Walks you can reach from New Lane by train

Southport Station to Burscough Junction Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from New Lane.

A long route mixing well-paved residential roads, earthen and tarmacked footpaths, long unpaved embanked roads with no verges, field paths crossing turf fields and farmland, with stiles and little footbridges and level crossings. The final section follows a canal and drops into reedbeds. Can be split at New Lane station, which the route passes.

17km. Flat terrain.

A long, unpaved and often busy verge-less road built on embankments, including a humpback bridge over an old railway line that hides oncoming vehicles to the last minute, makes for a hair-raising and potentially dangerous section. Two level crossings with stair-stile access.

Lunch stops in burscough: the Farmer's Arms, or the Slipway.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Hindley Station to Atherton Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from New Lane.

A fairly direct route along a quiet road with fields on one side, then footpaths through woods and across fields, with a cut through Central Park towards the finish. Some sections off-road can be overgrown and one footpath surfaced with broken roof tiles. Finishes at St John's Church, Atherton.

7km.

A blind bend when crossing Coupland Road from the south; one short footpath was so overgrown it was easier to stay on the road.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Formby Station to Southport Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from New Lane.

A scenic route. A scenic, easy-to-follow coastal walk on generally well-maintained paths, leaving Formby through a golf course and pine forest and then following the Trans Pennine Trail beside sand dunes and marram grass before a roadside stretch into Southport. Mostly flat; the woods have rougher pounded-earth paths with rises and falls. Follows the Trans Pennine Trail for a section; both ends are on the same railway line, and the walk can be started from Freshfield station.

13km. Flat terrain.

There is a footbridge and gated, signalled level crossings near Formby that are not accessible to all; the path can get sandy in places.

Lunch: Coffee shops at both ends.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Blackrod Station to Westhoughton Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from New Lane.

A mostly good walk let down in places by poor path maintenance, with industrial-estate streets, a narrow and quite busy lane and a faint footpath that is hard to find. Crosses a busy road near Westhoughton.

8km.

From Westhoughton, the busy Church Street is best crossed at a zebra crossing south of the railway bridge. Part of Long Lane is narrow and busy with traffic, so take care.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Wigan Wallgate Station to Ince Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from New Lane.

A slightly longer alternative that is almost entirely off-road and maximising use of the canal towpath and taking in the historic Wigan Pier area. Uses the canal towpath and forms part of the Community Rail Trail between Wigan and Bolton, taking in the historic Wigan Pier.

Easy: 2km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Hindley Station to Westhoughton Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from New Lane.

pleasant open countryside with far-reaching views. A pleasant route making full use of the path through delightful Borsdane Wood, emerging from an industrial estate into open countryside with far-reaching views, on waymarked and well-defined tracks. Very muddy in places; a steep set of steps down into the wood. Goes through Borsdane Wood and forms part of the Community Rail Trail between Wigan and Bolton.

Tough: steep ascents. 5km.

A steep set of steps leads down into Borsdane Wood.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kearsley Station to Swinton (Manchester) Station (Lancashire)

1h direct from New Lane.

a magnificent view from meccano bridge at Nob End. A great walk that winds downhill from Swinton into a lush country park created from former mining land, contrasting natural beauty with industrial monoliths and past a lake and marina. There is one short steep climb to a fine viewpoint near the end. Starts near the birthplace of L S Lowry. The route can be extended to Ringley to see the bridge and the River Irwell, and to Nob End for the viewpoint.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

A field on the route often contains horses; an alternative around it is suggested. Part of the published route uses a private road.

Lunch: A cafe at Clifton Country Park, mid-route.

End-of-walk reward: the Horseshoe.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ince Station to Hindley Station (Lancashire)

30m direct from New Lane.

Uses former railway lines through now-wooded areas with reed-filled ponds, plus narrower and muddy paths through Amberswood Common and an unclear footpath around playing fields. Good paths on the railway sections; heavy metal kissing gates restrict wheel users. Uses former railway lines from the Wigan coalfields; good for birdsong and wildlife, with deer seen.

4km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Westhoughton Station to Atherton Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from New Lane.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Westhoughton Station to Lostock Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from New Lane.

A short, direct but quite pavement-heavy route using footpaths and roads alongside the railway and with one earthen footpath that is muddy and narrow in places and runs around horse fields. Slightly uphill in parts. A worthwhile short detour onto the Rumworth Dam, with a narrow muddy path and kissing gate.

Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.

One footpath has a narrow, muddy section and a kissing gate.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Bolton Station to Farnworth Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from New Lane.

A largely green urban walk using the Darcy Lever Viaduct disused railway line and Moses Gate Country Park, on a mix of good paths, pavements and quiet access roads. A long muddy section between Hall Lane and Hacken Bridge Road and with steep steps up to Bolton station. The route passes through Moses Gate Country Park, between artificial lakes, and uses the former railway over the magnificent Darcy Lever Viaduct (now a walking and cycling route, caged in).

5km.

A long muddy section between Hall Lane and Hacken Bridge Road that may be worse after a wet winter (fairly solid under the mud). A short stretch of the busy A6053 Hall Lane, crossed at a pelican crossing, and steep steps up to the Bolton meeting point.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Farnworth Station to Kearsley Station (Lancashire)

1h direct from New Lane.

A short, straightforward and direct route, much of it away from roads. A gravel and earth footpath runs alongside the railway with a fairly steep, potentially slippery section and the path passes a church before reaching the shops.

Tough: steep ascents. 1km.

The footpath alongside the railway is steep and can be slippery when very wet, and may be challenging for those with mobility issues.

Lunch: Shops near the Farnworth end.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route