Accessible walking routes in Lancashire

Lancashire has some of the best walking country in England including beautiful countryside and coastal views and a range of wildlife. It’s important everybody can enjoy walks in Lancashire, which is why we have put together this list of places which offer flat, accessible walks – perfect for both wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Beacon Fell country park

With an extensive path network located all around the park, Beacon Fell Country Park is a great place to explore. The Parks and Countryside Service work hard to manage and maintain the site to ensure that it is accessible and safe for all visitors. 

Witton country park

Witton County Park covers 480 acres of beautiful countryside and is home to a range of different accessible walking routes, a popular route is the circular route around the park. There are also ramps, handrails and bridges located around the park. After completing the route why not take a trip to the duck pond and playground before warming up in the café which is accessible via a wheelchair accessible entrance.

Brockholes Nature Reserve

Brockholes Nature Reserve is home to a network of accessible trails and hides. With most footpaths being level and surfaced. The kissing gates that are accessible for smaller wheelchairs and pushchairs are shown on the Trail Access Guide. Brockholes can be enjoyed by all visitors and offers free use of wheelchairs, disabled facilities, and disabled car parking spaces. A popular walk is the Gravel Pit trail, which leads you from the iconic floating visitors centre to the popular wooden adventure playground. Around the reserve you can see various accessible viewpoints scattered around, allowing you to get closer to nature.

Mere Sands Nature Reserve

Mere Sands is a beautiful nature reserve and wildlife haven located in Rufford, Lancashire. Even better, 95% of the trails at Mere Sands Nature Reserve are suitable for wheelchairs and prams meaning there is a range of different walking routes for you to choose from. It is also home to 6 hides all of which provide viewing platforms, as well as an accessible visitor centre on site.

Wyre Estuary country park -

Wyre Estuary Country Park is home to peaceful woodland paths, bird hides and a network of flat and accessible paths. A popular route around the park is the 3 mile circular walk. Trampers are also available to hire for free from the park, see website for further information.

Fairhaven Lake

The smooth and level tarmac located around Fairhaven Lake make it a suitable destination for anybody looking for an even surface including both pushchairs and wheelchairs. The lake has gentle sloping ramps leading down which allows access to complete a circular route around the lake before heading to the shops and toilet which are all on the same level.

RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Nature Reserve

Leighton Moss is home to the largest reed bed in North-West England, a wide range of spectacular wildlife and various accessible nature. The car park has blue badge spaces, and the visitor centre has ground floor entry. Along the trails there are various seats available and plenty of places to stop and rest. In the warmer months, why not pack a picnic and enjoy sitting at one of the 12 picnic tables, all of which have spaces for wheelchairs.

Dunsop Bridge easy access trail  

Dunsop Bridge is the entrance to the famous Trough of Bowland and is popular with thousands of fell walkers. With resident ducks and grassy banks it is a great place to stop for a picnic, or a cup of tea and a cake. The Dunsop Bridge Easy Access Trail is a well-known hotspot for wildlife, with a shorter route option available, both routes feature well surfaced paths which are popular with wheelchair users.

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs are a charity who’s aim is to create a truly accessible beach for wheelchair users. After officially launching in 2020, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs offer a range of different chairs to suit various ages and levels of mobility. All of the chairs have lap belts and can be fitted with chest harnesses if required.  The chairs are specially designed to be light and easy to manoeuvre on the sand and the shingle, up to and into the shallow water. The chairs are free to hire and can be booked between 10 and 4 any day of the week. Booking is essential, it is advised to contact prior to visitng. 

Scorton picnic site  

This is a circular trail which starts and finishes at the picnic site car park, just 15 minutes south of Lancaster City Centre. This route takes you alongside the River Wyre, through the woods and back to the cark park all along well surfaced paths. The route has plenty of opportunities to keep children occupied with plenty to see and lots of nature to forage around in. Please note that some routes however may include gates and remote paths, so it is advised for wheelchair users to be accompanied.

Gisburn Forest Hub

All year round, Gisburn Forest offers different experiences for everyone.  Explore on foot, on horseback or by bike.  Find popular trails and quiet glades or explore this accredited Dark Sky Discovery Site after dark. The Forest is now home to an all-terrain mobility scooter available to hire from the cafe so that wheelchair users can explore the forest trails. There is a five mile easy access trail from the cafe with a link route to Stocks Reservoir which allows you to enjoy wonderful scenery along the Birch Hills Trail. The tramper can be booked online in advance. 

Sabden Churn Clough 

Another countryside route, the Churn Clough Easy Access Trail from Sabden is a moderate route taking you through Sabden village to the reservoir and looping back to the village from the east. Due to its location on the south side of Pendle Hill the route offers views of the majestic hill and towards Darwen Tower. There are gradual climbs on this 2.6 mile route and it is not suitable for standard wheelchairs, however an all-terrain vehicle is available to hire from the Sabden Volunteers Group, bookable via email or phone call 2 days in advance.