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Beyond Priory Park a track takes you beside allotments to meet the main road at Penwortham New Bridge, over which the Ribble Way crosses to the river’s northern bank.

PENWORTHAM OLD BRIDGE

In the middle of the 18th century a bridge was built at Penwortham to replace the ford and ferry which had until then been the only means of crossing the river this far downstream. The bridge collapsed after only four years but was succeeded in 1759 by a more substantial structure. That survived until 1912, when the present bridge was constructed to meet the demands of a new vehicle on the roads – the motor car.

DAY WALKERS

Unless you retrace your steps along the Ribble Way, it is a 4 mile (6.4km) walk back to Longton, mainly along busy main roads. The most sensible alternative, therefore, is to take a bus, and while it will be easier to find convenient parking in Longton, leaving a car in Penwortham or Preston in the morning and catching a bus to Longton avoids having to wait for one at the end of the walk. The choice is yours.