Glasson Dock
Glasson Dock is literally out on a limb – the limb being the Glasson Arm of the Lancaster Canal. Both port and waterway were constructed because of the decline of the Port of Lancaster. Access to the port became increasingly difficult owing to the capriciousness of the River Lune which was prone to silting up as it neared the sea. This walk starts on a disused railway and ends on the 2 ½ mile Glasson Arm in a pleasant circuit from the village.
Start: Car park at Glasson Dock by the marina. [Sat nav -Postcode: LA2 0AW] From junction 33 on M6 turn right at the A6 and follow signs to Lancaster into Galgate. At the traffic lights turn left following sign for Conder Green. After railway bridge bear left at next junction. On reaching A588 turn left and then immediately right into village along B5290.
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette
Summary: Distance: 9 ½ k 5 ½ m
Time: 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours
Terrain: Very easy walking. Mainly on the level, but with a slight climb between Conder Green and the canal at Galgate.
Map: OS Explorer 296 Lancaster & Morecambe
Directions: From the car park cross the road to join the Lancashire Coaster Way and turn right in the direction of Conder Green and Lancaster. This follows the line of a disused railway.
The Coastal Way Lancashire's longest Long Distance Path at 66 miles. It starts at Freckleton and ends near Siverdale. In less than a kilometre it crosses the River Conder on a viaduct. After crossing the viaduct turn right onto a lane that passes the Stork. This old coaching inn dating back to 1660 is well worth a visit.
From the Stork turn left onto the A588 and then immediately right onto a lane. Take a footpath on the left opposite the next junction.
Cross the stile and walk up the field with buildings on your right. Keep straight and go through a wooden gate, taking care to secure it as horses are often kept in the next field. With the hedge on your right, aim towards the copse before you.
In the corner you will find a stile. Cross this and the stone footbridge beyond it. With the copse on your left pass through a squeeze stile.
Over gently rising ground climb over a metal ladder stile next to a metal gate. Keep straight with hedge on left, heading in the direction of an electricity pylon. Ahead a large farm complex comes into view.
After crossing a stone stile, pass between two buildings reaching a stony track beyond a metal gate. Keep aiming for the pylon with the hedge on your right. When the track swings right follow it through a metal gate into the adjoining field about 100m before the pylon.
Turn immediately left and drop down between two oaks to a wooden stile crossing a wire fence. The way begins to rise between two hedges, reaching a metal ladder stile.
Cross this and with the hedge on your left climb the next rise. Ahead you will see the University of Lancaster with the Bowland Fells as a backdrop - in the foreground a wood - Forerigg Wood in fact.
Cross a wooden stile to enter it and another to exit it 100m ahead. The path turns right skirting the edge of the wood. Ahead you will see another stile bringing you onto the Lancaster Canal.
Turn right onto the towpath. If you found what went before easy, well it has just got easier! The direction is: keep on the towpath all the way back to Glasson. When you reach the junction of the Glasson Arm after a mile turn right and follow its 2 ½ m length to the village.
On this section you cannot help feeling propelled as you drop towards the sea passing six locks en route. The locks are of a uniform design each holding 75,000 gallons of water. The first ship passed through them in 1826 carrying a cargo of slate bound for Preston. Of course canal use today is devoted to leisure craft only. For more information about this lovely canal go to www.lctrust.co.uk website of the Lancaster Canal Trust.