The road section after Treales feels long, but it's a very low traffic road so not a problem....

Isabel

The first 1.5km is uninspiring main road into Preston, but the walk surprisingly turns left at Pious X school through attractive woodland and bog land which will undoubtedly have wildlife....

William Huxham

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

From Newton with Scales to Lea Town the walking was mostly on minor roads without footpaths I really didn’t enjoy this part of the walk....

Stearsb

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

It is necessary to go around the car park and into Avenham Park via East Cliff Road, as per PreLey Two....

Mary Oz

The route meets the Lancaster Canal at the Hand and Dagger pub which appears to be open, including for food, from 12 every day, except Mondays and Tuesdays. The canal is also in the path of the new M55 link road construction, but I don’t think that will cause disruption to this route now, as the bridge looks complete. This canalised river, Savick Brook, was opened in 2002 to connect the Lancaster Canal to the River Ribble and the rest of the canal network, for the first time in its history. The road route from here to Preston Station passes St Walburge’s Church with its incredible spire, and then several county council buildings....

Mary Oz

The designer of this route wouldn’t have known, but it also happens that there are major road works going on here which block this farm track....

Mary Oz

The route follows this canal past a few locks, on a tarmacked cycle track, then crosses some pleasant housing to reach Ashton Park. After this there is Riversway Docklands, with some refreshment options, and then (via a level-crossing of a small heritage railway line) the cycle path alongside the River Ribble for most of the remainder of the route to Preston Station....

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

Leaving Preston via the car park and East Cliff Road, Avenham Park is accessed via some steps and sloping paths. A few more quiet roads (with a bench near the middle) take the route to the second rail-side field crossing of this Slow Way, which is a bit more pleasant, finishing around the side of an industrial park, and onto the road again....

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

On leaving Freckleton, it is necessary to cross the busy dual carriageway A584 then walk alongside it on the grass verge until the footpath it spotted, hidden behind a tree. This takes you into open fields (which could be muddy) where the changed field boundaries mean the route has changed slightly, but it isn’t too bad to navigate if you look ahead for the crossing points. Another footpath takes you under a pylon to the busy A583 dual carriageway, which is a slightly tricky road to cross....

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

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

Overall, not a particularly glamorous route, although it starts with a 3km trek through Avenham Park, across the River Ribble bridge and southwards via great tracks in quiet green surroundings. The remainder includes some busy roads through Lostock Hall and Leyland and the off-road sections run directly alongside the West Coast Main Line railway. One such section was overgrown and not pleasant to navigate....

sasumner

From Preston railway station the route goes through the pedestrianised shopping centre, past a Shopmobility centre, then heads up past cafes and shops, then the university campus (UCLAN). It passes through housing areas to reach the A6 next to Moor Park. The historic Observatory can be seen in Moor Park, and the A6 is a wide straight road with interesting large old houses either side....

Mary Oz

I think this route would probably be accessible for good mobility scooters and buggies with the odd bit of judicious road crossing to avoid certain kerbs and overgrown hedges, but I have no personal experience to judge this....

Mary Oz

Doesn't really add anything to what any navigation App would suggest as it follows major/busy roads through North Preston. All roads suggested have pavements and pedestrian crossings are available where necessary. One of many possible urban routes between Fulwood and Preston City Centre; direct but not very interesting....

AndyMolyneaux

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

From there surely the old A59 through Much Hoole, Little Hoole, Walmer Bridge and Longton would be a better slow route, with a wee detour round the Brickcroft at Longton....

Wendy G