PRIEST HUTTON, CAPERNWRAY & LANCASTER CANAL from TEWITFIELD

 


Summary

Date - 1st December 2020 & 30th December 2020
Distance - 6.25 miles (5.75 miles - 30th)
Ascent -
350 ft
Map - OL7
Start point - Longlands Hotel, Tewitfield (SD 5200 7369)

 

Summits Achieved

No summits were reached on this walk

 

Preface

Southey was sitting with Allen and Tetley. "That was a nice walk we did at the weekend under Whitbarrow and across Foulshaw. Another area that I have now explored."

"I wonder if Dad will take us out this week?", mused Allen.

"Not Wednesday, as Dad will definitely be going to Elaine's, as she will be open again after the lockdown."

"Tuesday then maybe", replied Southey.

By now Allen had the iPad in paw and was navigating to the Met Office app. "Tuesday is dry, with little wind and cloudy and quite cold."

"Great", cheered Tetley. "All we have to do is come up with and idea, and then you can see if Dad is happy to go walking, Allen."

"Why is it always me that has to ask?"

"Because you have such a way of asking that Dad can never refuse", responded Tetley.

"OK, but I will need to have tea and cakes first."

"Your wish is answered", called out Shaun, as he arrived with Grizzly and Little Eric.

"Super", cheered Allen who dashed off to get the plates and mugs, then helping Shaun pour the tea.

"Thanks pal."

"What's the cakes for today?", asked Southey.

Little Eric replied, "Grizzly has made one of our favourites, Chorley cakes, while I have done chocolate caramel shortbread."

"That's another of our favourites", cheered Allen, digging in, as did the rest of us.

"The Chorley cakes are scrumptious", called out Shaun.

"So I see", replied Grizzly. Then laughing he went on, "you'll be taking over the cake stuffer mantle from Allen if you are not careful.

"I very much doubt that."

"Love the caramel shortbread", said Southey, who was also on his third piece.

"Glad about that", said Little Eric, "but Allen is still ahead of us all. Two Chorley cakes and three pieces of caramel shortbread."

"Well, for one I have to live up to my reputation as the arch cake stuffer, and secondly once again I have been nominated to ask Dad about walking tomorrow. So we better come up with and idea."

"For Dad's sake let's find a local walk so he does not have to drive far", suggested Grizzly.

Shaun piped up, "I have an idea, having been looking at walks Dad and some of us did before the website. It is number 157 on the walks index. It starts at Longlands Hotel and follows the Lancaster Canal to the point where it is cut off by the M6. Then goes via Priest Hutton and Capernwray and then north along the canal to Tewitfield. Most of us have done it but not Little Eric and Southey. And repeating it will mean we can write another story."

"I am happy about that", agreed Tetley. "Come on Southey, help me get the binder down so we can get the instructions for Allen to show to Dad."

That done, Allen drained his mug and trotted off to see Dad. "Can you fill my mug up please, for when I get back."

"OK pal", replied Shaun. And the laughing said, "I'll put another cake on your plate, as I am sure you are still hungry."

"Thanks" called out Allen.

"So like Dad for his cake and tea", laughed Tetley.

Soon back, Allen said, "Thanks Shaun", as he accepted the mug. "Dad says yes. It will be nice to repeat the walk as there is quite a lot of interest."

"Super", cheered Little Eric. "Here's to the best Dad in all the world."


30th December 2020
Today we were walking with Uncle Eric, and as he had not done much walking this month, we suggested this walk, which we were happy to repeat. Dad did not take the camera. The day was still and quite sunny after a cloudy start. There had been a frost overnight, making crossing the fields and muddy paths were easier. You will note the distance is shorter today. This can be explained by the fact that we did not walk beyond Saltermire Bridge. Also we followed the totally correct route across the fields from the lane after crossing the A6070.

 

The Walk

As Allen had alluded to, it was a cloudy day, still and quite cold. We were to hear Dad remark, "my ears are certainly cold today."

Ours were too, but we have our fur to keep us warm.

Just a little north of Carnforth we turned off the A6 taking the road to Burton in Kendal. As soon as we crossed the M6, Dad went right to the car park of the Longlands Hotel.

"It's very empty", commented Southey.

"That's because the hotel is closed due to the lockdown", replied Grizzly.

Dad was soon ready and with us safely snuggled in the rucksack, off he strode.

Really Dad did not need any direction, but anyway Shaun said, "out of the rear of the car park, then right under the bridge onto the towpath of the unused Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal."

This climbed gently. Grizzly informed us, "We will pass the 8 locks, and in all they raised the canal 75 feet. They were the only locks on the main Lancaster Canal and have been out of use since 1942."

"Little Eric remarked, "we walked part of this in the opposite direction recently when we did the walk via the Yealands,"

Approaching another lock, Tetley called out, "that will make a nice picture with the tree reflections."

After passing a few more of the disused locks, Allen said, "I am sure I recall that two of the old lock gates are displayed by the towpath."

Just minutes later, Grizzly pointed, "there they are."

The sign on the left told us as Grizzly had said, that the 8 locks raised the canal 75 feet in half a mile and were the only ones on the 57 miles of canal between Preston and Kendal.

Of sign on the right, Grizzly read out loud, "these gates would have stood at the top of the lock with another pair at the bottom. The long balance beams were attached to each gate and used to open and close them."

"Sadly no longer in place on these", went on Little Eric.

We had passed under a bridge, and Shaun said, "the next is Saltermire Bridge. There we leave the towpath and cross the bridge."

The exit was just before the bridge, but Dad strode on, Southey calling out, "you've missed the gate."

"I know lad, but I want to go on past the bridge, so I can show you where the canal was cut off when the M6 motorway was built."

"If the canal is ever restored, which is highly unlikely in the current circumstances, a tunnel will have to be built under the motorway, probably accessed by a lock on either side", said Grizzly.

Returning Dad went through the gate and right up the tarmac track to the bridge and across to follow the narrow lane to the A6070 Burton road.

"Straight across along the narrow lane", advised Shaun.

We passed houses, the first being Millholm. "What a pretty garden incorporating the stream", commented Allen.

"It's called White Beck", said Shaun, looking closely at the map.

Walking on very soon Shaun said, "it's right through that gate and then over the field to the gate in the far left corner"

Beyond the waymark indicated through a gate left and along by the fence, where at the end Dad went left through a gate at the end.

Dad had only walked a little way, when Shaun called out, "we are going in the wrong direction. We need to return to the gate and instead follow the field edge right."

"Ok lad, what would I do without you."

This soon then brought us to a ladderstile. "Over that and then just follow on and on the narrow walled and hedged path to its end at the road. Then go right into Priest Hutton."

Passing a house Tetley pointed, "there's another old water pump in that very nice and neat garden."

Soon we arrived at the tidy village green surrounded by houses.

Dad had passed the seat seen on the far side to get this shot. Now Little Eric said, "let's sit on the seat for our picture."

"Oh yes", agreed Southey. As we settled to pose, he went on, "from the sign, the seat is nearly 70 years old."

Looking across, Tetley said, "that substantial building was once the school.

Grizzly said, "yes pal you are quite correct. The school closed in 1978, the nearest now being Burton in Kendal."

Our exploration done, Shaun said, "we take the road signed to Borwick."

Dad had hardly gone a few yards, when Little Eric called out, "there's the postbox. Another for my collection. Please take a picture Dad." Looking closely he said, "quite a rare one, dating from the reign of King Edward VII."

Striding out, Dad's progress was halted very soon as Tetley pointed at stones standing in front of a wall. "They seem to be weathered sculptures. That on the far right is a bird I think?"

"I agree pal", said Southey. "And the one tucked underneath looks like an animal of some sort."

Soon the road took us past the village hall and brought us to St Mary's Church, Borwick.

As usual Grizzly was armed with knowledge and said, "the church was built in 1894–96 for William Sharp of Linden Hall in memory of his wife who had died in 1889. It was consecrated 24 June 1896. Of stone construction with tiled roofs the plan is simple and consists of a nave with a north porch, and a chancel with a south vestry." Pointing he went on "you can see there is a small bellcote on the west gable. At the corners are diagonal stepped buttresses rising to crocketed finials."

"Thank you pal", said Allen. "

Through the lych gate, the path led up to the porch.

Dad strolled up. Little Eric said, reading the notice, "this entrance is not used now, in favour of the obviously recently added tasteful extension."

"Providing level access for people with disabilities", commented Shaun.

Returning to the road he then said, "now we go left through that metal kissing gate, and follow the path by the hedge on the left, over the hill to a stile onto the road at Borwick."

There, Southey told us, "turn left."

"Look a that tree house", pointed Allen. "Wish we could scamper up the ladder."

Continuing, Shaun said, "we are now looking for a signed path right."

Shortly, Southey called out, "there it is."

The path was by the hedge crossing more stiles to enter a large rising pasture, where clearly the path drifted left to a stile into woods. Here it went right, edging the hole of a long disused and forgotten limestone quarry...

...and descend to come beside the Capernwray Arm of the Lancaster Canal. This we viewed in full a little later from the towpath of the main canal.

Grizzly said, "this was constructed to allow access for barges to the heart of Webber Quarry, to be loaded with stone."

As Grizzly was telling us this, Allen commented, "there are some lovely reflections here."

The path led on to the New England Caravan Park and beside the main canal, where barges are moored. Grizzly further educated us. "At the quarry there was a narrow gauge tramway running round the site. Here, where the caravan park is now there were workers houses called 'New England'. They were demolished in the 1980's."

Dad being such a sociable person, it came as no surprise to us that he got into conversation with one of the barge owners, whose name was David.

"He said, "I am cutting wood for my stove ready for winter."

Then followed a nice chat about the beautiful countryside hereabouts, and inevitably too, about the current situation with Covid. He has family who visit him, although at present they have to talk to him from the canal side. On the day with Uncle Eric, we coincidently met him again. He was unloading from his car bags of fuel for his stove. Dad had a little chat with him and wished him a Happy New Year.

Then walking on we very soon passed the remains of the old loading crane, associated with the quarry workings. Grizzly said, "this was served by a short tramway bringing the stone to be loaded onto barges."

After passing under the bridge carrying the railway over the canal, the path led over the Keer Aqueduct, to the next bridge. Here, Shaun instructed, "we should cross this and descend to the towpath."

Before we could do this, Little Eric called out, "look there's the post box at Capernwray. Please take a picture Dad." On closer inspection he said, "it's very old dating from the reign of Queen Victoria."

Joining the towpath we soon crossed again, the Keer Aqueduct. An information sign attached to the parapet told us, the aqueduct is a single span 43 feet long, carrying the canal 35 feet above the River Keer. Engineered by John Rennie it was first used in 1797.

Thanks to Uncle Eric, sending us an extract from Gordon Biddle's book '200 years of the Lancaster Canal', Grizzly was able to further educate us. "That pipe in the wall passes under the canal bed. It discharged water from upstream onto the overshot wheel, via a wooden trough, of the former corn mill, the building of which we can see below together with the remains of the waterwheel. There was a mill on this site as long ago as 1640, but by 1946, it was being used as a sawmill, before being converted into a dwelling in about 1972."

Looking across, Allen said, "Dad, will you take some pictures. The barges are perfectly reflected."

We now just ambled along the towpath on this peaceful section of the Lancaster Canal through the lovely countryside.

Beyond Borwick, there were two over bridges close together. "Why not take a shot of the second through the first, suggested Tetley?"

The not quite perfect reflections are due to the ducks having disturbed the surface, as we approached.

Finally we arrived at Tewitfield Marina, where as can se seen the sun decided to show its face.

As Dad strolled through to the car, Southey said, "that was a lovely walk. Thank you pals and Dad for repeating it so that Little Eric and I could enjoy the beautiful countryside."

"You are welcome", replied Allen. "We never tire of walking around here."

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