Best walks from Kirkham and Wesham

Kirkham and Wesham Station to Preston Station

A route using quiet roads (with pavements until past Treales) for the first third and the Lancaster Canal towpath for most of the rest and generally very pleasant though the first canal section can be very muddy after rain. A flight of shallow steps down to the towpath; the canal becomes more urban approaching Preston. Passes the entrance to the Millennium Ribble Link, a canalised river opened in 2002 connecting the Lancaster Canal to the River Ribble; detour possible at Haslam Park.

14km.

The first stretch of the canal path can be very muddy after rain. The first half of the canal is within the emergency zone for the Westinghouse nuclear fuel works (test siren on the first Tuesday of certain months).

Lunch stops: the Hand and Dagger, or the Final Whistle cafe.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Blackpool North Station to Kirkham and Wesham Station

A varied route through parks and woods between Blackpool and Staining, then farm tracks and field paths parallel to the railway, with some long grass and parallel cycle paths that can confuse. Avoids a fast and narrow pavement-less road between Weeton and Wesham. Passes through Stanley Park, with its Art Deco cafe building; woods carpeted with wild garlic in spring; Staining lies about a third of the way along.

17km.

Lunch: Staining, about a third of the way, has a pub and a convenience shop.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Poulton-le-Fylde Station to Kirkham and Wesham Station

15km. Gentle ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

St Annes-on-the-Sea Station to Kirkham and Wesham Station

A very road-based route, hard-surfaced throughout, with some quiet country roads without pavements and some nicer off-road sections along Green Drive and the promenade between Lytham and St Annes. The Fylde is low-lying and wet and so field footpaths are often wet and poorly maintained. A variation using roads to avoid the flooded footpath at Eastham Hall.

16km.

Some quiet country roads have no pavements, and busier roads have narrow pavements (about a metre wide).

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route