Dogging in Lancashire

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 car parks and picnic areas that doggers themselves have written about, area by area, each with a map link so you can see exactly where it is.

We have only included public car parks, picnic sites and country parks, and only places we could match to a real car park on the map. Supermarket and business car parks, private land, and anywhere posters said had been closed off are left out. Each spot says when it was last mentioned. Sites change: gates go up, trees come down and some places go quiet for years, so treat older ones as a lead rather than a promise.

Rivington, Anglezarke and the West Pennine Moors

The moors between Chorley, Bolton and Darwen come up more than anywhere else in the posts, with a string of reservoir car parks a short drive apart.

Rivington

Posters point to the car parks around Great House and Lower Barn, and to the one near the replica ruined castle, which one regular says has people about even on weekdays and a sort of unofficial one-way system. Someone was asking who was heading up to Rivington as recently as last autumn.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned October 2025

Anglezarke, Moor Road (PR6 9DN)

There are three car parks here; the regulars use the small bottom one, on the left as you drive in. It is good for daytime meets but popular with walkers, so school holidays are best avoided. The gate is closed at night.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned January 2020

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 on the board, with couples happy to be watched; walks in the woods on weekday afternoons get a mention too. Posters did report police visits in the evenings.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned September 2018

Tockholes and Roddlesworth

The main car park here has been gated at night at times, but posters say the small car park near Belmont Road stays usable.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned November 2014

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned July 2009

Chorley, Leyland and Preston

South of Preston the country parks are the draw: big car parks with woodland on more than one side.

Cuerden Valley Park

Two entrances are mentioned: 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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned November 2016

Yarrow Valley Country Park, Chorley

Late on, after 9pm, posters say there are a number of secluded spots around the park.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned June 2010

Beacon Fell Country Park

A wooded country park with a one-way drive round it and several car parks, so you can stay in the car or head out. There is a café by day and a ranger works up there, and it is full of families in the school holidays.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned 2006

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned November 2022

Spring Wood picnic site, Whalley

Meets happen on the car park or in the woods, and posters say there are toilets on site.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned May 2016

Birdy Brow, Longridge Fell

On the back road from Longridge to Clitheroe there are two car parks that couples are said to use most nights.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned November 2012

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 mentioned, with a more private spot near Stocks Reservoir. Weekends are best, according to the one poster who wrote it up.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned October 2016

Lancaster, Caton and the north

Around Lancaster the picnic sites along the River Lune come up again and again.

Crook o' Lune, Caton

The picnic areas here are one of the most often named spots near Lancaster; one poster notes the back car park is only open in summer.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned August 2019

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned August 2019

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned June 2012

Cinderbarrow picnic site, north of Carnforth

A small, very secluded picnic area off the A6, about four miles north of Carnforth.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned April 2010

The Fylde coast and Wyre

From Lytham to Pilling, the coast has lake-side, estuary and picnic-site parking, much of it quiet after dark.

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, and one of the most recent spots on the board.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned January 2026

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; older posts mention police patrols.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned October 2020

Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah

Large, secluded car parks with plenty of cover. Regulars recommend the back car park, especially on Saturday nights.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned December 2015

Skippool Creek

The car park by the river gets a mention for daytime fun.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned April 2019

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned December 2015

Burnley, Colne and East Lancashire

Two of the newest posts on the board come from this corner of the county.

Alkincoates Nature Reserve, Colne

Just up from Holt House. A great spot, according to a poster this summer, quiet with nobody about at night.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned August 2026

Rowley Lake, Burnley

Recommended as a good place to start: quiet at night, and dark enough to be discreet.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned August 2025

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.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned 2006

West Lancashire

One spot near Skelmersdale makes the list.

Beacon Country Park, Up Holland

Known for years as a meeting place; the first car park off Mill Lane is the one posters use. In 2015 a notice went up there about more police visits after complaints from villagers.

View on Google Maps · last mentioned June 2015

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. Several posters flag school holidays as the time to stay away.

A few basics keep a night out relaxed. Arrive quietly, keep your headlights off once you have parked, and use your interior light if you are happy to be watched. Never touch anyone who has not invited you, agree a stop word with your partner before you set off, and take your litter home.

Sex in public can be an offence in the UK, and several of these car parks have had police patrols at one time or another. Be discreet, pick somewhere well away from homes and paths, and make sure nobody who has not chosen to be part of it can see you.