Western Loop

An interactive map of the Western Loop can be found below courtesy of Ordnance Survey maps. You can subscribe yourself using this link, https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk, which will enable you to import the GPX file which can be downloaded below.

To download the GPX file for this Stage click on the link above.[/vc_column_text]

In 2021, I completed the Eastern Loop of the Lancashire Way, the fourth Loop, and believed that this long distance path, whose initial conception goes back to the twentieth century, was finished and all I needed to do was “sell” the concept and introduce as many people as possible to walking the Lancashire Way.

I stated that the Eastern Loop was created to ensure that the Lancashire Way was complete and missed no parts of Lancashire, that was worthy of a walk. There was, however, one very obvious omission as all points of the compass had been used except the West! At the time I believed that the Lancashire Way was complete and the West Lancashire, effectively the Fylde, was not worthy of becoming the fifth and final Loop.

But over the past two years, I kept coming back to the question – “Should there be a Western Loop?”. I also foolishly dared to utter this publicly. One man, Nick Caunt, started to push me on this point and in December 2023, sent me a GPX file of a route starting and ending in Kirkham, 80 miles in length with an accompanying narrative explaining the logic of the route.

I responded shortly afterwards as follows

”Thanks for the GPX, which I have uploaded and looked at. I must say it took me a few days to summon up the courage to look at it as I knew that once I did I would set a process in motion that I would not be able to stop!! It looks a great route. In the past when I have idly thought about it, which I have on many occasions, the western side of the Loop along the coast was always obvious and it is good to see that you have thought similarly. My issue was the eastern side and what you propose works well. I know parts of it. Indeed, when I was putting together the Central Loop one option back to Preston was down from Parlick, over Beacon Fell and then down the River Brock to the Lancaster Canal. I remember walking that section a few years ago in Spring with bluebells along parts of the river bank. Beautiful.

You tick all the boxes of places I would expect the Loop to visit such as Garstang, St Michaels, Kirkham and of course all the coast from Lytham to Knott End.

One requirement of the Loop is that it can link with the other Loops, such that all now five Loops can be walked in one continuous walk – now almost 500 miles!! Your route almost does this around Bleasdale, which is close to the Central Loop and can be easily reached from either Fiensdale Head or more likely the bottom of Parlick. The other alternative would be to branch off the Northen Loop at Grizedale Bridge and link up around Calder Vale. Or could the Western Loop change slightly and head to Scorton or close to Scorton from Calder Vale and then down to Garstang?

Starting point is not that important but I am minded to make this Blackpool but can see the logic in Kirkham.”

And so the Western Loop began with my first walk on the 7^th January 2024, with a circular walk from Bilsbarrow on the A6 taking in Beacon Fell and Calder Vale. It was a lovely winter’s day and I was sold – the Western Loop would become a reality. My sincere thank to Nick, who then joined me at various points to help me investigate the route including picking me up and driving me around at times to speed up the process. By March I had walked most of the route apart from a section of canal from Salwick to Bilsborrow and I was almost decided on the final route.

It has since taken me over six months to start writing this introduction to the Western Loop and there is still much to do. It just emphasises how much work goes into creating a walk.

It also shows how much effort goes into determining the final route. I am pleased to say that it is largely the route that Nick first proposed with two major exceptions. The first was between Lytham and Kirkham. Nick’s route continued along the coast behind the Warton airfield and from the trig point at Naze Mount, headed north to Kirkham via Freckleton. I did walk this in winter and it was very wet and muddy and not particularly well used which gave me doubts about this option. It also followed over 20 miles of coastal walking so I was looking forward to a change. I also felt the route should visit Wrea Green, one of the prettiest villages on the Fylde.

Secondly, the route from Calder Vale to Garstang needed investigation. It took a route south across to the Lancaster canal at Stubbins but I knew the countryside to the north west of Garstang better and felt this was prettier.

After much deliberation and investigation of the alternatives,  the route was settled upon although I have created an Alternative Stage from Lytham to Kirkham, which largely replicates Nick’s original route. The final route is 76 miles long and divided into 14 stages. The longest Stage is just under 8 miles and many are short allowing more flexible planning. It does use the Wyre Way and the Lancashire Coastal Way in large sections, although the former is in need of some work and on a number of occasions I ignore this and take a simpler route to avoid difficult walking along poor paths. It also uses a large stretch of the Lancaster Canal, which we came across on the Northern Loop.

The detail of the various Stages will be added one by one so that you have detailed route instructions and accompanying photographs and narratives.

I very much hope you will enjoy this final walk of the Lancashire Way and I can assure you that, when you have finished, you will truly know the beautiful county of Lancashire.