Walks you can reach from Lostock Hall by train

Blackburn Station to Rishton Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from Lostock Hall.

A largely urban route that is mostly along the canal towpath, avoiding a nasty motorway roundabout. The towpath is gravel or degraded tarmac with a couple of uneven patches; there are some interesting old mills and but a lot of pylons and nearby roads. Some interesting old mills along the towpath. Dragonflies and a weasel were seen.

7km.

There are cycle barriers and a couple of uneven patches on the towpath. Leaving the towpath in Blackburn involves an unavoidable kerb and a cobblestone roadway.

Lunch: A cafe at Home Bargains in the retail park near the midpoint (accessed via steps).

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Bamber Bridge Station to Blackburn Station (Lancashire)

3m direct from Lostock Hall.

some spectacular scenery through Hoghton and Pleasington. A mostly picturesque and enjoyable route with wide views across Lancashire's hills, including a gorgeous descent to Hoghton Bottoms and a section through Witton Country Park. Fields can be very waterlogged and parts (especially around gates) exceptionally muddy after wet weather; a mossy ford and stepping stones to cross and plus some steep sections and two railway level crossings. Includes a 1.5km detour to use the next footbridge after the collapsed bridge over the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms; passes through Witton Country Park.

16km. Moderate ascents.

Two railway level crossings (at Gregson Lane and Hoghton); careful navigation needed through the fields at Gregson Lane. The road at Butler's Bridge can be very busy (a playing field alongside avoids it). Some steep sections. Can be muddy.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Preston Station to Blackburn Station (Lancashire)

8m direct from Lostock Hall.

A long route with a very enjoyable, good-surfaced opening section to Bamber Bridge and with a minor road to cross and a narrow 62 cm gap. Avenham Park near the start has free toilets.

20km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Blackburn Station to Whalley Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from Lostock Hall.

A wheel-friendly route on good surfaces through the centre and suburbs of Blackburn, where cars often park partly on the pavement and opening into more interesting countryside with improving views after Ramsgreave & Wilpshire. Passes Ramsgreave & Wilpshire and Langho stations, useful for doing only part of the walk; also served by several buses.

11km.

Take care crossing Ribchester Road near the Wilpshire Hotel, where a sweeping filter lane carries traffic at speed.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kirkham and Wesham Station to Preston Station (Lancashire)

8m direct from Lostock Hall.

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

Preston Station to Leyland Station (Lancashire)

8m direct from Lostock Hall.

A mix of shared cycle paths along a former railway line, pavements, quiet country lanes and rougher rail-side field paths with livestock. The opening cycle track, raised above its surroundings, is popular and pleasant; the field paths hug the railway fence with stiles and a narrow gap between an electric fence and the railway fence. The first third is pleasant and the rest more tedious.

9km.

Steps and stiles make it foot-only. A field footpath south of the West Coast Main Line was guarded by horses and can be muddy. A narrow 50cm gap between an electric fence and the railway fence needs care.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Blackburn Station to Darwen Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from Lostock Hall.

A largely pavement walk (around 80%) between two urban centres and passing through industrial areas and some neglected neighbourhoods with little greenery. Near the River Darwen the path can become impassable with dense scrub.

Tough: steep ascents. 7km.

Close to the River Darwen the route can be impassable with impenetrable scrub across the path, requiring a detour to rejoin further on.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Church and Oswaldtwistle Station to Accrington Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from Lostock Hall.

A short, direct and predominantly off-road walk along the Hyndburn Greenway, a tree-covered former railway track bed (part of National Cycle Route 6) following the train line. Even, good-condition surface with lighting; some noticeable gradients joining and leaving the old railway formation and but no restrictive barriers. A short graffitied underpass passes below the active railway.

2km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Rishton Station to Church and Oswaldtwistle Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from Lostock Hall.

A short, pleasant route that leaves the residential edges of the towns to join the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, with a very good and well-drained tarmac towpath and expansive views east towards Pendle Hill. The constant drone of the M65 motorway is ever-present along the canal. The towpath crosses the Dunkenhalgh Aqueduct over the M65.

Easy: 2km, moderate ascents.

A barrier and slope at the canal bridge, plus width-restricted barriers along the route.

Lunch stop: Canal View Cafe.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Accrington Station to Hapton Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from Lostock Hall.

Field and woodland paths with some good views either side of the A56 and plus a few muddy and potentially overgrown sections. Crosses the railway and motorway at the Hapton end. A short diversion to Huncoat from the roundabout near the middle gives access to a pub, a small supermarket and bus stops.

Tough: steep ascents. 6km.

There is a dodgy stile above the A56 where a leaning stone slab looks as if it could fall onto your foot. Take care at the level crossing near Hapton. Can be muddy.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Hapton Station to Burnley Central Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from Lostock Hall.

the magnificent viaduct leading to the station. A route mainly along the canal towpath, which feels almost rural despite frequent encounters with the railway and M65, plus a short wooded section towards Burnley. The canal passes through a tunnel, negotiated via cycle-track underpasses and with one slip-road crossing. The route passes an aqueduct over the motorway and a magnificent viaduct near Burnley. Some facilities at Rose Grove near the middle. Hapton is a request stop.

6km.

Motorway noise is significant at times. At one point the cycle track crosses a motorway slip road, but it is immediately after a roundabout with good visibility.

Lunch: Some facilities not far off route at Rose Grove, near the middle.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Burnley Central Station to Brierfield Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from Lostock Hall.

A short, easy and flat route, almost entirely along the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which feels surprisingly rural apart from some motorway noise. A tarmac path links the canal to each station and with a steps-or-ramp choice to reach the towpath. Enters the Brun Valley Forest Park near Burnley Central. Wildlife includes moorhens and orchids; benches about a third of the way along, but otherwise no facilities unless you leave the path at Barden Lane.

Easy: 4km, moderate ascents.

A cycle barrier near Brierfield station is only about 40cm wide at the top and around 1.5m high. The towpath under bridge 134 may be closed, but it is easy to cross over the top.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route