Family Fun: A Walk on the Lancaster Canal

This morning I went with the family to join in a walk with the South Lakes Walking Club and Kendal Ramblers. We met up close to the Hincaster Tunnel on the Lancaster Canal which is currently disused. 

To get to the actual start of the tunnel it is a minor detour from the footpath as there is no access through the tunnel (345.6m) but you have to take the path over the top original used by the horses used to pull the boats.

Tunnel entrance

On the horse trail

The path was incredibly muddy after all the recent rainfall. When we reached the other end of the tunnel the canal is still empty and overgrown. 

The footpath follows the old tow path and at one point someone has carved a couple of seats out of logs. As it was very wet and the logs were mossy no-one fancied a sit down. A bit further on the canal is cut by the A590 which poses a major headache for complete restoration.

The next section between bridges 173 and 172 is scheduled to be cleared out of its infill in the summer of 2012. Hopefully it can then join the extant canal which stops at bridge 172:

This section is occasionally used by craft such as the Trust's narrow boat Waterwitch (named after an original packet boat). We passed Stainton Beck which is close to the canal feeder which comes down from the hills above. We crossed over the canal at bridge 169 (Field End) and briefly re-traced our route on the other bank (this involves a very narrow stone stile):

The route then took us across the fields towards Stainton and Dreamland which has a lovely packhorse bridge across the river:

We then continued up the lane and across a lot more fields all in the continual rain and mud:

It was a good feeling to cross under the main West Coast railway line and get back to Hincaster. This would definitely be a much more fun walk on a drier day!

If you want to know more about getting involved in the work of the Lancaster Canal Trust then please go to their website for all the latest information about joining or events that they are running.