Lancashire is packed with many lowland walks that are great for dog lovers. This 8 mile circular walk is one of them and it follows 3 stretches of waterway. The Glasson Spur of the Lancaster Canal, the Lancaster Canal itself then the River Lune.
Starting at the picnic site of Conder Green, near Glasson Dock, you are soon beside the water and on the way you pass by the marina at Galgate as well as walk through the pretty village of Stodday.
Most of the walk is very dog friendly and the dogs can run and play, just one section of lane walking has the need to be careful and put them on leads.
It is also a very flat walk too really. No real climbs or ups and downs to be had.
Parking
Parking for this walk I use Condor Green Picnic Site. The postcode is LA2 0AN.
The price is £1 for the whole day but I will say that every time I have been this year the machines have been taped up making parking free.
To get to the car park, south of Lancaster on the A588 near Glasson Dock, look out for The Stork Inn. Turn off here for a few hundred metres along Corricks Lane and the car park is at the end of the lane.
Setting Off
The first little section of the walk needs you to get from the car park and then onto the canal heading east, away from the direction of Glasson Dock.
Make your way back to the pub, The Stork, and then turn right being careful along the A588. Cross over the River Conder and before long you will see on your left the way down onto the towpath on the left hand side of the canal. And away you go.
The Glasson Branch Canal
The first 2 miles you are walking inland, away from the coast, beside the Glasson Branch of the main Lancaster Canal.
This spur is from a time when this now quiet and serene part of Lancashire was busy and a lot more industrial.
We often think of Albert Dock in Liverpool as the main port for cotton and other goods arriving during the 19th Century but before that it was up here, Glasson Dock, that was the main shipping port of the North West. Glasson Dock was used as the main port from 1779 and this 2.5 mile branch of canal connected the dock with the main Lancaster Canal, and opened in 1826.
Today it is quiet, beautiful and surrounded by nature. I think we met only one other person this day walking along it.
Lancaster Canal Section
After around 2 miles you then meet the Lancaster Canal proper. Time to turn left and head northwards.
The Lancaster Canal is made quite unique in that not only is it along the coast unlike most other canals in the country but also it as a whole 41 miles that is free of all locks. That tells you how flat it is and how the lay of the land was used.
Known as the ‘Black and White’ Canal it took coal from Preston in the south end up to Kendal in the north at Cumbria. And then limestone was brought down the other way.
The walk along this section we are doing today is full of sights and nature. Within a mile you come to Galgate Marina. A haven for those who want to enjoy a canal boat holiday and especially so if you want to enjoy the miles of canal without locks.
After the marina you get back into nature and on this sunny Autumn day it looked absolutely gorgeous.
A favourite section was entering into Deep Cutting where the canal is surrounded by trees of all kinds. Cuttings like this were used instead of locks to keep the whole canal level.
If you want to catch the sight of a Kingfisher in action then this area is known as a good spot to find them in action.
If you are not using the GPX route I supply below to follow the walk then keep an eye out for canal bridge number 93. This is where you will be leaving and saying goodbye to the canal.
Stodday
Time to put the dogs on leads and walk along some lanes. We walk west and through the pretty village of Stodday as we make our way to join the Lune River.
After coming off the canal turn left and up the lane for a few hundred metres. You will come to the A588 and taking care turn left along it for another few hundred metres before turning into the first lane off to the right.
This lane takes you around and down into the quiet little village of Stodday.
When you get into the village you will come to a T-Junction and you want to head left down Walnut Bank Lane.
The lanes here are very quiet and you will find that lane and tarmac soon turn to wide path and the wide path then turns to footpath.
Before you know it you are on the coast. Joining what was the old Glasson Dock to Lancaster Railway line that is now converted into a wonderfully kept cycling and walking route. All beside the Lune River and Estuary.
Turn left here and just simply keep following it all the way back to the Conder Green Car Park where it ends.
But first you get to enjoy some different views along the way than what had come so far. The River Lune here is wide and getting ready to hit the sea. Across the waterway you see Sunderland Point.
You get the wide views like the above and also heading into where the path is tree lined. You really get a sense why this pathway is popular for cyclists, walkers and horse riders from all qround.
Malc and Pete were enjoying it for sure.
The variety of this walk was plain to see. From quiet canal to woodland, to open views. From industrial history to colourful nature. And also the differing types of waterways to enjoy all in one walk.
Route Details and GPX
Distance: 8 miles
Time taken: 2.5 to 3 hours
Download the GPX route of Conder Green and Stodday Circular Walk
