'Walking can be the very best way to explore Lancashire’s countryside, canals, coast and towns, giving you access to stunning views, quiet lanes and rare wildlife. From the flat plains in the west through to the rugged moorland of the Forest of Bowland and on to the West Pennine Moors in the east, there will be a terrain and distance  to suit everyone.'

'Offers some of the most beautiful and remote walking in the country, from the grandeur and isolation of the moorland hills to the undulating lowlands with their distinctive pattern of settlements, woodland cloughs and river valleys. These landscape contrasts, along with the serenity and tranquility of the area make this a walker’s paradise.'

Now has limited 'walks' information directly accessible from this Site.  See instead Visit Lancashire.

'Lancashire boasts some of the most exciting and beautiful parks and gardens in Britain today. The abundance of vast open spaces and fresh air makes Lancashire ideal for visiting during any season of the year. Nestled in Lancashire’s spectacular countryside discover a variety of stunning gardens and country parks alongside stately homes and historic landmarks.' Descriptions of over sixty locations.

'Organises walks, social activities and weekends away for people in their 20's, 30's and 40's (although we don't have a strict age limit).'

'Our main social walks are at the weekend, normally a Sunday, and these average twenty miles in length. This would take about eight hours to complete and all walkers need to carry enough food and drink to last the day. We like to visit different areas eg the West Pennine Moors, Lune Valley, Yorkshire Dales etc ...'

'Pennine Waterways is an independent non-profit-making website about the canals of the area ... Pennine Waterways is not connected with The Canal and River Trust (or the former British Waterways) and has no responsibility for the maintenance of canals or towpaths. I cannot provide information about moorings. Please do not email me about canal or towpath maintenance or about moorings ...'

'Our Area comprises 8 groups/programmes: Preston, Garstang, South Ribble, Fylde, Chorley, West Lancs, Lancashire Weekend Walkers (40s+). and Lancs Young Person's Group (20s-30s).'

Covers Ribble Valley, Burnley and Pendle, Rossendale, Blackburn and Hyndburn ... The North East Lancashire Coach Rambles 'are open to both members and non-members'.

North East Lancashire Coach Rambles

Usually held Mid September.

'The Forest of Bowland has fairly low lying fells compared with the neighbouring Yorkshire Dales – and obviously the Lake District. However, some of Bowland's fells are around 500m and present a good challenge. Many of my walks are aimed at families and beginners. There are some great places to get started such as Beacon Fell Country Park or Brock Bottom which is nearby ...'

Bowland Walks (Twitter)

'Regeneration project that will create a 65km/39 mile leisure route for walkers and cyclists along the historic Bridgewater Canal. The project is a fresh approach to the use of the towpath as a connection between communities around the Mersey Basin and the North West.'

The Bridgewater Canal Trust

'A number of self-guide walks are available from stations on Community Rail Lancashire lines: [1] The Bentham Line (12 walks) - - - : [2] The Clitheroe Line (4 walks) - - - : [3] The East Lancashire Line (6 walks) - - - : [4] The South Fylde Line (2 walks) - - - : [5] West Lancashire Lines (2 walks)'

Community Rail Lancashire

'Long-distance heritage trail on the three related local themes of fair trade, the British Atlantic slave trade and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The 6-day walk links Fairtrade Towns between Garstang (The World’s first Fairtrade Town) and Keswick.'

Graham Hulme

'Path across southern Lakeland from coast to coast, beginning at Arnside on the eastern side of Morecombe Bay and finishing at Ravenglass on the Irish Sea.'

'Winding its way from Bacup to Salford Quays and featuring over 70 artworks by locally, nationally and internationally renowned artists.'

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

'Footpath following the Lancashire coastline from Merseyside to Cumbria. The Lancashire coastal walk provides spectacular views of Morecambe Bay, the Bowland Fells and the Lake District, and the opportunity, particularly in spring and autumn, to observe the large variety of waders and seabirds for which the Lancashire coast and estuaries are internationally important.'

Access to full details of the Forum's quarterly Meetings including: [1] Agenda  - - - : [2] Attendance details - - - : [3] Agenda reports pack - - - : [4] Printed minutes

Lancashire County Council

'The North West of England is famous for its walks, whether it's the rugged peaks of the Lake District, the picturesque Lancashire coast or the tranquility of the West Pennine Moors. Here you'll find dozens of walking guides written - and trodden - by well-known Lancashire author and nature expert Ron Freethy.'

Lancashire Telegraph

'This series of short walks, which form the 70 mile route of The Lancashire Trail, will take you on a picturesque tour of Lancashire through areas of beautiful countryside with meandering streams and leafy lanes. There are hidden pastures, reservoirs, canal towpaths and woodlands of this beautiful Shire-County to explore, with stunning views over Lancashire and the Cheshire Plain, culminating in a gradual climb to Pendle Hill with unsurpassed scenery all round.'

'There is a link with the Pennine Way at Thornton-in-Craven, to the Ribble Way at Sawley, and a link path to the Sandstone Trail at Frodsham Hill.'

The Lancashire Trail by Brian Smailes (Challenge Publications, 2003)

'A different walk for every week of the year. Explore the diversity of the Lancashire countryside. A user friendly site for the casual walker ... Bob and John are retired teachers. Over a period of two years they met every week to plan and check routes in Lancashire. This is our attempt to share our walks with a wider audience ...'

'We aim to bring together in one place, the information about Lancashire wildlife published on blogs and websites. To help people discover, enjoy and protect our local natural history.'

Lancashire Wildlife

'Starts in Barrowford and finishes at Lancaster Castle and commemorates the 400th anniversary of the hanging of the Lancashire Witches.'

Forest of Bowland AONB

'Linking Preston to Kendal, the Lancaster Canal is one of the country’s few coastal canals. Built along the natural lie of the land it offers 41 miles of lock free cruising - the longest stretch in the country. As the canal is naturally level, it also lends itself to gentle walking and cycling as well as canoeing and other outdoor pursuits.'

Lancaster Canal [GPS Cycle & Walking Routes] | Lancaster Canal Trust

'This is my guide to  the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. This site has hundreds of annotated photographs which I hope you will find interesting whether you enjoy walking, cycling or just taking a virtual trek along the towpaths of Britain's canals. '

Towpath Treks

Leeds and Liverpool Canal [Gerry Cordon: That's How The Light Gets In]

'With the canal walk completed, I cast around for another project. Then an idea began to take shape: to walk the Mersey from its source to the sea. The Mersey is formed from three tributaries: the River Etherow, the River Goyt, and the River Tame. The official start of the Mersey is at the confluence of the rivers Tame and Goyt in central Stockport, a few miles south of Manchester. Older definitions place its start a few miles up the Goyt ...'

That's How The Light Gets In

Mersey Way [LDWA]

Four 'Walkabout' PDF brochures to download: [1] Sefton Coast (five walks) - - - : [2] Wirral (five walks) - - - : [3] Knowsley & St Helens (five walks) - - - : [4] Green Hearts (six walks).

Unfortunately, the original Website no longer seems to be active - though you might still find one or another PDF brochure accessible via Google ...

Mersey Rural Leader

'Journey from Sabden in Lancashire through the Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland to Lancaster.'

Phil Bedson

'Follows a beautiful and historic route around the North of Lancashire. Totalling just over 100 miles it is designed to be walked in seven days, but for less ambitious hikers huge enjoyment can be taken from exploring smaller sections of the route ... Directions are detailed and the book includes a great deal of fascinating information and stories about places passed along the way.'

Red Rose Trail by John Rowe

'The South Pennines is a wild, wonderful and occasionally wuthering landscape at the place where Yorkshire and Lancashire collide. A land of steep-sided valleys, heather-covered moorland, canals, reservoirs and packhorse trails. The people who live here describe it as "spectacular", "inspiring", "breathtaking" and "dramatic'.  It's a place where you'll find intense local pride - people who are passionate about the area and want to share what they know ...'

Pennine Prospects

'This is a six-day hill walk through Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales, extending to around 100 miles of northern scenery and interesting market towns. The walk can be for a one-week walking holiday, but each section is self-contained, and suitable for day walks, based on the towns of Whalley, Gisburn, Skipton, Malham, Slaidburn and Chipping.'

Brigantes

Two Roses Way [Foxhill Barn Bed and Breakfast]

'Wainwright's Way is a journey on foot through Alfred Wainwright's life from Lancashire to the Lakes. This walking guide charts a 126 mile long-distance route linking the place where he was born – a Victorian terraced house in Audley Range, Blackburn – with his final resting place on Haystacks, his heavenly corner of Lakeland.'

Wainwright's Way by Nick Burton (Frances Lincoln, 2013) | Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells (Frances Lincoln, 2011)

Links to PDFs describing some 75 Walks around and about the Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland AONB: 

Ribble Valley Holidays

'The Forest of Bowland together with Pendle was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1964. Bordering on the Fylde Coast to the west, and the Yorkshire Dales to the east, from the tourist's point of view this area of north Lancashire is often forgotten and bypassed. However, the scenery - a mixture of hill and fell, moorland, woods, rivers and pasture land - is one of continuous beauty ...'

Michael Wainwright

'Circular walk in two parts, ideal for a walking weekend or short break. The walk goes through some of Lancashire's and North Yorkshire's finest countyside, including Kelbrook Moor, Weets Hill, with its views over the Yorkshire Dales, and also takes in part of the Pennine way.'

'The West Pennine Moors offer fantastic opportunities for everyone to enjoy walking and rambling in the countryside; whether it’s a short family stroll round a reservoir, a ten-mile tramp over the moors or an "all-access" routes for "trampers".'

West Pennine Moors Information Service

'Many of our members have spent 1000’s of hours over the last 5 years planning this 46 miles rural route with 35 short links to all the surrounding urban areas and a 15 miles link to the Pennine Way from Bull Hill on Holcombe Moor to Warlands Reservoir on the Pennine Way ... Our aim for this Project is not only to promote this outstanding area to the 680,000 people, living in the immediate surrounding former mill towns of Bolton, Horwich, Chorley, Blackburn, Darwen, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Bury but further afield ...'

Greenmount Village Community Hiking Group

'Along the way you'll be exploring Lancashire's history, passing weavers cottages, Tudor halls, Victorian estates, historic villages and even Roman roads.'

Blackburn with Darwen Council