Garbar two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A great canal side walk so only issues if concerned about water. Cattle on the link and steps. Limited services at Bilsborrow on route so I would recommend a slight detour through the village for a better choice.

I walked from Garstang, a short pavement walk to a slope that gives easy access onto the towpath. Level walking and a good surface takes us along most of this route but lets take it bit by bit. A popular mooring so plenty of boats to view perhaps tempting a holiday afloat. The impressive stone aqueduct takes us and the canal over the River Wyre. The canal follows the contours so is not as direct as a road route but it’s far more enjoyable.

Stone arch bridges as old as the canal span the water and we pass under them. Closeness to the railway offers interest and an occasional whoosh while the motorway has a drone which is less pleasant. A second aqueduct crosses the River Calder.

The Kenlis Arms may still be open but check hours before making a detour off route. The next off route services is the Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre plus Barton Garden Centre. You may prefer to press on along the canal. The next option is to leave the towpath at Myersclough Hall Bridge and follow the A6 through Bilsborrow where there is a choice of services including a PO/shop and accommodation. Rejoin the canal via St. Michaels Road at Guy’s Thatched Hamlet which is on route.

The towpath surface soon has the appearance of a well walked field path so there could be some mud. We finally leave the towpath by steps up to a quiet lane then take a farm track which retains the appearance of a highway as far as the farm. Passing around the farm care is needed to avoid an electric fence wire left draped across the track.

The stone track heads towards the railway and offers another wire hazard although this did have a warning marker. This wire is not actually on the path as shown on OS maps but that appears to be unused. A stepped bridge safely crosses the rail line then a narrow path leads to the end of a cul-de-sac (this can be a challenge to locate from the opposite direction).

It’s now a short pavement walk to the church lychgate where close by are bus stops and seats. An excellent walk that I would be very happy to repeat.

This route was largely canal towpath. Despite a wet start to the year, the going was straightforward. There were stretches of towpath that were very muddy but not for too long. From Blackpool no.42 bus to Pickering Gardens bustop, then from Lancaster No.41 to Barton Grange Hotel. Cross the road and turn left into Linnet Ave. Reaching the cul de sac look diagonally left to find the small passage through to the West Coast Mainline. Over the footbridge and proceed along clear pathway to a farm, bear right and soon the canal appears. The towpath varies in its state to walk untroubled - a section early on had been renovated, probably due to breached canal edges; at other times the grass was undulating a little, and as already said, occasionally very muddy. Birdlife and attractive trees adorning canal side gardens were noted. At Bilsborrow the canal is adjacent to the A6 and Owd Nells pub can provide refreshments. About 1/2 mile further on, there is a downside, for me, as the canal is sandwiched between the A6 and M6 thus creating a noisy 10 minutes of walking. Towards Garstang the canal winds out and then back again but there is a good view of the Castle ruins. During the last 2 miles there are 3 aqueducts. Two significant ones over River Brock and River Wyre are of 60' and 110' respectively and the work of John Rennie in 1797. It is an attractive approach into the centre of Garstang passing a boatyard on the way. A short walk to the 17th Century Royal Oak is welcome.

This route follows the Lancaster Canal as far as possible, and crosses three aqueducts. The canal goes over the River Wyre, and two of its tributaries - the Calder and the Brock. Access to the canal at the Garstang end is via hard-surfaced slopes, and the towpath is tarmacked for the first mile. However further on it becomes a well used foot-worn path through grass, sometimes with high vegetation either side, which could be difficult for wheels. At the Barton end, a flight of steps is used to leave the canal, and there is also a stepped footbridge over the railway. Be aware that at Park Head Farm, there was an electric fence across the farm road except for a small gap. It was difficult to spot and would have been easy to walk straight into!
To the north of Bilsborrow is a huge garden centre with café, activity centre, and marina. At the southern end of Bilsborrow are several pubs and restaurants.
The main route is very pleasant and easy to follow, although there is noise from the M6 sometimes. Despite that, I saw herons, moorhens, dragonflies and even a kingfisher.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.