Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Haslam Park Nature Reserve – Roots Cafe loop from Preston

Haslam Park Nature Reserve – Roots Cafe loop from Preston

Easy

riders

Haslam Park Nature Reserve – Roots Cafe loop from Preston

01:27

24.4km

70m

Gravel riding

Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that goes up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 283 m for 17 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

848 m

Lancaster Canal Towpath

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

flat - completely flat. Towpath - best with gravel bike. Beautiful though

Tip by

1.76 km

Tip1
Photo-Guide or Satnav through the Nature Reserve to Cottam Lane - Walk or 10min Cycle

The 3rd photo, P3, shows this highlight's location, red 2, beside Lancaster Canal bridge 15.

If you see only Tip1 open:
komoot.com/highlight/4114660

Despite the above "Cycling not permitted at this location", photo P4, taken from this location, shows a cycle path, a Haslam Park/Nature Reserve sign and a blue-bike sign.

Visitors to the park can include the Nature Reserve route in a walk or cycle. Parking at Cottam Lane and Bristow Avenue park entrances. Link:
komoot.com/highlight/4092174

You can use the route through the reserve as a detour from a Komoot tour that passes close to the park - e. g. via the canal towpath. Join the detour at the highlight location. The detour route ends near the Cottam Lane park entrance. Then rejoin your tour. See Tip2.

The P3 map shows part of a tour (blue route) that includes the photo-guide route through the reserve. If needed, satnav is provided along the detour by that tour, link:
komoot.com/tour/610244459
See Tips 2 to 4 below.

Route Description - Photo-Guide

View in split-screen (Tip6) or 2 screens to see photos alongside the description of the route through the reserve. Best to view photos in the Komoot app.

From the start, blue-bike sign P4, Highlight2 on P3, follow the gravel path - 20 paces. Fork right (P5) onto the off-grid path, hedge on right. In 30 paces go through gap in hedge (P6). Take care - safer to dismount and you may encounter a walker/cyclist approaching the gap. Follow path NW then W. Cycle times based on continuous cycling.

1 min - W to SW - group of trees straight ahead (P7). Continue straight on, W then S between points 5 and 6, on brown, off-grid path (P8 - top of map is west). If using satnav it may instruct to turn left onto blue, on-grid path - ignore it.

Path turns S - group of trees close (P9).

2.5 min - go south (P10). If using satnav, an instruction to turn right, back on-grid. Turn right (W) near the trees to bank of brook, then S and E around edge of field - brook on right.

3.5 min - path more distinct - maybe muddy (P11).

4.5 min - T-junction (P12). Turn right across bridge. No barrier- take care (P13). Turn right. Path divides (P14) - take right fork.

A feint path goes to hedge on left to Cottam Lane (P15).

6 min - P16 looks back through hedge.

Go right in Cottam Lane if you plan to join the canal at bridge 16.

See Tips 2 to 4 for options.

Tip by

2.30 km

Ribble Link Staircase Locks and Holding Basin

Highlight • River

It's Worth Stopping Here to Look Around
Tip1

If you see only Tip1, open this highlight using the link:
komoot.com/highlight/3843027

Some suggestions below in Tip2.

The Ribble Link Staircase is visited by several Komoot tours - for example, check out these links:
komoot.com/tour/610244459
komoot.com/tour/1118780163

Take care with children at all points near the holding basin and staircase locks.

The locks join the Lancaster Canal to the start of the river navigation along Savick Brook, which flows three locks below at the bottom of the staircase.

To view the photos alongside these descriptions, use a split-screen.

Photos 1 and 2: the holding basin, taken from a new bridge that carries the Lancaster Canal 'towpath' over a short channel. That channel branches off the canal and widens into the holding basin at the top lock, with moorings for boats waiting to descend the staircase and continue along the brook to the River Ribble.

Photo 3: looking from the basin towards the towpath bridge and the canal, just visible under the bridge.

Photo 4: looking across the holding basin to the top lock.

The Ribble Link Navigation follows the course of Savick Brook west towards the north bank of the Ribble, where the brook passes through the sea lock and into its tidal waters to join the Ribble.

Departure down the staircase to the Ribble is only possible when the tide is right. It's timed so that boats arrive at the junction of Savick Brook with the Ribble near high tide.

Photo 5: two boats descending - the canal boat is reversing down the staircase to avoid a U-turn in Savick Brook.

Photo 6: at the bottom lock the boat is reversing into the Savick Brook winding hole - too narrow for a long boat to turn. It then moves forward and turns slightly left to continue on along the brook.

Photo 7: the raised walkway that follows Savick Brook under the railway bridge. Low bridge - mind your head.

Tip by

5.21 km