Walking with Children
Frazzled parents and carers often overlook walking as an ideal way of occupying their children during the holidays and yet walking has much in its favour. It's cheap, it's time consuming, it's healthy and if done judiciously has the additional benefit of tiring out the little dears ensuring a quiet afternoon or evening. Below we have listed 12 walks we particularly commend - six for primary school age and six for secondary. All the walks can be found through the main menu of the site.While none are particularly risky in the notes below we point out hazards, where they exist, to assist in the planning of outings.
Our risk assessment is based on four hazards:
Traffic
Water
Livestock
Sharp drops
To begin with it is worth remembering this is a website dedicated to walking in Lancashire and not the tropical rain forests of Borneo. And even compared to other areas of Britain, most of the walks we describe contain very little risk. Nevertheless due regard needs to be given when children are involved.
Traffic:
Most walks involve some road walking. In country areas while roads are quiet and have considerably less traffic, there are fewer pavements. Where a route involves road walking groups should walk in single file and on the right so as to face on coming vehicles.
Water:
Water only becomes a hazard if you fall in it. We will indicate where the chances of this are increased.
Livestock
Until a few months ago we would not have listed livestock as a hazard. However recently there have been some well publicised incidents of cattle attacking walkers - in one instance with fatal results. It appears that a common factor in these attacks has been the presence of a dog. Should you find yourself the subject of unwelcome interest by a herd of cows and you have a dog, the advice is let go of the dog. It can outrun cattle and will draw them away from you. Again a sense of proportion has to be applied - every year tens of thousands of walkers cross fields with livestock without incident. Aggressive cows are a rareity - aggressive sheep even more so.
Sharp drops:
Some of the walks in the secondary school section have steep inclines. Just one, Warton Crag, has what might be termed as a one way ticket.
Disclaimer
We have done our best to ensure that the walks below are accurate and up to date but we are enthusiastic amateurs not professionals. We will continue to check our walks but the reader must use his/her own common sense to ensure his/her own safety and comfort.
Walks for Primary School Aged Children
The Mawdsley Jubilee Trail
The main merit of the trail is that it can be easily reduced in length should the little ones become weary. If you're following the trail in an anti-clockwise way just turn left whenever you reach a lane and you'll quickly arrive at the village centre.
What makes it good for kids: The Cedar Farm Galleries has a farm animal area! Say no more.
Hazards:
Traffic: All lanes are quiet but Hall Lane, where the trail goes between the war memorial and the Black Bull needs extra care.
Water: Negligible risk.
Livestock: One paddock sometimes containing horses after Sandy Lane. One pasture sometimes containing cows after Rector's Wood - between the Black Bull pub and Nook Lane.
Sharp Drops: None
Other hazards: Stinging nettles at various points in spring and summer.
Glasson Dock
What makes it good for kids: On the dock itself you can point out the country's smallest lighthouse. The remains of Cockersands Abbey may prompt you into explaining the Dissolution of the Monasteries! Hazards: Traffic: Close to Glasson dock more care is required. Water: Deep water by the dock. Livestock: Mainly sheep. Some dairy cattle in pastures near Glasson dock. Sharp Drops: None Nicky Nook
What makes it good for kids: Ascent of a proper well defined hill with wonderful views. Hazards: Traffic: Quiet lanes at the start and near the end of the walk. Busier through the village but there are pavements. Water: Negligible risk. Livestock: Mainly sheep. Sharp Drops: The descent to Grizedale is steep, but there are no crags as such. It can be avoided by keep straight from the trig. point instead of branching right. Where Rivers Meet
What makes it good for kids: Well this is Hobbit land! J.R.R.Tolkien's son attended Stonyhurst College and the landscape around it was said to have been the model for the Shire in his books. Hazards: Traffic: Clitheroe Road B6246 needs care when crossing. Water: This is a river walk and you're beside the river for a good part of the walk. For the most part the path does not go too close to the river bank. Livestock: Sheep and dairy cattle on approach to college. Sharp Drops: None York! What makes it good for kids: For not much effort you get great views - especially of the Ribble Valley. Moreover this is one of the shorter walks we describe. Hazards: Traffic: Quiet lanes Water: Although this walk is a circuit of Dean Clough Reservoir at no time does the route come close to it. Livestock: Sheep and some dairy cattle Sharp Drops: None Hoghton Tower
What makes it good for kids: This is a short walk with a lot of variety. Walking through the Gorge below the viaduct will heighten the sense of adventure. Hazards: The route crosses a railway line which is a major trans-pennine route. Therefore extra care is needed at this point. There is a warning notice at the point of crossing and its advice should be strictly adhered to. Traffic: The A675 Bolton Road is a major route and can be busy at times. Likewise the A6061 Riley Green Switch Road needs care when crossing. Water: There is a very short stretch by the canal, while the Gorge, close to the railway viaduct, needs some vigilence. Livestock: Mainly sheep. Sharp Drops: Close to the viaduct the river Darwen descends through a rocky gorge. Extra care will be needed as you walk besides the river. Walks for Secondary School aged children Over Longridge Fell to Hurst Green
What makes it good for kids: "The woods are lovely - dark and deep". The thick plantations of conifers add spice to the walk. Deer have been spotted in this area. There is a fine view from Spire Hill towards the Bowland Fells. Hazards: Traffic: Quiet lanes though the drive up to Stonyhurst College can be busy at weekends. Water: In itself water presents no hazard on this walk - when mixed with soil after rain parents may form a different opinion. Livestock: Sheep mainly. Sharp Drops: None Lancashire Classic - Pendle Hill
What makes it good for kids: If, as we assert, it is the duty of every fit and able bodied resident of Lancashire to go up Pendle Hill, then surely it behoves on parents to introduce their offspring to this wonderful landmark. Pendle is a hill that can be picked out from many places in the county and will act as a prompt for glowing shared memories of the time "we climbed Pendle Hill." Hazards: Although by no means this is not a long walk, it is an arduous one. Moreover it should not be attempted in poor weather. Traffic: Very little. Water: Rocky streams in Ogden Clough have to be crossed with care. Livestock: Sheep. Sharp Drops: The route we describe begins with the more gradual ascent from Ogden Clough. The face of Pendle is steep and straying close to the edge should not be encouraged.
What makes it good for kids: There are viewing platforms on the tower and it is a great place to explore. Plenty of variety on the walk - moors, woods and pastures. Hazards: Traffic: Mainly quiet lanes. Water: The second part of the route comes close to reservoirs. Livestock: Sheep and dairy cattle between Tockholes and Abbey Village. Sharp Drops: Apart from the tower - none. Although descent from the tower is relatively steep. Parlick and Fairsnape
What makes it good for kids: The route described provdes a fine moorland yomp with long views so it allows the more energetic the chance to move on ahead and still be in sight. Insist on clear rules. "Do not go beyond that wall there" - that sort of thing. Hazards: Unless proficient with map and compass do not try this walk when there is mist or cloud on the tops. Wait for clear settled weather. Traffic: None but be aware of low flying parascenders! Water: Chipping Beck is crossed by a footbridge. Crossing to Wolf Fell the ground can be very boggy after wet weather ( sometimes long after wet weather.) Livestock: Sheep mainly - sometimes cattle near Wolfen Hall. Sharp Drops: These fells are steep sided. However by keeping to the obvious paths there is no need to go anywhere near them. Lad Law from Wycoller What makes it good for kids: Wycoller Hall Hazards: Traffic: Quiet lanes. Slightly busier through Trawden Water: The route follows Wycoller Beck through the hamlet. Livestock: Sheep. Sharp Drops: None unless they clamber over the rock outcrops on top of Boulsworth. Warton Crag What makes it good for kids: Good views across Morecambe Bay on clear days. A lovely varied walk. Hazards: Most children do not need to be told about the potential for serious injury or even death by dropping over a quarry edge to the ground 50m below, but this walk does have that risk. Traffic: Quiet lanes, unless coming by train. Water: Nothing of any significance. Livestock: Sheep and dairy cattle. Sharp Drops: This is a crag and it has a steep face. 
