GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Walk around Burnley on the Burnley Way

40 miles (64 km)

This long circular walk explores the rivers, canals, reservoirs and moorland around the Lancashire town of Burnley.
The walk starts in the town centre near to the Manchester Road railway station. Highlights on the walk include the historic Gawthorpe Hall, the Hameldon Hill viewpoint, the pretty Clowbridge Reservoir, the River Calder, the 440 acre Towneley Park, Hurstwood Reservoir and Widdop Reservoir. There's some splendid moorland scenery and hill climbs with great views over the area to enjoy.

Burnley Way OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Burnley Way Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Burnley

  • Towneley Park - Explore the 440 acres of parkland surrounding Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire
  • Clowbridge Reservoir - Enjoy a circular walk around this pretty reservoir near Burnley
  • Hurstwood Reservoir - This circular walk takes you around Hurstwood Reservoir in Burnley.
    Start the walk from the public car park in the village of Hurstwood just to the west of the reservoir
  • Nelson - The Lancashire town of Nelson is located in the Pendle area of the county
  • Gawthorpe Hall - Explore the parkland and countryside surrounding this Elizabethan country house in Padiham
  • Widdop Reservoir - Widdop Reservoir is located near Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire
  • Bronte Way - Follow the Bronte Way through Lancashire and Yorkshire and visit many of the places associated with writings and lives of the Bronte Sisters.
    Highlights on the walk include:
    Gawthorpe Hall - visited by Charlotte Bronte on several occasions, the impressive Gawthorpe Hall is the start point of the walk
    Wycoller Country Park - Wycoller Hall is believed to have inspired Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre"
  • Rossendale Way - This circular walk takes you on a tour of the lovely Rossendale area of Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
    The path passes Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Whitworth, Stubbins and Healey with a series of attractive reservoirs including Cowpe and Calf Hey real highlights
  • Gorple Reservoir - Visit the Gorple Reservoirs on this walk in Calderdale
  • Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Enjoy waterside cycling and walking along Britain's longest single canal

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

On the northern side of the town the route passes the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You could pick up the towpath and enjoy a waterside walk to Brierfield to the north of the town.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Lancashire Walks and the South Pennines Walks pages.

Photos

Burnley Embankment - geograph.org.uk - 4197

Burnley Embankment, almost a mile long and up to sixty feet high, carries the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through the town. The bus station and town centre can be seen to the left.

Burnley Way above Hunters Oak (geograph 4085512)

Trail above Hunters Oak

River Calder from the Burnley Way

River Calder from the Burnley Way. The Lancashire River Calder after it has left Burnley. The footpath is part of the Burnley Way.

The top of Great Hameldon - geograph.org.uk - 1654025

The top of Great Hameldon. The hilltop offers good views over the Calder valley to Pendle.

Burnley Way leaving Ightenhill

Leaving Ightenhill

Burnley Way descending towards River Calder (geograph 4085488)

Descending towards River Calder

Fancy Stone With Rivet (geograph 3400320)

Clowbridge Reservoir

Sheddon Heys - geograph.org.uk - 682318

Sheddon Heys. Footpaths linking Foxstones Lane,Worsthorne Moor Road and Cant Clough

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Burnley Way.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Burnley Way.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)