Nabs Head Village, off the A59 between Preston and Blackburn, is one of Lancashire's real secrets. It's tailor-made for an enjoyable four-and-a-half mile walk.

It's an idyllic hamlet on the peaceful River Darwen, where you will find the Nabs Head pub - the perfect start and end point for a walk taking in some of the most beautiful countryside in the area.

Some areas are quite steep, as the footpaths drop down sharply to the river and the routes can be muddy, but the views of Darwen Tower and Hoghton Tower (a handsome fortified Renaissance building with links to William Shakespeare) and out to Preston and the sea, are worth the scramble.

And who could resist a walk through such an exotic-sounding location as Wild Bottom's Wood?

Ordnance Survey Map: OS EXP 287