Lancaster Canal

Kendal to Holme - 20th May 2017

Northern Reaches, near Kendal

I stayed overnight in Carnforth with the purpose to walk on the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal.  The canal from Tewitfield to Kendal has been fragmented in several sections when the M6 motorway was built in the 1960s and more so when the key roads were upgraded.  The Lancaster Canal Trust is currently restoring this stretch where it is hoped one day boats will able to cruise up to Kendal via the Tewitfield Locks (which are about to be restored as I blog).  

I caught a bus (No. 555) to Kendal.  It took me a while to find The Canal Head where the canal used to start from.  The original line can be seen in Kendal and today it is public footpath.  Walking out of Kendal and following the signs to Sedgwick via open farmland, I met a couple who were disappointed to see the canal infilled though remnants including the bridges and towpath lines can be seen.

There were a series of diversions as the canal is cut by the A590 road before I reached Hincaster Tunnel.  The tunnel is listed as an Ancient Monument and this 19th Century structure originally took the canal near Sedgwick Gunpowder Works.  Another diversion followed and I rejoined the canal and for a bit I finally saw water!  Two swans hissed at me passing and I didn't realise until afterwards they were ferociously guarding their offspring. 

Passing through Stainton I reached Crooklands where I stopped in the hotel for an overdue drink and comfort break.  Lancaster Canal Trust offers trips on their NB Waterwitch and the village's wharf was once a coal yard which was once transported on the canal.

It was then only a couple of miles or so to Holme via the noisy M6 motorway but I was surrounded by stunning countryside of the Lakeland Fells.  There were some diversions as the canal was culverted in places and I eventually reached Holme, my destination, and finished at Bridge 149.  I walked down the road to the village where I caught the bus back to Carnforth. 

Holme to Carnforth - 6th May 2017

The Northern Reaches, Tewitfield

Starting at Carnforth I caught the Kendal bound Bus (No. 555) to Holme in Cumbria.  At Holme I walked up the village road and joined the canal.  Enroute I was greeted by fellow walkers, some with their dogs, and it felt odd not seeing any narrowboats on somewhat a pretty stretch of the Lancaster Canal.  One day boats will be seen passing this un-navigable stretch of this canal as it's currently being slowly restored.  There were some small unpowered craft and canoes dotted about though.

Despite the noisy M6, the motorway responsible for fragmenting the canal, it was a pleasure walking in wonderful countryside enroute to Tewitfied.  At Cinderbarrow the motorway culverted the canal and I had to divert via Cinderbarrow Lane and crossed the bridge over the motorway towards the Tewitfield Locks.

There are eight locks which ascend/descend over three quarters of a mile to/down 75 feet.  Opened in 1819 and were last used in 1942.  At the end of the Northern Reaches I left the canal and visited Longlands Hotel for a coffee and comfort stop.  I fancied some cake to go with my coffee and the staff happily obliged in giving me a complimentary delicious brownie.  The Longlands Hotel is a lovely place to enjoy a meal or a drink or even stay and is supported by very friendly staff who go out of their way to make you feel welcome.  

Afterwards I walked to the terminius (for boaters) where I read about the canal's restoration beyond Tewitfield.  It was originally the terminus before the canal was extended to Kendal in 1819 and became again in 1968 when the M6 was constructed.  Currently the terminus constitutes a marina, moorings and turning point for boats.  I continued walking towards Borwick, the Keer Aqueduct and the Capernwray Canal Arm (where limestone was transported on the canal from Wegber Quarry). 

The walk to Carnforth though surrounded with countryside and the occasional noise from the M6 was uneventful and I finished the walk at Bridge 128.  Had a well earned drink at the Royal Station Hotel before getting my train home. 

Carnforth to Lancaster - 27th March 2018

Lancaster Canal, near Hest Bank

On a sunny Monday I caught a train to Carnforth and joined the canal in the town centre where I began walking down to Lancaster.  The walk is approximately eight to nine miles.  I couldn't ask for a better day weatherwise and it was pleasure walking on its towpath with the surrounding open countryside.

After passing Bolton Le Sands I saw stunning views of the coast and Morecambe Bay's blue waters and reached Hest Bank Hotel for a drink stop.  After having a drink I continued along the tow path towards Lancaster via the beautiful Lune Aqueduct, the city centre's outskirts, the cathedral and finished at Bridge 100 besides the White Cross Pub.  After having dinner in the city centre I made my way to the railway station for my train home to Leeds. 

Galgate to Lancaster - 21st May 2017

Lancaster Canal, between Galgate and Lancaster

I did an unventful walk from north Galgate to Lancaster.  Originally I planned to get off the bus at Galgate Marina but it turned out I've got off too soon and ended up starting at Bridge No. 88 (instead of Bridge No. 86).  I thought at first I was going towards Glasson Docks Branch but it turned out I was going North and back to the city.

I found the stretch though pretty rather a bit dull.  There wasn't much to share on the walk except for the Deep Cutting, the largest on the canal, from Bridge 91.  It was such a beautiful stretch with its wooded environs and serene atmosphere.  After the cut I was soon approaching the outskirts of Lancaster.  In the distance the castle and the town vista can be seen.  I reached Lancaster Basin, one a hub of barges activity, and the Waterwitch Pub housed in the original canal stables.

I finished the walk the bridge after the Pub and made my way to the station for my train home.  Next walk will either be walking on the Glasson Docks Branch or walking from Garstang back up to Galgate (yes, in decent weather!).

Attempted walk on the Glasson Branch - 15th July 2017

Lune Esturary, near Lancaster

I caught an early train to Lancaster with the intention of doing a circular walk along the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal.  My arrival in Lancaster was greeted with drizzly rain; I came prepared (except for my shoes!) so I thought the drizzle would pass away and the weather improve.  Wrong! The weather deteriorated as I was walking on the Lune Estuary Path passing Adcliffe, Stodday and reaching Condor Green!  After walking 5-6 miles and soaking wet I decided to call it a day and resorted in the nearest pub, The Stork!  I could see the dock and canal in the distance but it wasn't to be...saved for another day hopefully not a rainy one!

I had a lovely lunch and well deserved drink - I did spend a long time at the pub which gave me an opportunity to dry out and also waited for the next bus that would take me back to Lancaster.  The bus services from Condor Green to Lancaster are every 1.5-2 hours during the week and Saturday.  Caught the bus outside the pub and dropped me off in the city centre where I went to the railway station via the tourist information office.  At the station's Costa I saw Geoff and Vicki from "All the Stations".  I've been following their project on You Tube with interest as they are stopping at every railway station in Britain.  As of writing they have stopped at most of the stations and still travelling around the North of England and Scotland ticking them off.  A quick exchange of pleasantries and photo they were off on another train, stopping at another station...On my journey home the weather cleared of rain and the sun came out for a bit...typical!

My second attempt to walk the Glasson Dock Branch will have to come another day!

Glasson Branch to Potters Brook - 11th November 2017

Glasson Branch, Lancaster Canal

To attempt walking the Lancaster Canal's Glasson Branch I checked the weather beforehand.  The day I had available for walking on canal forecasted sunshine though cold so I took the opportunity to travel up to Lancaster.  It was an early start for me as I had to get a crucial bus connection to Glasson from Lancaster bus station.  Despite the bus being delayed I got to the village though missed the stop I suppose to have got off! I had to do a bit of a detour before reaching Glasson Basin.

It was lunch time before I started so decided to have my lunch before setting off.  I firstly had a quick look round the Basin and the Dock and then up the Branch I went.  The Branch, opened in 1787, is approximately 3.5 miles with six locks and it was an enjoyable and scenic walk ascending up.  The towpath,  however, was muddy (glad my new walking boots came in handy - certainly not a walk to do in trainers!).

It took me approximately 1.5 hours to reach the junction with the main Lancaster Canal; I then made a side trip to Galgate where I had a stop at the Canalside Craft Centre (a recommendable refreshment stop) and walked the stretch I haven't walked yet (up to Bridge 88).  After Galgate I retraced my steps and continued my pursuit towards Garstang.

I had underestimated the mileage to Garstang and there are the early dark nights so I decided to walk a further couple of miles down the canal towards Potters Brook at Bridge 81.  The stretch from the junction to Potters Brook was very scenic with the stunning autumn colours; particuarly the foilage around Ellel Bridge and it was nice seeing the mileage signs again towards Garstang.

I think I made a wise decision to finish at Potters Brook as it was starting to get dark when I finished and with a short walk to the bus stop on the A6 road I only waited a quarter an hour for the bus to Lancaster.  I had some food at a city centre pub, The Study Room, which was nice though dark with neon lighting, pretty loud and busy (it being early Saturday evening) and then hung around at the train station before catching my delayed train back to Leeds.

I'm pleased to have made further progress towards my adventure on the canal down to Preston and just approximately 22-23 miles to go before completion! 

Potters Brook to Garstang - 18th November 2017

Autumn on the Lancaster Canal

A week after my adventures on the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal I was back! This time it was a walk from Potters Brook, where I finished previously, to Garstang.  It was approximately a six to seven mile walk though it felt longer because of the very muddy towpath.

At the beginning of the walk I walked through woodlands and admired the stunning autumn colours and it was out in open countryside for the remainder until I reached outskirts of Garstang.  As reflected in the photos you did feel that you were out in the middle of nowhere but it was nice to be out in the nature and away from it all.  

The villages I passed were Forton and Cabus which both offer moorings for boaters and nearer to Garstang there were private marinas and boatyards. There weren't much in the terms of interesting features and buildings on this stretch but enjoyable of its rural and scenic beauty.  I must admit I was pleased when I arrived in Garstang (finished at Bridge 62 at Kepple Lane) where I was able to get some food at The Tithe Barn Pub and get the bus back to Lancaster.

Still 16 miles or so to reach Preston and probably complete the remainder in three stretches which I plan to do at the end of the year. 

Garstang to Woodplumpton (overnight in Bilsborrow) - 22nd & 23rd December 2017

Sunset at Barton Grange, Lancaster Canal

I walked from Garstang to Woodplumpton, approximately 9 miles, over two days.  I chose to stay overnight in Bilsborrow to make the walking more of an adventure and the hotel I booked in was just a short walk from the canal.  I could have walked more but with the shorter days and muddy towpath I think the right decision was made to walk the miles I did.

I got a direct train from Leeds to Preston and walked through the city centre to its bus station.   I was very shocked to see how big and monstrous the bus station is and probably is the biggest bus station I've ever been to!  I waited a short while until I caught the bus to Garstang which took about 3/4  of an hour as there was a lot of traffic on the city's outskirts.

Got off in Garstang town centre - I'd love to have spent more time there but I was conscious about how much daylight I had left for walking and was keen to start walking on the canal sooner than later.  I started where I left off from last time and began the 5 mile walk to Bilsborrow; first crossing the River Wyre via its aqueduct and then it was uneventful until reaching Bilsborrow.  I notice the mile markers which measure the distance between Preston and Garstang and also crossed two other rivers, Calder and Brock, also via its aqueducts.

I marvelled at a lovely sunset at Barton Grange and at the same time a narrowboat was cruising towards me.  Bilsborrow is a quaint little village particularly for its themed thatched hamlet 'village' which consists of a restaurant, hotel and tavern.  There was a little funfair adjacent to the tavern which ran a Bavarian/Alpine theme.  I chose not to check out the themed village as it was starting to get dark so I decided to get some dinner at Turner Fish and Chips - I ate in the restaurant and enjoyed some delicious fish and chips.  Afterwards I checked in the Premier Inn (Preston North) across the Road.  It was a good afternoon walking though misty throughout.

Lancaster Canal, near Bilsborrow

Next morning and after a lie in and breakfast at the hotel, I continued the 4 mile walk towards Woodplumpton.  Again the walk was uneventful though you feel as if you were out in the middle of nowhere.  It was very rural which the Lancaster Canal is reputed for and I only saw a small handful of walkers and mostly with their dogs.  The challenge over the past couple of days was the very muddy towpath - my boots and bottom of my trousers were caked in mud!  It was also drizzly but fortunately not raining heavy. 

I reached Woodplumpton and it was a mile or so walk to the bus stop. I had a bit of a wait so I kept walking towards the village to keep warm as it started to get colder.  Eventually caught the bus to Preston and walking through the City Centre I caught my train back to Leeds.  I was impressed with what I saw in Preston; plenty of history and interesting buildings and though it was very busy I felt comfortable walking in the centre especially Fishergate, the main shopping street.  I certainly will be returning to Preston, probably twice to finish off the Lancaster Canal and do the Ribble Link in the New Year.

Only 10 miles or so to Ashton, the canal's current terminus!