Begin the walk at the car park by the Gasson Marina. The Dock itself, just a short distance away, is well worth a visit, and can be busy with loading for the Isle of Man. For a short history of Glasson Dock -

We walk from the car park towards the entrance to the Canal Branch ( clearly visible ), then proceed along the towpath ( Can be muddy after rain ), under bridges 8( Brows ) and 7 ( Brick Kiln ). There is much bird life along the stretch, with swans, mallards, coots, moorhens and usually the beautiful grebe ( if you go at the right time,and are lucky, you could see the courtship dance of the Grebe ). Proceed now along the Canal, passing the locks and the Mill pub restaurant. The old mill drew its water from the canal and you can see the old mill race. In 1824 the Canal Company bought the mill so that it could take water from the River Conder.

  Walk on to Bailey's Bridge ( Number 5 ). Here you can either go up the steps or go a little further under the bridge where there is a gate. The style at the top of the steps has been blocked, but can be negotiated. Walk over Bailey's Bridge, then cross part of a field to a style, over this and across the field into Thurnham Hall. Follow the metalled paths to get to the main road, you come out conveniently with a bus stop across from the entrance to Thurnham Hall, where anyone so inclined can get tha bus back to Glasson, or walk back along the main road and join the canal again at bridge 6, walk back along the towpath.

Boats moored at Glasson Dock Marina Feb 2008 photos © E J Alston

Walk Number 2 - begins at the car park, walk along the side of the marina and along the towpath to Bridge No 8 ( Brows ), then leave the towpath to join the road. Walk up the road for about 1 km, then at a place where the road takes a sharp right find a cart track ( Muddy if wet. ) follow the track as it turns to the right. The track eventually crosses a field, look for the large dark shed of Aspley Farm, which you pass on your left.

Go through a gate, along a track to reach the road. From here you can see Thurnam Hall, walk through the grounds ( this is a public right of way ) across the field to the style mentioned in Walk 1 above. Proceed over this style and then across the field to the next style ( Reverse of Walk 1 ) over the style to Bailey's Bridge, over this and use either the style on the bridge ( Partly blocked ) or turn to the right at the end of the bridge and go through the small gate to get on to the canal towpath. Now walk along the towpath towards Glasson. On this stretch Grebes, Coots and Moorhens can be seen. A cormorant may land at any time.