W A L K I N G I N O U R C I T Y , C O A S T & C O U N T R Y S I D E

LANCASTER, MORECAMBE & THE LUNE VALLEY

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Walk 1

Walk 6

Walk 7

Walk 2Walk 3

Walk 5

Walk 4

Walk 9

Walk 8Lancaster

Halton

Silverdale

Caton

Warton

Brookhouse

Quernmore

HestBank

Carnforth

Morecambe

MorecambeBay

Walks in theCity, Coast and

Countryside Lancaster district is full of variety; the tagline City, Coast and Countryside only hints at the rangeof scenery on offer. The best way to enjoy thisremarkable diversity is also the most natural: on foot.The walks in this guide, none longer than 14 km,explore everything from Lancasters rich urbanheritage to the wide open spaces of Morecambe Bayand the Bowland Fells. In between are breezyshorelines, handsome woodlands, gentle pasturesand much more.

Underlining Lancasters intimate links with thesurrounding countryside, two of the walks start in theheart of the city. The others take in the broad sweepof the Lune Valley and exploit Lancasters stake in notone but two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The district also benefits from a good public transportnetwork, making it easy to reach the starts of most ofthe walks. Two of the walks are place-to-placejourneys, a special pleasure made possible by goodconnections. The back cover lists further sources ofuseful information.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

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Sculpture, Morecambe Promenade

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Abbreviations used in walk descriptions are as follows:L: left, R: right, SA: straight ahead or straight across, FP: footpath (when seen on signs), BW: bridleway (when seen on signs), Short-cuts and other options are indicated in italics.

LIST OF WALKSRoute Landscapes Distance Difficulty Page No

1. Lancaster & the Lune City walk, canal towpath 7.3 km / 4.5 miles Mostly flat, some moderate ascents 4

2. Lancaster to Carnforth River bank, pastoral 14 km / 8.7 miles Mostly flat, moderate ascents 6towpath, coastal

3. Morecambe to Carnforth Coastal 11.7 km / 7.3 miles Flat 7

4. Highfields & the Lune Valley Woodland, pastoral, 11.5 km / 7.1miles Mostly easy, one significant climb 8riverbank and descent

5. Around Crook O Lune Woodland, pastoral, 5 km / 3.1 miles Mostly easy, some steep steps 9riverbank

6. Crags, Woods and Woodland, pastoral, 9 km / 5.6 miles Gently undulating; one short 10Shores; Around Silverdale coastal, village steeper climb

7. A Shorter Silverdale Round Woodland, pastoral, 6.2 km / 3.85 miles Gently undulating; very short 11coastal, village steeper sections

8. Birk Bank & Baines Crag Woodland, pastoral, 7.5 km / 4.7 miles Some steep sections, but much 12moorland, crags, stream level walkingvalley

9. Clough Pike Ascent Rocky moorland 8 km / 5 miles Long steady ascent and steeper 12descent

Silverdale

Ashton Memorial

Eaves Wood, Silverdale

Hest Bank

L A N C A S T E R

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WALK 1 - LANCASTER AND THELUNEIts part of Lancasters charm that itremains a compact city, enjoying closecontact with surrounding countryside.This easy walk takes full advantage,moving from the bustle of the city centreto the leisurely pace of the canal and onto the wide open spaces of the LuneEstuary, where binoculars and a birdbook would be ideal companions.Distance approx. 7.3 km / 4.5 milesGradient: mostly flat, some moderateascentsUnderfoot: street, towpath, lanes, goodtracks and paths; nowhere rough, rarelymuddyPublic Toilets: in city centreRefreshments: plentiful at start and finishof walk, nothing in middle section

START outside Lancaster TouristInformation CentreDescend Castle Hill (with the Castle gatedirectly at your back) then bear L downto traffic lights. Go SA into pedestrianisedMarket St and down to crossroads atHorseshoe Corner. Turn R up Penny Stthen L through Ffrances Passage.Continue SA to Dalton Sq. Go throughthe gardens then turn L in front of theTown Hall, up Nelson St. Enter NelsonSt. car park and at far end find stepswhich lead up to the canal towpath.Look out for: Old Town Hall, now CityMuseum. Victoria Monument and TownHall. St Peters Cathedral.

CANAL TOWPATH 0.8 km / 0.5 milesGo R along this, swopping sides at thefirst bridge. Continue past White Crossand Water Witch pubs, then change sidesagain. Follow the towpath, with AldcliffeRd alongside. Where the road swingsaway, leave the canal and follow the roaduphill. TAKE CARE: the road is narrowand lacks decent verges. At the topcontinue SA down Railway CrossingLane.Look out for: Former Storeys mills atWhite Cross revitalised for offices, lightindustry and education.

ALDCLIFFE 3 km / 1.9 milesFollow the lane to its end, meeting theLune Estuary Cycle Path. Go SA to a stileand turn R (Lancashire Coastal Way sign)along the embankment. Follow this for

about 1.5km to Marsh Point, opposite thepub on the far bank.Look out for: Around Marsh Point,extensive works by the EnvironmentAgency to provide flood protection andcreate new wetland habitats. The pubacross the river is the Golden Ball atSnatchems, still occasionally cut off byhigh tides.

MARSH POINT 4.5 km / 2.8 milesTurn R on a footpath flanked by trees.Cross the Cycle Path and continue SA.When the path forks, near to the houses,take the R branch out to Willow Lane.Go R to a mini-roundabout then turn Lup Westbourne Rd. Follow this to therailway station.

LANCASTER RAILWAY STATION6.5 km / 4 miles Just before the bridge turn L on StationRd, past the station then SA on a cyclepath. Meet a road, go R, under therailway, and turn immediately L oncontinuation cycle path. At an opening onthe R, climb steeply through trees andpast an amphitheatre to the PrioryChurch. SA along the side of the churchto a flight of steps. Descend then go R,below the castle walls, to return to thestarting point.Look out for: The mediaeval PrioryChurch and the forbidding bulk of theCastle centred around its Norman keep.Great view over the city from the Priorysteps.

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St Georges Quay, Lancaster

Lancaster Canal

Lancaster Castle

Walk 1

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Lancaster

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Aldcliffe

Snatchems

River Lu

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Lancaster Canal Aldcliffe, Lancaster

Lancaster

C A R N F O R T H

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WALK 2 - LANCASTER TOCARNFORTH Lancasters celebrated City, Coast andCountryside all feature on this walk;theres a great feat of 18th centuryengineering, gentle pastoral interludes,and the vast panoramas of MorecambeBay. Being a one-way walk it feels morelike a real journey, and theres no lack ofchoice for the return leg, including trains,buses and, more unusually, the Waterbusservice on the Lancaster Canal. Hest Bankgives a perfect opportunity for a halfwaybreak, or even to split the walk into twoseparate stages. And make sure you dontmiss the bear on a unicycle!Distance approx. 14 km / 8.7 milesGradient: mostly flat, two moderateascentsUnderfoot: mostly surfaced tracks; somelanes and pavement; short roughersections along shore. Unusually high tidesoccasionally make the shore impassable.Public Toilets: at Hest Bank shoreRefreshments: plentiful at both ends ofthe walk; pub and cafes in Hest Bank;caf in Bolton-le-Sands

START from Lancaster bus station. Exit at Cable Street, cross at lights, turn Rthen L into Water St. At end go R onriverside cycle path. Go throughunderpass and continue along cycle pathunder Skerton Bridge. Narrow footpathson L offer alternatives to the tarmac trackat various points. Pass Skerton Weir andcontinue to Lune Aqueduct.

Look out for: Wildlife along the river,from cormorants around the weir inwinter to the chance of sighting akingfisher. The Lune Aqueduct, datingfrom 1797, is a magnificent structure butproved so costly that a second aqueductat Preston was never built. The LancasterCanal remained detached from the restof the network until the recentcompletion of the Millennium Ribble Link.

LUNE AQUEDUCT 2.5 km / 1.6 milesGo R immediately before Aqueduct thenup steps to the canal towpath. Go L,over Aqueduct. After about 1 km thecanal emerges into open country.Continue for about 2 km to outskirts ofHest Bank. The canal runs through aslight cutting then past a toilet block (notpublic). Descend steps then almost SAdown Station Road.Waterbus stops on canal here. For theHest Bank Hotel stay on towpath to thenext bridge; cross and go 40m up thelane. Follow the lane 50m further, roundto L, for buses back to Lancaster. Buses toMorecambe go from a stop by pedestriancrossing at bottom of Station Rd.

HEST BANK RAILWAY CROSSING7.3 km / 4.5 miles Cross main road at lights then cross railwayby level-crossing or footbridge. Bear Ralong shore (caf here); theres a tarmaclane initially then continue with a choice ofmuddy track, shingle or salt-marsh turf, oralong the sands if the tide is low.

Continue past another parking area. The steep slopes on R become higher atRed Bank. A footpath climbs over this butnormally it is easier to continue along theshore. At Red Bank Farm meet anothertarmac lane. Follow this to a prominentwhite house, Wild Duck Hall. A directroute across the salt-marsh lookstempting but its a maze of deepchannels.Look out for: Remains of the old HestBank Jetty just offshore, buried under thesands for decades but now exposedagain. Scattered boulders lie under RedBank, which is a drumlin, a mound of Ice Age debris, now being eroded by the sea.

WILD DUCK HALL 10.5 km / 6.5 milesGo R up lane and under railway intoBolton-le-Sands. Ignore R and L turns andgo up to cross the A6. Follow road just Rof a row of shops, up to bridge overcanal. Keep SA along quiet lane to LindenLea, then SA down track which descendsback to canal. At next bridge cross canal,go down R and rejoin towpath. Continueinto Carnforth.

CANAL TURN PUB 13 km / 8.1 milesThe Waterbus stop is beside the pub. For buses back to Lancaster go throughpub car park and bear R along main road(A6) for about 200m. To return by train, or to visit Carnforthstation, go through car park to A6.

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River Lune

Lancaster Canal

Carnforth Station

Walk 2

Walk 3

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Lancaster

Bolton-le-Sands

HestBank

Carnforth

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Morecambe

MorecambeBay

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Cross at supermarket traffic lights, goup 80m then bear left (Haws Hill).Follow this road and at its end thestation is on L.Look out for: Carnforth station, withits curved platforms and imposingstation clock, was immortalised in theclassic 1945 film Brief Encounter.After long neglect it has now beenrevamped with a visitor centre andpleasant tearoom.

WALK 3 - MORECAMBE TOCARNFORTHThis walk can naturally be startedfrom any point along MorecambePromenade. The distance is givenfrom Morecambe train station; thebus station adjoins it.Distance approx. 11.7 km / 7.3 milesGradient (to Hest Bank): flatUnderfoot (to Hest Bank): mostlysurfaced; short rough section alongshorePublic Toilets: several along Prom,Hest Bank ShoreRefreshments: plentiful initially, puband cafs in Hest Bank.

STARTFrom behind bus stops follow PoemPath out to main road oppositeMidland Hotel. Cross and go round Rof hotel to join the Prom. Turn R andsimply follow the Prom for 4 km to itsend (numerous cafs and pubs).

Look out for: The Art Deco MidlandHotel, now being restored.Numerous examples of public art (the TERN project) along the Prom,notably Graham Ibbesons statue ofEric Morecambe and ShaneJohnstones exuberant Mother andChild at the far end of the Prom.

END OF PROMENADE 4 km /2.5 miles Where main road bears away inland,take lane on L leading to health andleisure club. Go through car park thencontinue along stony shoreline. This may be impassable if the tide isvery high. In this case, go up to thefirst footbridge; a footpath leads backto main road. Follow main road andrejoin shore at the next footbridge /level-crossing.Normally just follow the shore; therough section is quite short and soonleads to easier grassy going before thefootbridge by the old station. To continue to Carnforth follow Walk 2 from Point 3.

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Hest Bank

WALK 4 - HIGHFIELDS AND THELUNE VALLEYThe Highfields - three farms bear thename - could not be more aptly named.Expansive views of the Lune Valley,Bowland Fells and Yorkshire hills enliventhe early stages before the routedescends into peaceful Aughton andreturns along the valley. The great bendof the river is geography in action and thewoods that line the banks are beautiful atany time of year, though never more sothan in bluebell season. Distance approx. 11.5 km / 7.1 milesGradient: mostly easy, one significantclimb and descentUnderfoot: mostly fields, occasionallymuddy; some lanesPublic Toilets: at Crook OLuneRefreshments: refreshments at CrookOLune, pubs and cafs in CatonGetting to the start: Crook OLune is justoff the A683 about 5 km E of Lancaster.There is a riverside cycle route all theway. Buses go to Caton from where theold railway track provides an easy link.

START Crook OLune car parkAt end of car park are picnic tables and anartists easel. Go L through gate to widepath. This swings L then continues upalongside road. Go R on quieter lane.Follow this past Halton Park. 300mfurther on, go sharp R up track toHawkshead Farm. Just before farmbuildings go L, up steps and across field to

a prominent tree. Cross stile then go Lalong hedge. Where it swings away keepSA and go through a wood.Leaving the wood, bear L up to LowerHighfield. Enter farmyard and bear R togate with waymarks alongside. Followfield edge L to signpost then go R, up togateway. Bear L to stile. Follow hedgethen high stone wall to Middle Highfield.Look out for: Fantastic views over theLune Valley at many points.

MIDDLE HIGHFIELD 4 km / 2.5 milesSkirt R of new buildings then L into yard.Pass two houses on R to find narrowcobbled path. Follow this then virtually SA,between two more houses, and pastsome outbuildings. Keep on along tallhedge. Aim right of Far Highfield, to a stile.Descend L of small shed. Cross footbridgeand stile then slant down large field. Keepwell L of two isolated trees to another stilethen follow path to road. Drop down intoAughton village and SA at crossroads.

AUGHTON 5.5 km / 3.4 milesDescend steep sunken lane. Continue ontrack past large barn. Follow the riverround a bend then look out forwaymarks on low posts. These followslightly higher ground to Over Lune Barn.Rejoin river bank and follow it for 1 kmuntil it swings sharply back left. Go up tostile and steps then follow narrow paththrough wood. At its end, a large ironbridge is just ahead.

Look out for: The great bend of the river isa classic example of a meander. You can seehow the rivers flow is faster on the outsideof bends, giving it more power to erode thebanks; over time bends tend to becomemore pronounced. The route to Over LuneBarn follows the former river bank.The final stretch of the path through thewood is a great place for bluebells inseason.

WATERWORKS BRIDGE 10 km /6.2 milesGo under the bridge and follow pathslightly away from the river to footbridge.Continue SA and level to enter anotherwood and follow well worn path throughthis. Continue in the open along the riverback to Crook OLune.Look out for: The waterworks bridge ispart of the Thirlmere Aqueduct, supplyingLake District water to Manchester, drivenentirely by gravity. Sand martins nest inholes in the banks of the river along thefinal stretch.

Towards Ingleborough

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River Lune

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Walk 4

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BrookhouseCaton

Claughton

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LowerHighfield

MiddleHighfield

Far Highfield

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WALK 5 - AROUND CROOK O' LUNE This walk is really a figure-8 and can easily bedone in two halves. The loop around Crook O'Lune itself can also easily be tagged ontoWalk 4. This dramatic bend of the river, cutdown into solid rock, is more permanent thanthe shifting meanders seen on Walk 4.Distance approx. 5 km / 3.1 milesGradient: mostly easy, some steep stepsUnderfoot: fields and river bank, sometimesmuddy

START as for Walk 4From car park drop down to old railway line.Turn R through cutting then cross bridge. At itsfar end descend steps on R then double backunder bridge. The path follows the river thenascends steps to R. At top bear L, with the roadclose by. The path soon descends again, withsteep steps, back towards the river. Swing L,then out into the open. A side stream is usuallycrossed by paddling but can always be skirtedup to the R. Continue to a gate and cross theroad to another gate.

GATE BY ROAD 1 km / 0.6 milesFor a direct return to the car park, keep SAfrom this gate then L on the cycle track.Bear L to the river, cross a footbridge, and gounder the old railway bridge. Follow the riverbank for 1km to an arched footbridge overArtle Beck. Continue to the waterworks bridge.Find a stile past the small building, ascend stepsand cross on catwalk. At far side drop down L.Return to Crook OLune as for Walk 4.

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Crook OLune

S I L V E R D A L E

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WALK 6 - CRAGS, WOODS ANDSHORES: AROUND SILVERDALELancaster district has a half share in theArnside-Silverdale Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty (the rest is in Cumbria).This is an intricate patchwork oflimestone ridges and crags, woodland,meadows, wetlands, salt marsh andmore, with one of the richest ranges offlora in the country. The diversity isastonishing, and this walk takes in a fairsample of it. Distance approx. 9 km / 5.6 milesGradient: gently undulating, one shortsteeper climbUnderfoot: mostly easy paths and lanesbut some short sections over bare rock,slippery when wetPublic Toilets: none en-routeRefreshments: Silverdale Hotel just offwalk route, tearoom at Kayes Nursery,caf at Wolf House passed nearby twiceGetting to the start: There is a smallNational Trust parking area at EavesWood, just outside Silverdale. You can alsoreach the walk by train: from Silverdalestation turn R along the road then take aFP L across the golf course to anotherlane. Waypoint 6 is 100m to the R.

STARTFollow broad path through wood to T junction. Go R then very quickly L.Climb steadily then level out near a ruin:just beyond this take L fork. Pass througha ring of beech trees, descend gently thenslant down L and continue alongside high

stone wall. Emerge onto tarmac lane andtake another track almost directlyopposite, just R of white cottages. KeepSA on narrower path (Wallings Lane), adrive, another track and another narrowpath to wider road. Bear R here then in200m bear L down a cul-de-sac (CoveRoad). At end go through gate to shore.Look out for: the magnificent beech ring;other specimen trees in the formerpleasure ground of Eaves Wood; highspite walls built to block intrusiveneighbours views.

THE COVE 2 km / 1.25 milesRecent erosion has removed hectares ofsalt marsh turf and left a very stony shore.If it looks too rough, or the tide is toohigh, take the short-cut described underWalk 7. Walk L, below cliffs, to The Shore and a parking area. Walk uproad to just below Silverdale Hotel. Go Ron FP alongside Beach Garage. Follownarrow path to rejoin road. Go R untilroad swings away L (Wolf House Galleryand cafe just round corner).

WOLF HOUSE 3.5 km / 2.2 milesBear R down lane signed Jenny BrownsPoint. Look for gate on R, with NationalTrust sign Jack Scout. Just in from gate,drop down L to limekiln then walkdirectly away from it. Swing L abovesteep drop. Descend, with someexposed rocks, then turn slightly inland,through a dip and up to wooden gate.Go through trees to Jenny Browns Point.Look out for: The unmistakable LindethTower, a favourite holiday home of the

great Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell.The breakwater extending from JennyBrowns Point is all that remains of a failedland reclamation scheme.

JENNY BROWNS POINT 4.8 km /3 milesRejoin lane and go R, to end at BrownsHouses. Skirt below houses on barerocks and stones. At old chimney thegoing gets much easier. Keep on justbelow rocks and rising ground to stile, go up slightly, then along (take care onslippery rocks) to signpost. Turn L upsteep winding path to gate into HealdBrow. Continue through rocky woods tomeadow. Cross step-and-gap stile thenSA through fields to wooden gate amongtrees near large shed. Follow narrowtrack down R. Cross road to gap in wall.The path forks. The upper branch avoidsdescent and rocky climb back up, but the lower route is more interesting. Walk below crags to Woodwell.Look out for: The old chimney is the soleremnant of a copper smelting mill activearound 1800. The natural spring in thecliffs (Woodwell itself) and the squarepool below, originally used for wateringcattle, now haunted by dragonflies insummer.

WOODWELL 6.8 km / 4.2 milesPath signed 'The Green via cliff path' leadsto natural staircase; agile people maymanage a hands free ascent. At top go SAto join broader path (the upper routerejoins here). Enter field, go up slightly,then through more woods. Stile on R and

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Healds Brow

Jack Scout

Woods, Healds Brow

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Silverdale

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narrow path lead to road. Go R, thenL into The Green. Keep R at fork thenL on wider road for 50m.Go R on FP signed Burton WellLamberts Meadow. Track swings L andpasses Burton Well. Enter LambertsMeadow. Go R over footbridge thenSA to gate. Climb up, with some steps.Just over top fork L and skirt a pool(Bank Well) into lane. Go R then L onFP signed Dogslack Well, The Row.Look out for: Burton Well, verysimilar to Woodwell; damp, flowerrich Lamberts Meadow; pond life atBank Well

BANK WELL 8.3 km / 5.2 milesFollow track past Dogslack Well. Just before gate cross stile on L andfollow narrower path over rise thenalongside garden to lane. Turn R and atend go SA into Eaves Wood car park.Look out for: The pump and shaft ofrecently restored Dogslack Well.

WALK 7 - A SHORTERSILVERDALE ROUNDA couple of short-cuts produce a walkwith much of the appeal of the longerversion, though missing out on theshore lines and the broadest views.Distance approx. 6.2 km/ 3.85milesGradient: gently undulating, veryshort steeper sectionsUnderfoot: distinctly rough atWoodwell, elsewhere pretty easythough can still be slipperyFollow Walk 4 to Point 2 then takepath going L through a small gate(signed The Lots) above cliffs andacross fields; the way is always clear.At end go R along road then bear Lalong Lindeth Lane. Walk 4 rejoinshere. Just before Point 3, oppositeKayes Nursery, turn L on FP signedWoodwell. Rejoin Walk 4 atWoodwell. If the rock staircase is toosteep, go R for 150m below cragsthen back L above.

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Sunset, Jack Scout

L I T T L E D A L E

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WALK 8 - BIRK BANK ANDBAINES CRAGLancaster's other AONB is the Forest ofBowland; Lancasters share of this islarger than the whole of Arnside-Silverdale and includes the highest fells.Its above all an area of sprawling heathermoorland, punctuated by rocky outcropsand dissected by sheltered valleys. Thiswalk provides a taste of these contrastsand gives some magnificent, far reachingviews into the bargain. Distance approx. 7.5 km / 4.7 milesGradient: some steep sections but muchlevel walkingUnderfoot: one very rough section andsome wet patches but mostly easy Public Toilets: noneRefreshments: noneImportant: dogs are not permitted on theaccess land in the first half of the walk.Getting to the start: sadly, public transportis not really an option. Energetic peoplecould walk or cycle the 7 km fromLancaster. The shortest route is: TownHall; East Road; bear R on Quernmore Rdthen L, past Leisure Park. Continue 4 kmto Quernmore village; L at crossroads byPost Office then next R on Rigg Lane.

START Birk Bank car park on Rigg Lane, QuernmoreFollow track above car park then fork L.Follow green, mostly level, track, crossingwet patch with stepping stones, to bridge.

OTTERGEAR BRIDGE 1.4 km / 0.9 milesCross, bear L then in 20m turn R onrising grassy track (NOT R track

immediately after bridge). Meet a graveltrack and turn R, through dip thenslanting up steep slope. It levels off thencurves away to R.

PATH LEAVES TRACK 2 km / 1.25 milesBear left on narrow rocky path, veryrough but generally level, eventuallydescending into little enclosed valley.Follow base of R hand slope and skirtareas of rushes to reach stile at end ofvalley. Follow good green track, risingslightly then down alongside line of trees.At T junction turn L to fine barn. Bear Rwards across next field, aiming for furtherof 2 metal gates. Cross stile and bear Lon clear stony track, soon climbing pastsmall ruined barn and up to stile onskyline. Go L to walk above Little Crag; at end join road. Walk down and overcattlegrid. At end of wire fence, go R,past perched boulder then bear L alongcrest of Baines Crag.Look out for: the little valley is a marginalmeltwater channel formed by torrentspouring off stagnant ice sheets at the endof the last Ice Age.Baines Crag is a fine viewpoint, lookingover the Lune Valley towardsMorecambe Bay and the Lakeland hills. Its rocks occasionally attract climbers.

BAINES CRAG. 4.8 km / 3 milesFrom end of crag path drops downsteeper section then weaves throughbracken and scattered trees to meetroad. Cross, and follow green track,almost parallel to road, until they rejoin.

Continue down through gateway to FPsign and stile on L.

STILE 5.4 km / 3.35 milesDrop down through brambles to another stile then bear R; dont cross thestream but follow it down past a house.Path becomes clearer as valley narrows.Cross stile in a wall then another in awire fence to continue following stream.Another stile and gate lead into farmyard.Short track runs out to Rigg Lane. Turn Land follow lane back to start.

WALK 9 - CLOUGHA PIKEASCENTClougha Pike is on Lancasters doorstepand part of every Lancastrians birthright.Its ascent is naturally tougher than theother walks in this guide, but the rewardis a sense of space, a hint of the wild, anda magnificent view. Distance approx. 8 km / 5 milesGradient: long steady ascent and steeperdescentUnderfoot: the ascent is generally easybut the descent is extremely rough, withone tiny bit of real rock scrambling. Important: dogs are not permitted onany part of this walk.FOLLOW WALK 8 TO POINT 3Continue up gravel track, making steadywinding ascent. Pass tall cairns off to R,then gradient noticeably eases. Passparking area in slight dip, then levelstretch. Rise again past extensive oldstone workings. Path dips, runs level thenrises slightly to distinctive rock outcrop

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Baines Crag

Clougha Pike

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Walk 9

Walk 8

about 2m high on L. Immediatelyopposite this narrow path goes R throughheather. Path soon bears further R and becomeseasier to follow, then meets clearer path;turn R. Continue over minor ups anddowns and cross wire fence. Soon thecairn comes into view.Look out for: numerous grouse butts andusually numerous grouse too; perhapsother distinctive moorland birds likecurlew and meadow pipit. Controlledburning of the heather encourages newshoots on which the grouse feed.The term summit proves slightly flatteringbut this point, so prominent fromLancaster, stands above a steep drop andgives superb views. The Clwydian Hills inWales are regularly seen, the higher peaksof Snowdonia more rarely. The Isle of Manis also a familiar sight. Theres atremendous panorama of the Lakeland andYorkshire peaks; closer lie Morecambe Bay,the Lune Valley and Lancaster itself.

CLOUGHA PIKE 5.6 km / 3.5 milesTurn R at white survey column and followwide path down over peat and rock,passing large cairn. Fence comes close onR then wall appears. Scramble down overrocks to L side of the wall and continuedown path.Eventually, alongside level section of wall,path bears away L, with more rockysections then over open moor to gate inwall. Go through gate (usually wet) andcontinue SA.

At steeper ground path bears R,descending towards Windy Clough. Go Lover stile and descend path in groove.Lower down this forks several times;simply keep L each time, staying close to

(but never crossing) the beck. Duckboardslead round edge of wide marshy area. Turn R on broad track then keep L, overslight rise and back to car park.

Look out for: Little Windy Clough is just anick in the skyline; Windy Clough itself ismuch more impressive. Both are marginalmeltwater channels, like the little valley onWalk 8.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

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For further information about walking routes, maps and refreshment stops, pleasecontact one of our two Tourist Information Centres:

Lancaster Tourist Information Centre, 29 Castle Hill, Lancaster, LA1 1YNTel. 01524 32878 Email. lancastertic@lancaster.gov.uk www.visitlancaster.co.uk

Morecambe Visitor Information Centre, Old Station Buildings, Marine Road Central,Morecambe LA4 4DB Tel. 01524 582808 Email. morecambevic@lancaster.gov.ukwww.visitmorecambe.co.uk

MAPSWhilst it should be easy to follow the walks with the maps and descriptions in thisguide, Ordnance Survey maps provide a wealth of extra detail and allow for furtherexploration. The following sheets cover this area:

Landranger series: (1: 50,000) 97 Kendal to Morecambe; 102 Preston and Blackpool

Explorer series (1: 25,000): OL7 English Lakes South-East; OL41 Forest of Bowlandand Ribblesdale; 296 Lancaster, Morecambe and Fleetwood

There is a selection of guidebooks available online atwww.citycoastcountryside.co.uk

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TRANSPORT INFORMATIONTide Tables can be checked through the Information Centres or online athttp://easytide.ukho.gov.uk

Travel information is available from the Information Centres or alternatively callTraveline on 0870 608 2608

Bus: www.stagecoachbus.com/northwest or visit the travel shop at Lancaster BusStation

Train: www.thetrainline.com or National Rail Enquiries Tel. 08457 48 49 50 or visitthe booking offices at Lancaster/Morecambe/Carnforth Stations

Waterbus: www.budgietransport.co.uk or Tel. 01524 389410

Accommodation Booking Hotline:

01524 582393We can check availability, give advice or bookaccommodation with just one call. Talk to ourexperienced and helpful staff about preferential roomrates and quality inspected accommodation.

Bookings Made Easy

Published by EconomicDevelopment & Tourism Service,Lancaster City Council Tel 01524 582808Fax 01524 582663Email tourism@lancaster.gov.ukwww.citycoastcountryside.co.ukPhotography, text, and maps: Jon Sparks Crown copyright. All rights reserved: 100025403

Designed by Graphic Design. Tel: 01524 825600. 03/07/30k