The North West Air Ambulance will benefit from one man’s mission to walk the entire length of the Real Lancashire county boundary (the County Palatine) – all 400 miles of it!

Philip Walsh, Chairman of Friends of Real Lancashire (FORL) has devised a Lancashire boundary walk in conjunction with the Association of British Counties (ABC) - it is hoped that one day each county will have its own border walk.

Said Philip: “Make no mistake about this, our county is huge! The boundary alone at over 400 miles is double the Lancashire admin area boundary, so it is a tremendous challenge for me.

"The longest walk I have ever done is the 73 mile Ribble Way over 4 days.”

He decided to make this walk sponsored and chose the North West Air Ambulance charity.

“A couple of committee members are going to join me on route and it is hoped that some FORL members will do the same” said Philip.

“The object of the walk is to raise awareness of Lancashire’s true boundaries,
practically establish the route and publish it as a recognised long distance walk. Of course I’ve got to make my efforts worthwhile, so I’m hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the NW Air Ambulance.

"This will help towards the £8 million a year the charity needs to stay operational.”

Philip's starting the walk at 9am on Wednesday 30 May from Blackpool Tower, and will walk the route in an anti-clockwise direction, i.e. the Ribble and Southport coast towards Liverpool.

The walk borders the towns of Warrington, Denton, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Littleborough, Burnley, Colne, Clitheroe, takes in the moorland of the Forest of Bowland and Leck Fell, while The Lake District section follows paths close to the River Winster towards Windermere, then the River Brathay towards Elterwater,
the River Duddon and back down the west coast of Furness. The walk will then continue through, Silverdale, Carnforth, Morecambe and Lancaster and back towards Blackpool via Fleetwood.

One of the most interesting towns on route is the border town of Todmorden where the border is the River Calder and Walsden Water which runs under the Town Hall!

And if anyone who would like to join Philip along the way, email: enquires@forl.co.uk