Local People. Local Businesses. Our Community.
Fresh air, close to home
A riverside wander, a walk with the dog or an afternoon at the playground. Discover places in and around our nine villages.
26 places across our area. Sources checked 12 November 2026.
Nearby places are labelled with their actual location. Dog-friendly listings include the operator’s restrictions; they do not mean off-lead access. Follow current signs and check the source before travelling.
Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Hesketh Bank to Tarleton sea lock
Follow the former railway beside the River Douglas, with riverside views and places to pause.
Dogs on leads throughout. Stay on the surfaced path. Public access ends at the sea lock; do not assume a through-route to Rufford.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Dib Road, Hesketh Bank, PR4 6XQ
A saltmarsh outing with a 500-metre surfaced route to Karen’s viewpoint.
Dogs on leads on public footpaths and bridleways only. No toilets. Follow reserve signs and keep off the saltmarsh.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Nearby: Marshside, Southport, PR9 9PJ
An outing near Banks for coastal wildlife and reserve trails.
Dogs on leads; assistance dogs only in hides. Parking charges and seasonal gate times apply. Follow the RSPB’s route information.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Rufford, Holmeswood Road, L40 1TG; nearby option for Mere Brow
Woodland and lakeside paths with bird hides and a visitor centre.
Dogs on leads. Most paths are described as accessible by the operator, but the pine-wood shortcut is not wheelchair suitable. Parking charges apply; check maintenance notices.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking
The Gravel, Mere Brow
The caravan park operator describes woodland walks within its countryside setting.
Private holiday park, not a confirmed public walking trail. Contact the operator about day access, dogs and any charges before travelling. Horse-riding access has not been confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Rufford Old Hall car park, L40 1SG
A National Trust route of 2 miles (3.2 km), taking around an hour through the village and beside the canal.
Dog-friendly according to the route guide. Admission applies to the grounds. About half the route follows roads; church access includes steps. Follow current towpath notices.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking
Croston
A council-published walk exploring the village and its rural surroundings.
Download the named route from Chorley Council for the start point, distance and directions. Dog restrictions and step-free access are not confirmed in this listing.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking
Croston Moor
Another local countryside route in Chorley Council’s walking guide collection.
Use the council’s Croston Moor leaflet. Check ground conditions and signs around farmland; no horse-riding access is implied.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking
Bretherton
Explore the Bank Hall area using the walking leaflet published by Chorley Council.
Download the Bank Hall Bretherton guide. The walk does not imply admission to the hall or unrestricted access to its grounds.
Read source and visitor information ↗Horse riding
Eyes Lane, Bretherton
The parish neighbourhood plan identifies this lane as a route used for walking, cycling and horse riding.
A single-track road shared with vehicles, not a traffic-free bridleway. No waymarked riding circuit or measured distance is claimed. Check conditions and plan your onward route.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking
Burscough countryside
A 12-mile walk published by West Lancashire Borough Council for a longer day outdoors.
The council describes its leaflet as a rough guide and recommends OS Explorer 285. Check current path notices. Dog access is not confirmed here.
Read source and visitor information ↗Walking · Dogs welcome with restrictions
Longton Brickcroft, Liverpool Road, PR4 5YY
A 1.5-mile council walking route beginning at the nature reserve.
Keep dogs on leads in the reserve. Download the Longton Brickcroft leaflet for directions; check visitor-centre and toilet availability.
Read source and visitor information ↗Dog access and reserve information ↗Walking
Longton
South Ribble Council publishes this 5-mile coastal walk, plus a longer Hutton and Longton option.
Follow the council route guide and current signs. Check weather and path conditions; dog-specific restrictions are not confirmed here.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Shore Road, Hesketh Bank
A village play area identified by Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Council.
Check entrance notices for equipment availability, ages and dog restrictions.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Carr Lane, Tarleton
A parish-managed playground recorded in Tarleton Parish Council’s maintenance reports.
The source is a council maintenance record, not a live inspection. Check signs and current equipment availability.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Mere Brow
A local playground maintained by Tarleton Parish Council.
Check on-site signs for access and dog restrictions. No opening hours, age range or facilities are assumed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
PR4 6WB
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
PR9 8DG
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
PR9 8DT
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
L40 1TF
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
L40 5XX
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
L40 7TA
Listed by West Lancashire Borough Council for children aged 5 to 12.
Check the council’s current closure list and on-site signs before use. Dog access to the play area is not confirmed.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Station Road, Croston
The village recreation ground includes children’s play equipment and space for the community.
See the parish council for local information; follow equipment age labels and entrance notices.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Off South Road, Bretherton
A children’s playground alongside the village’s sports facilities.
The parish plan also records tennis, bowls, boules and football facilities. Check arrangements before using sports facilities.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Longton, near Preston, Lancashire
The playground installer documents equipment for younger and older children, including an accessible roundabout.
This is Longton in Lancashire, not Queen’s Park in Stoke-on-Trent. Check local signs and equipment availability.
Read source and visitor information ↗Children’s parks
Richmond Park, Burscough
A park with paths and sports facilities, but its play area is currently listed as closed by the council.
TEMPORARILY CLOSED: the council’s play-area notice lists Richmond Park as awaiting maintenance. Check for reopening before planning a playground visit.
Read source and visitor information ↗For horse riders
We have confirmed a riding reference for Eyes Lane in Bretherton, a road shared with traffic. We have not confirmed a complete off-road riding circuit in each village. Walking routes and canal towpaths on this page are not advertised as horse routes.
Use Lancashire County Council’s rights-of-way map to check bridleways and byways around your village, then check closures, signs and any private permissions. Croston Parish Council specifically identifies Dandy Croft as not a bridleway.
Facilities and closures can change. Check equipment age labels, dog restrictions and entrance notices. We do not assume toilets, parking or step-free access where these have not been verified.
Council play-area closures and updates ↗Know a local route, a changed access rule or a playground update? Send the location and an official source for us to review.
Suggest a place or report a correction →