Location
Yarrow Valley Country Park, Off Birkacre Road, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3QL
Our car parks
- café, information centre and main car park – postcode PR7 3QL - our café, information centre and main car park is located to the south west of Chorley and is sign posted from all major road junctions in the borough. Turn off the B5251 (Coppull Road) onto Birkacre Road. The car park entrance is straight ahead. A height restriction barrier is in place, tall vehicles should turn left at the main entrance and park on the overspill car park. Cycle parking is available.
- Duxbury – postcode PR7 4AT - following signs to Duxbury Golf Course, turn off the A5106 (Wigan Road) into Duxbury Hall Road. Follow the single track road to Duxbury Golf Course, where the car park is on your right.
- Euxton – postcode PR7 4DD - Located just off the A581 Southport Road.
- Dob Brow - a small car park located off Yarrow Valley Way on Dob Brow
All our car parks are free of charge.
Public transport
Yarrow Valley Country Park is easily reached by public transport.
By Train - Chorley train station links Chorley to Manchester, Preston, Bolton and Blackpool. Chorley Interchange (for bus services) is located across the road. Euxton Balshaw Lane railway station links Chorley with Blackpool and Liverpool
By Bus - the Birkacre area of the park, including the visitor centre is easily accessible by bus with bus stops located on Coppull Road. It is a 5 to 10 minute walk along Birkacre Road to the visitor centre
The Duxbury area of the park is accessible by bus stops on the A6 (Bolton Road).
The Euxton area of the park is accessible by bus stops on Southport Road/Balshaw Lane.
Owing to changes in bus timetables you are advised to check before you travel. Bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach service the Chorley area.
More about the area
Chorley's increasingly popular Yarrow Valley Country Park is a 700-acre facility, run by Chorley Council, including a café and information hub built using Heritage Lottery funds. Yarrow Valley Country Park has been awarded Green Flag status since 2004.
Yarrow Valley walks
There are numerous walking routes in Yarrow Valley. Walking guides are available below.
Yarrow Valley yellow walk (PDF) [1MB]
Yarrow Valley red walk (PDF) [3MB]
Yarrow Valley green walk (PDF) [1MB]
Yarrow Valley blue walk (PDF) [3MB]
Yarrow Valley play area
Yarrow Valley Country Park is home to "Yarrow Rocks", a play space in which young people are encouraged to challenge themselves and take calculated risks. Features within this fabulous facility include:
- giant rope swing
- natural climbing wall
- rock stack
- embankment slide
- basket swing
- sand pit.
While we encourage all the family to play together we ask that parents and carers take particular care to watch toddlers as there are a number of attractions designed with older users in mind. In this area dogs must be on a lead at all times and kept on the main path, away from the play space.
Treeface café
The cafe has a range of drinks, cakes, snacks, homemade meals and ice cream. Opening times are generally 10am till 4:30pm but please check on the facebook page "Treeface Cafe at Yarrow Valley" or by phoning 01257 228765.
Toilet facilities including baby changing and accessible facilities are available to all park users.
A large information board is by the café and car park for general information.
Ranger service
The role of the ranger service is to patrol the parks, nature reserves and open spaces across the whole borough, including Yarrow Valley, give advice and information to visitors, run events and activities, coordinate and carry out conservation tasks and management works.
The ranger service does not provide an emergency response. In an emergency situation please contact the police, fire or ambulance service.
Please be aware that BBQs on council parks, open spaces and land are not allowed.
Residents and visitors are reminded that BBQs and fires are not allowed in any of the borough’s parks or open spaces at any time. Chorley Council is supporting Lancashire Fire Brigade as it works to prevent grass fires – which the Borough is at more of a risk from during hot and dry weather. Some of the most common causes of grass fires are barbecues left unattended, carelessly discarded cigarettes and matches, and glass bottles left on dry grass. Please bring a picnic or buy food from Treeface Cafe and always dispose of litter in the bins provided.
Volunteers
We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help with conservation duties. Volunteers should be over 16.
View more information on volunteering or contact us by email to contact@chorley.gov.uk if you are interested in volunteering at the park.
We work in partnership with many groups and organisations who have an interest and role to play with the management of the park.
Groups represented are:
- Chorley and District Natural History Society
- Chorley Council
- Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society
- Friends of River Yarrow
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust
- Lower Burgh Meadows Conservation Group
- Model Aircraft Society
- Ramblers Association
- River Douglas Catchment Partnership
- Wigan and District AA
Lower Burgh Meadow Conservation Group
The group was formally established in March 2010 with the aim of maintaining and developing Lower Burgh Meadows and the woodland to its edge. They have a programme of regular work days, hold group meetings and fundraising events and social activities.
Group membership is increasing and you are welcome to join the group. For more information please email lbmconservationgroup@gmail.com or leave a message on the groups phone which is not always monitored 07443 412379.
Yarrow Meadows
We have been working with the Environment Agency and partners in the Douglas Catchment Partnership to improve the water environment and reduce risks to communities and wildlife.
The Yarrow Meadows Masterplan seeks to deliver natural flood management interventions on the site to slow the flow of water to communities at risk.
The masterplan builds on the good work already invested in the Croston Flood Alleviation Scheme as well as enhancing the flood plain of the River Yarrow within Yarrow Valley Country Park.
We have carried out floodplain connectivity, bank rehabilitation, preservation and restoration of habitats, removal or softening of hard banks, inclusion of woody debris, non-native species eradication, woodland creation and woodland management.
Access points to Yarrow Valley Country Park have been improved over the past few years and work is ongoing. This includes the formalisation of Yarrow Valley Country Park car park. Footpaths have been resurfaced and steps improved through Duxbury Woods, Yarrow Meadows, Wallets Wood, Kingsley Wood, Copperworks and Big Wood. Access points from the Gillibrand area have been enhanced to ensure members of the public can continue to enjoy their time in a safe environment. Where possible stiles have been replaced by kissing gates to improve access for those with low mobility.