Lancaster to the Glasson Branch

A fascinating walk from the urban canalscape in Lancaster along the beautifully rural Lancaster Canal and down the Glasson Branch with wide open views across the river Lune and Morecambe Bay beyond.

Glasson was built in 1787 as a tiny port serving Lancaster and while the basin is now used by pleasure boats the dock often has coasters in. The old railway line that served the dock has vanished but the course is now a footpath and cycleway. SO, if you are energetic a good circular walk uses the footpath into Lancaster instead of the bus adding 7 miles of riverside walking. Follow the Lancashire Coastal Way north from Glasson with the River Lune on your left. In town from the Tourist Office walk down King Street, through Queens Square to Penny Lane Bridge and the canal.

For the shorter walk buses run from by the post office in Glasson, you need to alight by Penny Lane Bridge in Lancaster just before the bus reaches Queens Square. Down onto the canal you pass the Waterwitch Pub amid a mixture of old canal buildings and new urban regeneration. The towpath then crosses to the right bank where it will stay and after a short time the canal heads out into open country. First into a mile long beautiful tree lined cutting crossed by Deep Cutting Bridge. Then two miles of undulating green farmland till you reach Galgate where Ellel Hall Bridge crosses into the village where you can get refreshment. At bridge 86 is a canal side craft shop and they serve very pleasant light meals.

Five miles into the walk you reach the junction with the Glasson Branch where you turn right. Immediately behind the bridge is the first lock, so far your walk has been lock free, now there are six down to the basin. This last three miles is quite different as you drop gently down through the Condor Valley and then the country opens out across marshland and saltings. The views are enormous as you look out across Morecambe Bay. The final mile is die straight into Glasson, here there is a huge basin above the wide lock that takes boats out onto the dock and the River Lune beyond. This was a late addition to the Lancaster Canal and was the only connection with the sea.

Getting there

Parking: There is parking available in the Glasson Basin area.

Public transport: Glasson to Lancaster bus runs at 10.15, 12.15, 2.15 and 4.15 Tel: 0870 608 2608