Bacup Walking Routes
Bacup 30-minute walk description
- From the library use the zebra crossing and then turn right onto Market Street. Continue walking until you see Lodge Lane which is signposted as a public footpath.
- Follow the path up Lodge Lane keeping to the left. Keep walking until you come out onto the housing estate. Turn right here and make your way along the road till you come to a small seating area called ‘The View’. * Take the path down the side of the view past the small red post box. Take the path to the right. This decent leads to steep narrow steps. Turn left here. (Don’t go down the next steps which take you back onto on main road)
- This path runs adjacent to the main road, behind the bird sculptures until it eventually meets the main road. Retrace your steps back along Market Street and back to the library.
*Please be aware this is a tricky decent as the handrail is broken by the steep steps. Follow the 60-minute way markers from The View for an easier option.
Bacup 60-minute walk description
- From the library cross over at the zebra crossing. Turn right, passing in front of the shops and round past the flower shop. Use the next zebra crossing to cross over again. Turn left and make your way to Bankside Lane.
- Walk up Bankside Lane. This is the start of a steep incline. You will pass the church on your right. Follow the signs leading up to Maden Rec Ground which leads round to the right and onto Maden Road. Walk past the golf club entrance and continue up hill.
- Don’t enter the park grounds instead take the dirt track to the right. This path takes you between the golf course and the football pitches. Keep going till you pass the farm. Where the path forks follow the way marker and keep to the right. Avoid the grassed path between the 2 walls. It is a gentle slope down which loops round to the right past another farm. Turn left and cross over the bridge. Take the path down in front of Mitchell Field Nook.
- Turn left and follow the grassed path which leads round the back of the house. Go over 2 styles and look out for the footbridge. Go over the footbridge and pass through the small gate. From here make your way towards the road. Turn left up Hill Crest and look for the first path on your right. This leads you onto the Irwell Sculpture Trail. At the fork in the path keep left. Stay on the upper path. You will pass through Animal Quackers Park Farm. Eventually you will arrive at Newchurch Old Road. Turn left. Walk past the houses and ‘The View’ which is a small seating area on your right. This will lead you back down to Bankside Lane.
* There is a challenging incline at the start of this walk. Alternatively, you can park at the Maden Rec to start the walk.
Bacup 90-minute walk description
- From the library use the zebra crossing and then turn right onto Market Street. Make your way along Market Street until you reach Lodge Lane which is sign posted as a public footpath. Go up Lodge Lane keeping to the left until you reach Bankside Lane. Turn right and follow the sign for Animal Quackers Park Farm. Follow the path through farmland. Keep to the upper path staying alongside the field boundary. Eventually this leads out to houses on Hill Cres. Cross over the road and go through the barriers leading to a ginnel. Weave your way down to the main road between the houses.
- Use the zebra crossing and take the first left onto Farholme Lane. Just past the river turn left onto Brunswick Terrace. Take the gate on the right once you reach the entrance to the cemetery. Follow the path up past the allotments until you reach the tarmac road. Turn left passing in front of the houses. You will arrive at two more consecutive gates with signage for Lee quarry. Follow the way marker up to another gate. Turn left here and follow path on your left going up to the information board.
- Bear left to follow a small path over the hill which is the mountain bike trail. Views will open up to your left. Walk past the wooden steps on the right and keep going until you reach stone steps over the wall. Go over the wall. Follow the path down the field, pass through a gate or use the style. The path eventually vias to the left and down to Moorland and Stubbylee park. Walk with the park playground on your right and go through the green iron gates which will be on your left.
- Make your way through the grounds, taking in the fairy dell and the pump track. Use the bottom exit to leave the park. (Not the carpark exit) Cross over Newline Road. Make your way past Pioneer Gym. (Toilets and coffee available at Pioneer) Turn right back onto market Street and head back to the centre of Bacup.
* Please be aware these routes are not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Please check the route description for more information about styles and steep climbs.