68, Blackpool to Preston

The Route 68 will transport you on a delightful and variety-filled sweeping curve of coastal Lancashire - from the buzzing Blackpool Promenade, through the charming Victorian hotspots of St Annes and Lytham to multi-cultural Preston, rich in history, churches and nightlife.

As you start off by traversing the North to South shore of Blackpool, you will be gazing at the famous Blackpool Tower and Pleasure Beach one moment, and Blackpool Airport the next. Did you know

Blackpool had one? This is just one testament to the world-class aerospace expertise of Blackpool, Lytham and Warton, all of which you journey past.

The flight of fancy turns to the Victorian charm of St Annes and then Lytham – charming not least for their tea rooms and traditional English pubs and renowned for places where you can play golf – crazy or otherwise.

However, a hidden gem lies ahead: the small but beautiful village of Freckleton, which in the 1800s, was used as a port assisting the ship building industry and already supplied water to a Roman fort at nearby Kirkham. The local community played their part in making rope and sail cloth, paid tribute to today in the local street names.

As you leave the coastal vistas of the route, the town of Lea will bridge the path to Preston where you will find a myriad of churches, bars, pubs and eating places of different cuisines.

The only way is up? Of course, you can start the day by going up Blackpool Tower but don’t forget to potter down the Promenade and look out for a must-see - Blackpool's Comedy Carpet which lies beneath the tower. One of the UK’s largest pieces of public art, it memorialises the good old British sense of humour with a sea of jokes, comedy catchphrases and the like of Britain’s most cherished comedians. Go on, have a giggle over a bag of chips!

If you fancy a ride on the wild side, the Pleasure Beach on the South shore is the place for you. However, if you don’t fancy looping-the-loop yourself, look out for airshow events at Blackpool Airport such as an annual two-day festival showcasing aerodynamic feats from the Red Arrows, Aerosuperbatic Wingwalkers and the Red Devils. For the aircraft afficionados amongst you, you could also hop off at Warton to visit its aerodrome.

If you get thirsty and fancy refreshment, lunch or even just a pitstop, St Annes and Lytham will look after you. They also offer the chance for a bit of a shop too and all beset in coastal charm of a more bite-sized nature than Blackpool. Have a stroll to the windmills or set your senses aflame with the annual Kite Festival at St Annes, with live music and other entertainments accompanying the gloriously visual display. Take a walk to the Pier and the amazing Cafe on the Pier which is run by Natalie and serves the most humungous, sumptuous chocolate eclairs, crispy Fish and Chips and much more - oh and the views from the Cafe out onto the sea are paradisiacal!

If you’d like to get away from the crowds, Freckleton will offer you village sanctuary not to mention some traditional English pubs and a glorious ice-cream parlour all within walking distance.

Get back in time to spend some of the afternoon in Preston where your final destination is an attraction in itself – the grade-II listed Preston Bus Station, bombastic for its brutalist architecture, controversial for its marmite-like effect and persistent in having survived being knocked down! Within wandering distance is the Harris Museum – a jewel of a museum which proudly celebrates Preston’s unique footballing history, including the famous Dick Kerr Ladies team which formed in 1917 and thrived well into the 1960s. You can find out about the Preston Guild held every 20 years since 1179 or absorb your gaze in paintings and sculptures from different eras.

In the evening, the culinary world is your oyster along Fishergate and Friargate, whether you fancy delicacies from India, Thailand, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or hearty English pub grub. Preston is also awash with music – whether you want to sample DJs at Chew’s Yard or rock out at the Vinyl Tap tucked away at the end of Friargate which pays homage to a diversity of bands via the

landlord’s quirky vinyl record collection, as well as open mics and live bands. What a perfect end to the day.