Lancaster_Glasson_Circular
This walk can start anywhere on route, we choose to start at the main Bus Station in Lancaster. From the Bus Station proceed to St Georges Quay ( a short walk away ), which eventually merges into New Quay Road. As we meet St Georges Quay we proceed past some interesting buildings dating from Lancaster's time as a maritime centre. Some of these buildings have been renovated to provide flats and other accomodation. As St Georges Quay merges into New Quay Road the buildings become less appealing, many in a state of disrepair. These buildings however do give a flavour of lancaster's industrial past.
Sign towards the end of New Quay Road indicates the pathway and cycleway. Note that there can be a number of users and this part of the route can be busy with cyclists.

There can be a surprisingly large number of lapwings on the Lune sandbanks by St Georges Quay and New Quay Road. Many other birds can be seen including wagtails, heron, eagrets.

 

The second photograph shows the railway bridge that carries the west coast line over the River Lune.

As we get to the end of New Quay Road we join the footpath/cyclepath. This is clearly marked and much of it is tarmac, which is fine for those with less suitable footwear but perhaps is a negative for those who enjoy cross country walking.

Continue on along the pathway, views of the Lune get better as you get further down the pathway.

Walking along the second half of the walk we begin to see Glasson Dock in the distance. There are birdwatching posts along this stretch which give good platforms for binoculars and cameras. Herons, oystercatchers, redshank, lapwing etc can all be seen along this stretch. Nearing Glasson the creeks give excellent shelter and food gathering for many birds, the curlew is often seen here.

Glasson harbour originally opened in 1787, following the demise of Lancaster as a port, and was at its height the largest port in the north west, importing cotton, sugar and spices. Lancaster Canal was important in affording swift distribution of cargo landed at the port into the heart of industrial Lancashire. Glasson is still a thriving port handling over 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually. The village of Glasson has a small selection of shops and places to eat and there are excellent walks in the surrounding countryside and along the coast of Morecambe Bay. Linked to Lancaster by the Lune Estuary Cycleway. Attractive and interesting environment with walks right round the harbour. Large public car park.

The beautiful Grebe are to be found in the Canal basin, there were three breeding pairs at the time of writing.
Freeman's Pools, a bird and wildlife reserve on the walk, a haven for butterflies if you go at the appropriate time.
Aftre a short break at Glasson we proceed on the second part of the walk, which will be up the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal then join the main Canal and head to Lancaster. We first pass Christ Church, built in 1840, Christ Church was expanded, with the inclusion of a chancel, in 1931-2.

The church sits adjacent to the towpath of the Lancaster Canal on the edge of the dock complex.

The church was built by the Lancashire architect Edmund Sharpe in 1840. It is in the Diocese of Blackburn

We pass under a number of bridges ( See 'Glasson' on main menu ), past the Mill Inn and continue through attractive countryside to join the main canal at Galgate.

Now proceed along the canal towards Lancaster. Some of this walk is a little enclosed by cuttings, particularly when we get near to Lancaster itself. The walk finishes in the centre of Lancaster, a short distance from the starting point at the bus station.

The total distance is around 9 miles, although if you don't want to do the second part of the walk buses are available at Glasson back to Lancaster.