Lancashire Road Trip: Castles, Coastlines & Countryside Charm 🚗
If you fancy a road trip that mixes coastlines, moors, castles, and proper market town charm, Lancashire has you covered.
The best bit? You don’t need weeks. This loop is only about 120 miles, so you can easily do it in a long weekend. Think of it as a bite-sized adventure that still gives you that “I’ve been away” feeling.
Lancashire Road Trip 🚗
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
- Total Distance: ~120 miles
- Recommended Time: 2-3 days (long weekend is perfect)
- Best For: Nature lovers, history buffs, seaside fans, foodies
- Start/End Point: It doesn’t really matter, as they are all pretty close to each other! Manchester, Preston, or Lancaster all work well.
🗺️ The Day-by-Day Itinerary
📍 Rivington Pike 🏔️
Kick things off at Rivington Pike, a rugged hill on the edge of the West Pennine Moors. The walk to the top isn’t too bad, and the views stretch across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and even to Snowdonia on a clear day. It feels wild up here, especially compared to the sprawl of Bolton just below.
💡 Good to know: Start from Rivington Hall Barn for the classic route. It gets muddy, proper walking boots help
📍 Brockholes Nature Reserve 🐦
Right by the M6, this is the ultimate “stretch your legs” stop. The floating visitor centre looks futuristic, but the real star is the wildlife. It’s a wetland haven full of birdlife, with easy boardwalks and plenty of family-friendly trails.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Grab a brew on the floating deck café. You’ll forget you’re minutes from the motorway.
📍 Lytham St Annes 🌊
Lytham is Blackpool’s quieter, more elegant neighbour. Expect wide sandy beaches, a pretty windmill on the green, and a genteel vibe that feels more about ice cream and promenades than rollercoasters. Perfect for a slow stroll and a pause before diving back into the road.
💡 Fact: The Lytham Windmill, built in 1805, is one of the area’s most iconic sights.
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
📍 Blackpool 🎡
Ah, Blackpool. Bold, brash, and brilliantly northern. The Tower looms, the Pleasure Beach still thrills, and the piers buzz with old-school seaside charm. It’s kitsch, it’s loud, and it’s absolutely worth embracing. Fish and chips taste better here, trust me.
💡 Good to know: Time your trip for the autumn Blackpool Illuminations, a free light show that’s been running for over 100 years.
🗺️ Related Article: Blackpool Illuminations: Everything You Need to Know for Your Visit
📍 Lancaster 🏰
Small but packed with character, Lancaster is a great overnight stop. The castle dominates the skyline and comes with plenty of grim stories (it was once a prison). Down below, cobbled streets lead you to cosy pubs, indie shops, and an excellent market scene.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Head to Williamson Park. The Ashton Memorial (nicknamed the ‘Taj Mahal of the North’) is worth the climb for the views alone.
📍 Morecambe Bay 🌅
Morecambe has a nostalgic seaside feel, but the real star is the bay itself. At sunset, the views over to the Lake District are unreal. The Eric Morecambe statue is a fun photo stop, and if you fancy something unique, join a guided bay walk across the shifting sands.
💡 Fact: The bay is beautiful but dangerous, only explore with a guide.
📍 Trough of Bowland 🌿
If you only do one countryside drive on this trip, make it the Trough of Bowland. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rolling hills, rivers, stone villages, and narrow lanes that twist and turn. It feels untouched, with more sheep than people.
💡 Good to know: Stop in Dunsop Bridge, officially the geographic centre of Great Britain.
📍 Clitheroe 🧀
This market town is small but mighty. It’s got a castle, plenty of old pubs, and, most importantly, a legendary cheese shop. Lancashire cheese comes in creamy, crumbly, and tasty varieties, and Clitheroe is the place to try them all.
Tinker’s Tip: Look out for Lancashire Bomb cheese, a wax-coated bomb of deliciousness.
📍 Pendle Hill 🧙♀️
Pendle Hill isn’t just a good walk, it’s steeped in eerie history. This is the site of the 1612 witch trials, and the atmosphere on the moors can feel a little spooky. The climb is a calf-burner, but the views from the top stretch across the Ribble Valley and beyond.
💡 Fact: The Pendle Witch Trail links the surrounding villages with stories of the infamous trials.
🗺️ Must-read: Exploring Pendle Hill: Lancashire’s Mystical Landmark
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
🛑 Pit Stops & Side Detours
📍 Martin Mere 🦆 – Wetland reserve with year-round birdlife. Brilliant for families.
📍 Beacon Fell 🌲 – Easy woodland walks and sweeping views.
📍 Samlesbury Hall 🏰 – Medieval manor with ghost tours and a cracking café.
📍 Hoghton Tower 🏯 – A fortified manor where James I supposedly knighted a “sirloin.”
📍 Fleetwood Market 🎪 – Traditional coastal market and fish & chips by the Wyre.
📍 Garstang 🥧 – Britain’s first Fairtrade Town, perfect for picnic supplies.
📍 Wycoller Country Park 🏞️ – Atmospheric ruins linked with the Brontës.
📍 Fairy Glen ✨ – Woodland waterfalls near Appley Bridge, a proper hidden gem.
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
No Lancashire road trip is complete without a few foodie pit stops. The county is proud of its hearty, no-nonsense food, perfect after windswept walks or a spin along the coast. Here are a few must-tries along the route:
- Butter Pie 🥧 – A Preston classic, made with potato, onion, and butter in flaky pastry. Humble, filling, and ridiculously comforting.
- Lancashire Hotpot 🍲 – The ultimate one-pot dish: slow-cooked lamb, onions, and sliced potatoes baked until golden. Best enjoyed in a pub after a day in the Trough of Bowland.
- Blackpool Rock 🍬 – You can’t leave the seaside without a stick of this colourful, tooth-cracking sweet. Pure nostalgia.
- Parched Peas 🌱 – A traditional winter snack sold at markets and fairs, usually with a splash of vinegar. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
- Lancashire Cheese 🧀 – From crumbly to creamy, it’s world-class. Clitheroe’s cheesemongers are the place to stock up.
🎒 Road Trip Essentials Checklist
✅ Vehicle check (oil, tyres, fuel)
🗺 Offline maps (signal is patchy in the hills)
🥤 Snacks & water (local bakeries are perfect top-ups)
🧥 Waterproofs and layers (Lancashire weather changes fast)
📸 Camera – moody skies and sunsets are made for it
🥤 Reusable water bottle – refill along the way
🛂 Entry Requirements
- EU/UK citizens: No visa needed – passport or valid ID accepted
- US, Canada, Australia, NZ: Visa-free for up to 6 months; passport must cover trip duration
- Other nationalities: Check requirements before travelling via official gov sites
- No entry tax within the UK – but carry ID for ticket bookings & accommodation
- Other nationalities: Check via the Entry Requirement Checker
💡 Good to know: Travel between England, Wales and Scotland is domestic. No routine border checks, but carry photo ID for hotels and any domestic flights.
🎶 Playlist & Podcast Picks
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
Set the mood with a mix of northern classics and easy-driving tracks:
- The Stone Roses – I Wanna Be Adored
- The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
- Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger
- Elbow – One Day Like This
- The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
- The Kooks – Naïve
- Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum
- Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
💡 Tinker’s Tip: Download your playlist on Spotify or Apple Music — Signal can be spotty in places
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
- The Rest Is History – Engaging and witty history chat (great after Lancaster Castle).
- Off Menu – Hilarious foodie ramblings from Ed Gamble & James Acaster.
- Uncanny (BBC) – Spooky tales, perfect for the Pendle Hill leg 👻.
- You’re Dead to Me (BBC) – Fun, quirky history mixed with comedy.
- Travel Goals Podcast – Real stories and inspiration for your next trip.
- No Such Thing As A Fish – Nerdy facts and laughs for long drives.
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
How long do you need for this trip?
Two to three days works well. It’s compact enough for a weekend, but a long weekend is more relaxed.
When’s the best time to go?
Spring and summer bring lush landscapes and seaside days. Autumn is perfect for the Blackpool Illuminations. Winter can be wet, but the pubs are cosiest then.
How do I access the free Google Maps route for the trip?
The free map is available via Google Maps with no signup required. After clicking the “View Map” link, go to “Your Places” > “Maps” in the Google Maps app to find the route. Save it for offline use, especially in areas with spotty signal.
Is it family-friendly?
Yes! Between Brockholes, Blackpool, Martin Mere, and castles, there’s loads for kids.
Can I link it with another road trip?
Absolutely. From Lancaster you can dip into the Lake District or head south into North Wales.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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