Barnacre & Lady Hamilton's Well

A later start was necessary for today's walk so a 'short', local walk was chosen; Garstang to Barmacre and return taking in Lady Hamilton's Well.

Starting from the Discovery Centre car park in the centre of Garstang, we set off in lovely sunshine (a rarity this summer). Our route took us round the sports field and across the River Wyre.

We continued along the route of the former Garstang to Knott End railway line, heading towards the bridges over the West Coast Main Rail Line and the M6 motorway.

As our leader studied the map and consulted his gps for re-assurance that we were on the right track, a farmer in his tractor, thinking we were lost (the cheek of it!), stopped his tractor and tried to help us. He clearly want to have a chat, with someone, even us!

He proceeded to tell us his life-story, the history of farming in the area and how he opens Barnacre church every morning at 7am and closes it at 6pm.

After what seemed and eternity, we managed to persuade him that we had 'walk' to do and continued on our journey.

Soon after crossing the railway and the M6 we stopped for morning coffee and were overtaken by a number of other walkers, out to enjoy the late-summer sun.

After passing through a field of maize (sweet corn) we arrived at the Church of All Saints, at Barnacre and a short stop was made to visit this church, built in 1905.

We continued our journey uphill and passed through Birk's Farm and headed off towards Burns Farm. Before arriving at Burns Farm, lunch was taken sat on a horizontal  telegraph pole, with a magnificent view of the Fylde, Blackpool Tower, the Wyre and Kent estuaries and a number of wind turbines. (Paddy gets wound-up by wind turbines!)

Following lunch, we continued through Burns Farm and further on, sought out  'Lady Hamilton's Well'. Not much is known about the history of this site but it thought that Lady Hamilton (a paramour of Lord Nelson) bathed in this spring.

From here, it was a short distance back over the motorway and the railway, back into Garstang and the usual light refreshments, supplied, as always, by Martin. (Distance: 6.7 miles)

Booting Up!

The River Wyre  alongside the car park

Our chatty farmer

The coffee stop

Jim & Jim

The juxtaposition of the very old (Greenhalgh Castle) and the very new!

The maize field

The West Coast Mainline

A sure sign that autumn is here!

The interior of All Angels church at Barnacre

Birks or Burns?

A 'bench of birks'!

Our Great and Noble Leader!

(We are the ones who should be laughing, Paddy, at the recent haircut!)

The lunch stop

Jim & Mike deep in thought

Martin & John...deep in thought...or talking football?

Just a pretty picture

Lady Hamilton's Well (or Spa)

Inspecting the Spa

Back over the M6

Almost back at the Discovery Centre

Danny's View.......of the Crook o' Lune walk

The information board at the picnic site

'Harry the Gate-keeper'

The two bridges over the River Lune

Coffee Time

This pipeline bridge carries water from Thirlmere to  Manchester

Lunchtime in Aughton

Looking across to Clougha Pike

Ingleborough

Cows

Meanderthals - Some of them

Afternoon Tea

Leading from the rear

Jim & Paddy

Shandy time back at the picnic site

Crook o' Lune to Aughton (and back)

This was a 'virgin' walk, not because of its 'purity' but because none of us has walked it before.

Cars were parked at the Crook o' Lune picnic site and we set off to walk along the north side of the very picturesque River Lune.

After a minor detour at the start, (a theme that was to be repeated a few times later in the walk), we made good progress along almost level terrain. A short break for coffee was taken in warm sunshine and with a splendid view of the Lune valley and Ingleborough in the distance.

The walk resumed but now the terrain became more 'up and down' as we passed through Aughton Wood. We eventually returned to the course of the river.

It wasn't long before we arrived at a track/lane that took us very steeply(!) up to the tiny hamlet of Aughton and a very welcome break for lunch - park bench provided - with a magnificent view!

Our route continued to rise out of Aughton and across fields to Far Highfield farm. (Very aptly named: It was 'far' from our destination, 'high' but giving us splendid views of the Lune valley and the Lancashire coast and 'field', well there were plenty of those still to traverse.

Our route (and some re-routing!) took us through Middle Highfield farm, and Lower Highfield farm before arriving at Hawkshead! (That's another farm, not the place in Cumbria).

Here, at Hawkshead, we were met by a delightful couple, with distinctly non-Lancashire accents, who very tactfully pointed out that the footpath didn't go through their property! Apparently it goes around the farmyard and we'd missed the turning. (Nothing new there then!) The lady pointed out that, as we were already in the yard, we were welcome to continue through the yard and the gentleman jokingly pointed out that they were out-numbered 8 to 2 anyway!

From Hawkshead, it was a short journey down the aptly name 'Park Lane' arriving eventually back at the picnic site where Martin cracked open the shandy. (Total distance: 7.16 miles)

Booting-up at the picnic site

The view as it is today

Someone has sown some wildflower seeds at the picnic site

The Lune valley with Ingleborough in the distance

Looking back to the road bridge at Crook o' Lune

Coffee time

Butty time at Aughton

The view from the bench

The 'main' road through Aughton

South Western Farmhouse at Lower Highfield....a Grade II listed building. Listed for its historical and architectural interest.

Passing through the woods before arriving at Hawkshead

The village of Caton with Clougha Pike in the distance

The entrance to a large property at Halton Park - on Park Lane

Back at the foot-bridge and road-bridge at the Crook o' Lune

The Route: Starting here