Dogging sites
Dogging in Lancashire
The county's best-known dogging spots, from country parks to motorway services, with a map for each.
From the reservoirs on the West Pennine Moors to the picnic sites of the Ribble Valley and the Fylde coast, Lancashire has dogging spots in every corner of the county. This guide brings together the best-known spots, area by area.
This guide covers country parks, picnic sites, town parks, retail and motorway car parks, and a few places you walk to. Every spot has a map under it so you know exactly where to head, and where you need to park a short distance away and walk, we say where to leave the car and give a what3words address for the spot itself. Not everyone drives, so these work on foot too. Sites change over time: gates go up, trees come down and some places go quiet for a while, so treat each spot as a lead rather than a promise.
Rivington, Anglezarke and the West Pennine Moors
The moors between Chorley, Bolton and Darwen hold the biggest cluster of spots in this guide, with a string of reservoir car parks a short drive apart.
Rivington
The car parks around Great House and Lower Barn are the main ones, along with the one near the replica ruined castle, which has people about even on weekdays and a sort of unofficial one-way system.
Anglezarke, Moor Road (PR6 9DN)
There are three car parks here; the one to head for is the small bottom one, on the left as you drive in. It is good for daytime meets, but it is popular with walkers and likely to be busy in the day with families and children during the school holidays, so then it is best to wait until the evening or after dark. The gate is closed at night.
Entwistle Reservoir, Batridge car park
Take the Turton turning off the A666 onto Green Arm Road and follow the sign for Batridge Barn car park, then keep going down to the water and the picnic tables rather than stopping at the small lay-by on the access road. One of the longest-running spots in the county, with couples happy to be watched, and weekday afternoon walks in the woods too. Police have called by in the evenings, sometimes to give advice and sometimes, it seems, just to watch!
Tockholes and Roddlesworth
The main car park here has been gated at night at times, but the small car park near Belmont Road stays open.
Calf Hey Reservoir, Haslingden Grane
Use the top car park off the A6177 Grane Road and stay to the right as you come in. There is a toilet block, and the car park can shut from 5pm.
Blackburn with Darwen services, M65
The car parks just behind the services, off the M65 at Darwen. Nice and quiet after 9pm most nights, with couples who are happy for others to join in.
Chorley, Leyland and Preston
South of Preston the country parks are the draw: big car parks with woodland on more than one side. Closer to town there are park, retail and motorway car parks too.
Cuerden Valley Park
There are two entrances to know: the car park at the bottom of Sheephill Brow, below Clayton Brook, with woods on three sides, and the one on the A6 Wigan Road about half a mile before Bamber Bridge, where things happen in the car park or just beyond the wooden fence.
Yarrow Valley Country Park, Chorley
Late on, after 9pm, there are a number of secluded spots around the park.
Beacon Fell Country Park
A wooded country park with a one-way drive round it and several car parks along the way, so you can stay in the car or head out, and if one car park is quiet, try the next. There is a café by day and a ranger works up there, and it is busy with families during the day, so it is best visited later in the evening or after dark.
Denham Hill Quarry, Brindle
A small car park on Holt Lane beside the old quarry, about ten minutes from Chorley and reached from the B5256 or from Denham Lane. Busy after dark on weekdays as well as weekends, with couples who like company. Be respectful and it is an excellent spot.
Worden Park, Leyland
The main car park for Leyland's big park, with woodland around it, so you can park and slip into the trees. Quiet on weeknights once it is dark. It is a busy family park by day, so leave it until late.
Moor Park, Preston
The lay-by on Moor Park opposite Preston North End's Deepdale stadium, used once it gets dark, with bushes around the bowling green for cover. It is a public park with homes around it, so keep it discreet, and give it a miss on match days.
Behind B&Q, Bamber Bridge
Head down Wigan Road, just off the A6, and turn in behind B&Q. A late spot, once the store has closed. If it is quiet, Cuerden Valley Park is just down the road.
Walton Summit industrial estate, Bamber Bridge
Plenty of car parks, nooks and crannies to explore after dark and at weekends. Stick to the estate roads and the open car parks rather than gated yards.
Howick Cross Lane, Penwortham
A very quiet spot at the bottom of the lane, well away from the houses near the main road. There is no car park, but there is a lay-by at the bottom of the lane where cars park up; if it is full, pull in along the lane or park further back and walk the last stretch.
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Cemetery car park, Hill Road, Penwortham
Named in the local press among Lancashire's dogging spots and locals. Only visit at night, be respectful of where you are, clean up and leave no litter.
Charnock Richard services, M6 southbound
Busy at night, when lorry drivers park up for the night, so expect an audience.
Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland
The quietest spots on the list, reached down lanes rather than off main roads.
Marles Wood car park, near Ribchester
Coming from Ribchester, take a sharp left after Ribchester Bridge; from the A59, turn right just before it. Follow the lane past Salesbury Hall and the car park is on the left. It is large, unlit and hidden from the road, with an upper and a lower level right next to the woods.
Spring Wood picnic site, Whalley
Meets happen on the car park or in the woods, and there are toilets on site.
Birdy Brow, Longridge Fell
On the back road from Longridge to Clitheroe there are two car parks that couples use most nights.
Gisburn Forest and Stocks Reservoir
On the edge of Lancashire between the A59 and the A65. The Forest Hub car park and Cocklet Hill car park (BB7 4TS) are both used, with a more private spot near Stocks Reservoir. Weekends are best.
Black Hill car parks, Back Lane, Sabden
Two car parks on Back Lane, the hill road between Sabden, Read and Simonstone, with a small wood alongside. The lower car park is the busier, and Saturday nights are good for couples. Heading out of Sabden towards Padiham, take the first left up the steep hill and turn right at the crossroads; the car park is about 400 yards up on the left. Local residents have campaigned against dogging on the lane and report what they see to the police, so be discreet.
Lancaster, Caton and the north
Around Lancaster the best-known spots are the picnic sites along the River Lune.
Crook o' Lune, Caton
The picnic areas here are among the best-known spots near Lancaster; note that the back car park is only open in summer.
Bull Beck picnic site, Caton Road
A big picnic area on the A683 with benches and seats, busiest earlier in the evening and better in summer.
Middleton Nature Reserve, Heysham
Head for the top car park overlooking the lake; there is a lower one too. Lorries often park up here at night, so expect an audience.
Cinderbarrow picnic site, north of Carnforth
A small, very secluded picnic area off the A6, about four miles north of Carnforth.
Bulk Road retail park, Lancaster
The car park shared by Halfords, Currys and B&M on Bulk Road, named in the Lancaster Guardian and by locals as one of Lancaster's best dogging spots. It empties out after 10pm.
The Fylde coast and Wyre
From Lytham to Fleetwood, the coast has lake-side, estuary and picnic-site parking, much of it quiet after dark, and a couple of spots on Blackpool's promenade that you walk to.
Lane Ends picnic site, Pilling
A small picnic site that you can find on Google Maps. The car park is in view of the road, but if you drive along Backsands Lane from the A588 there is a gated entrance to more secluded parking. Quiet at night.
Scorton Picnic Site
Near the M6 but not reached from it, with plenty of parking, acres of woods, a river and picnic tables. Popular with dog walkers by day and used after dark; police have patrolled here in the past.
Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah
Large, secluded car parks with plenty of cover. The back car park is the one to use, especially on Saturday nights.
Skippool Creek
The car park by the river is used for daytime fun.
Fairhaven Lake, Lytham St Annes
Two large car parks, the smaller with a Spitfire on it, and bushes and trees for cover in summer. There are no street lights on the car park; Saturday nights are the busiest, with watchers often invited to join in.
Cottam Hall playing fields, Poulton-le-Fylde
The car park for the playing fields off Blackpool Old Road, used after dark.
Behind the ferry café, Fleetwood
Behind the café by the Knott End ferry, on the seafront. Park on the car park a couple of minutes' walk west along the front and walk round.
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Middle Walk, Blackpool
A very quiet walkway on the promenade just north of the Metropole Hotel. It is a gay cruising spot as well, with a good dogging following. Park at Filey Place car park and walk about five minutes along the front.
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The toilets by the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
Behind the public toilets on the promenade by the Pleasure Beach. You can park on the road nearby, or in Balmoral Road car park, a couple of minutes' walk away.
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Burnley, Colne and East Lancashire
A quieter corner of the county, with nature reserves and a country park on the edge of the moors.
Alkincoates Nature Reserve, Colne
Just up from Holt House. A great spot, quiet with nobody about at night.
Rowley Lake, Burnley
Recommended as a good place to start: quiet at night, and dark enough to be discreet.
Wycoller Country Park
Turn off the Colne to Keighley road towards Oakworth, cross the bridge and follow the road about half a mile to the signposts.
West Lancashire
Neighbouring spots on the hill between Skelmersdale and Wigan.
Beacon Country Park, Up Holland
Known for years as a meeting place; the first car park off Mill Lane is the one to use.
Ashurst Beacon, Dalton
Three car parks on Beacon Lane: the lowest is the most secluded and the middle one the most used. After complaints from villagers, a notice went up in 2015 promising more police visits. That was a good few years and a lot of budget cuts ago, but a little discretion never hurt anyone.
Before you go
Most of these spots are busy with walkers and families by day, so the action starts once it is dark and the dog walkers have gone home. Arrive quietly, be respectful of anyone else using the site, and take your litter home.
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