7k Run Preston: Scenic Canal Loop with Haslam Park

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 7.3km out-and-back route offers a refreshingly flat and peaceful escape through Preston’s green corridors. Starting from Cottam Way, you’ll join the scenic towpath of the Lancaster Canal, heading towards Ashton-on-Ribble. The terrain is exceptionally runner-friendly with zero elevation gain, making it an ideal choice for a tempo session or a relaxed recovery run. On the return leg, the route picks up a charming loop through Haslam Park, adding variety to your stride with a mix of paved paths and well-maintained parkland trails before reconnecting with the canal side.

Steeped in local heritage, the Lancaster Canal—once known as the "Black Coit Canal"—is a vital piece of Lancashire's industrial history, though today it serves as a tranquil haven for wildlife and runners alike. Haslam Park, which you’ll explore on the detour, is a classic Edwardian-style space gifted to the people of Preston by Mary Haslam in 1910. As you run past its ornate gates and lime trees, you’re traversing one of the city’s premier "Green Flag" sites. This route perfectly captures the transition from Preston’s modern residential developments to its historic maritime and parkland roots.