All the walks start from the Waterfoot Yard (formerly known as the old Waterfoot library).
Follow the way markers from the walking board.
Waterfoot 30-minute walk description
- Head onto the main road and walk past the local shops and the Co-op.
- Make your way past The Royal Hotel and keep going until you reach the Texaco garage.
- Cross over the road here and go through the stoned entrance which is signposted as a public footpath.
- Follow the path up the gradual incline till you come out on the housing estate. Turn left.
- When you reach the village shops turn right up the hill.
- Make your way past the new housing estate, which is on your right, and up Staghills Road. You will pass St Nicholas Church before reaching the main road.
- Turn right at Turnpike House and make your way back down to the main road which leads back into Waterfoot town centre.
- It’s a right turn at the bottom of Turnpike. You will pass Trickett’s Memorial Garden on your way back to the library.
Waterfoot 60-minute walk descriptions
- If you stand looking at the library, it is a right turn along the main road.
- Walk past the mini roundabout and keep going until you see the sign for Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School. Turn left here onto Townsend Street.
- Walk up past the school until you reach the Jolly Sailor pub at the top.
- Cross the road and make your way onto John Street.
- Take the path up by the side of the house which leads into a wooded area at the base of Edgeside Park. At the fork take the left path. Keep walking till you arrive at the open grassed area. Now take the grassed path which leads up around the edge following adjacent to the houses on Prospect Street.
- You will meet a tarmac path, follow this directly round the lower park area. Turn left up past the disused tennis courts.
- Make your way up to the top entrance. You will pass the second park area on your right
- Leave the park and turn right onto Edgeside Lane. Walk past the Valley Academy School and at the end of the road cross over.
- There will be 2 houses directly in front of you. Go up the right-hand driveway which leads you onto a dirt track. This becomes quite a steep decent onto a cobbled path.
- The path descends to a small road. Cross over and walk between the houses which make up Waterbarn Lane.
- Cross here and follow the way marker up Rake Head Lane. Walk past the derelict church on your left and then take your first right which leads onto the cycle path.
- Make your way through the two tunnels. As you leave the second tunnel look for the next cycle path which is signposted Top of Leach.
- This cycle path will lead you back to the centre of Waterfoot.
Waterfoot – 90 minute walk
- Start your walk from outside the library in Waterfoot.
- Walk to the mini roundabout and turn right onto Burnley Road East. You will walk past the post office, shops and a few cafes providing the perfect opportunity for a pre walk coffee.
- You will come to Trickets Memorial Ground, after this turn left onto Turnpike up a steep incline.
- Opposite St Nicholas Church there is a public footpath from Naze Road.
- The footpath is narrow. Follow the path up till the fence on the right finishes, then take a sharp left.
- Walk up through the field and pass through the 4 stone slabs to reach a kissing gate.
- Go through the gate and follow the path alongside the wall till you reach another gate.
- Go through the gate and make your way to the far corner of the field.
- Turn right and follow the path between the fence boundaries. You will pass Windy Willows farm on your left. You will come to a style. Don’t go over the style, follow the way marker to turn right.
- Follow the path until you reach a crossroads. Turn left. Avoid the path leading down through the farm. It is not a public footpath.
- When you reach the tarmac follow the path down to the right. Walk past the farmhouse and a small row of terraces.
- Cross over the river and make your way back down to the main road. Turn right and make your way back along the main road to the centre of Waterfoot.