (subject to opening times) at a couple of pubs on or close to the route and there are a handful of good farm shops with minor diversion from the route....

Burnroyd

Between Clitheroe and Hurst Green, this is largely easy-going terrain with no real navigational issues; there are a few gates, stiles and narrow footbridges and the climb from the river up to Hurst Green includes some rough and muddy steps....

Burnroyd

There are a number of potential obstacles, including steps, stiles, gates, narrow bridges and associated short rough sections, which may make the route unsuitable for those with limited mobility. There are a couple of very short sections where it may be necessary to adapt the route due to access issues (described in a route survey) but these are fairly straightforward....

Burnroyd

The largely rural section between Longridge and Grimsargh is pleasant enough; it has a few potential obstacles, including stiles, unsurfaced tracks and livestock, but there is an alternative route on the paved footpaths alongside the B6243 between these two places....

Burnroyd

Whilst the route is clear, in that it largely follows the main road, there is a significantly lower density of waypoints than is typical, which I do not think is in keeping with most of the other Slow Ways routes....

Burnroyd