Preston Guild Wheel (Broughton Inlet)
WHERE
Preston
What it’s like
A 21-mile loop round Preston for walking or cycling, with the River Ribble and Avenham Park along the way.
This is the full ring road for pedal power and boots, a 21-mile circuit that loops right round Preston with entry points dotted along its length. You don't have to do the whole thing in one go. Pick a stretch near you, join at whichever car park suits, and do as much or as little as your legs (or your kids' legs) can manage.
The section through Avenham Park and along the River Ribble is the one worth building a day around. It's got that mix of open riverside path and proper park green space, so a family with bikes of different sizes can find a bit that works, whether that's a flat towpath potter with a toddler on a balance bike or a longer push for someone who actually wants the miles.
Food stops are spread along the route rather than clustered at one end, which helps if you're doing a big chunk of it. The Pavilion Café marks the official start and finish, and there's The Continental, Ancient Oak out at Cottam, and the Final Whistle Café at the UCLan Sports Arena if you time your ride to land near one of them. Worth planning your route around a café stop rather than hoping one turns up.
Parking is dotted along the whole 21 miles at multiple car parks, though some of them charge, so it's not a guaranteed free start wherever you join. Because there's no single entrance or booking system, this suits families who like to turn up and choose their own bit rather than following a set trail with a fixed beginning and end.
Need to know
- Parking
- Multiple car parks along route, some require payment
- Food
- Multiple cafés and pubs along the route including The Pavilion Café (official start/finish), The Continental, Ancient Oak in Cottam
- The route runs the full 21 miles round Preston with multiple entry points, so you can join partway rather than starting at one fixed spot
- Avenham Park and the River Ribble make a good focus for a shorter family stretch
- Not all the car parks along the route are free, so check the one nearest your entry point
Plan your visit
How long is the route?
It's 21 miles in total, running right round Preston with several places to join it.
Do we have to do the whole loop?
No, you can join at any of the entry points and just do a section. It's set up for that rather than one long start-to-finish trip.
Is there parking?
There are car parks along the route, but some of them require payment, so it varies depending on where you join.
Where can we get food along the way?
The Pavilion Café is the official start and finish point, and there's also The Continental, Ancient Oak in Cottam, and the Final Whistle Café at the UCLan Sports Arena further round.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Walking & Cycling Trails in Preston · Things to do in Preston
MAKE A DAY OF IT
