The Velvet Trail

The Velvet Trail is a walking route that loops through Lancashire's landscape, named after the soft ground underfoot rather than anything you'd wear. It's a proper countryside walk, the kind where you can actually think without dodging crowds, and it genuinely lives up to the hype if you're after a decent leg-stretch.

The trail takes you through woodland, across open moorland, and past the sort of views that make you understand why people move to Lancashire on purpose. The walking is moderate - nothing that'll destroy your knees - and the whole thing works as either a half-day mission or a longer afternoon depending on your pace. Allow three to four hours if you're stopping to breathe and look about.

It's ideal for walkers who want something substantial but not mountaineering-grade. Families with older kids will manage fine, though younger ones might struggle with the distance. The ground does live up to its name - soft and boggy in places after rain, so proper boots aren't a luxury.

Heading out from Southport, this makes a cracking addition to a longer stay at one of the area's holiday parks. Four Seasons Glamping sits just five miles away, so you could easily base yourself there and use the Velvet Trail as your main walking day. Best visited when it's not actively raining - the softness of the ground becomes less charming and more squelchy when it's waterlogged.