A Walker’s Guide to The Lancaster Canal

A walking guidebook to the Lancaster Canal between Preston and Kendal in the north of England, including the branch to Glasson Dock, together with the fascinating history of the canal. Walking the towpath can be done in long or short stages, just as desired. There are many walks along its length which can be done as a round trip involving another path or road or visit to a village.

12: Garstang to Lancaster

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Garstang is a pleasant, small market town (market day Thursday). To reach the canal basin go down Church Street. On the left, just before the bridge, is the entrance to Th’owd Tithebarn, now a restaurant and agricultural museum. There is also a Lancaster Canal Museum housed here, administered by the Lancaster Canal Trust. The building is over a century older than the canal and stands on the north side of the basin.

From Bridge 62, beside the basin, the canal skirts Garstang. Bridge 63a, Water Pipe, carries a pipe taking water to Blackpool and the Fylde from Barnacre Reservoir. Inscribed with the legend ‘FWB 1927’, it has a long, narrow arch but does not take pedestrians.

From Garstang to Galgate the canal is never far from the A6 and buses to Lancaster or Garstang. Bridge 63b takes the canal under the A6. This is followed by Bridge 64, Cathouse, from where the canal again takes on a rural aspect all the way to Lancaster. On the offside is Bridge House Marina which has its own separate entrance and exit from the main line of the canal. A few yards further north-west are the remains of the ‘Pilling Pig’, as the Garstang and Knott End Railway was known. The line has been closed for many years. The bridge was number 65.

Past Nateby Hall Bridge, 66, the canal turns north-east towards Cabus. Bridge 71, Winmarleigh, lies about a mile east of the hamlet of that name. There are now views to the Bowland Fells to the east and across flat, open country to the west. Along this stretch are several Rennie standard bridges with variations. Bridge 78, Stoney Lane, is railed because during the last war the parapet was taken down to the string course so that any enemy troops would be seen crossing the bridge! Bridge 80, Richmonds, is pointed. There are a number of canalside woodlands along here, making it a most pleasant stretch. The original plantings were to provide timber for work connected with the canal….