Walk Leader: Ann Holden

Number on walk: 18.5 (explanation later!)

Distance: 11.3 miles

Weather: Warm and drizzly to start, dry and hazy sunshine to finish

18 of us gathered in Woodfold Lane, just next to the A6 and assembled for the customary group photograph - plenty of waterproofs in evidence in readiness for the heavy rain forecast by the Met Office! We crossed the abnormally quiet A6 to follow a muddy bridle path which led us to Cabus Nook Lane and onto the Lancaster Canal towpath. We followed the towpath, also muddy at times, South to Garstang. Fortunately the heavy rain never appeared and it was a case of ‘hoods up - hoods down’ as drizzly showers came and went. Eventually we reached the Wyre Aqueduct (built 1797), carrying the canal over the River Wyre at Garstang. This is very similar to the Lune Aqueduct at Lancaster, both built by John Rennie.

Here we descended from the towpath to pick up the Wyre Way, passing the Garstang flood basin and stopping for lunch at the picnic site within Garstang Millennium Green, established in 2000 (http://www.garstangmillenniumgreen.org.uk/). Shortly after lunch our numbers swelled to 19 for the latter half of the walk – Jane Anthony walked from Scorton to join us – hence 18.5 walkers today! Shortly after descending Broom Hill into an extremely muddy maize field we encountered our only mishap of the day – Julie executing a graceful slither to the greasy ground! No damage done, we continued to cross Hazelhead Lane and the bridges over the railway and M6 to follow the edge of Long Crossey Wood to Keeper’s Lane.

We followed the lane for a short way before heading right onto the delightful wooded path of Grize Dale, gently rising alongside the stream. After passing Grizedale Reservoir on our right we climbed the short, sharp, stepped path to reach the Nicky Nook trig point, which affords a great 360o view – West to the coast , North to the distant Lakeland Fells, East to the Bleasdale Fells and South to Winter Hill. After a group photo we descended to Snowhill Lane and followed this into Scorton, where Jane left us to return to her car. Back to 18 walkers, we crossed a couple of fields taking us under the railway and into Claylands caravan park. Leaving the park via Weaver’s Lane we rejoined the A6 to return to our cars and scrape the mud from our boots.

Footnote: Had Ann kept her phone handy we would have had 19.5 walkers on the walk (6 missed calls from Jaqui Peaks!). Jaqui was running late and could have caught us up. In the end Jaqui enjoyed a strenuous day ascending and descending Nicky Nook at least 3 times via the various paths and trods!

For more photgraphs please click here