For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

I was by myself today (Edith at her brothers) and only wanted a gentle leg stretcher as we were hoping to get to the Dales tomorrow. I set off from home  undecided where to go and had further doubts as I drove along the promenade at Morecambe when I could barely see across to Grange for the hazy conditions. I decided to drive up the M6 from Carnforth (J35) as far as the Kendal south (J36) and see how things looked. As I approached J36 everywhere still looked hazy so I plumped for this gentle walk around the Crooklands and Endmoor area. I last walked in this area in May 2009 a day or two after I started self-injecting Enbrel for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. From being stuck in a chair barely able to walk more than a few hundred yards it gave me back the ability to carry on walking.

Route Map

Having parked the car I got on the canal where the A65 crosses it. This section is only a couple of hundred yards long before the canal is culverted under the M6 which means leaving the canal to follow the A65 under the M6 and then getting back on the canal.

Back on to the quiet canal. There are no boats on this section of the canal apart from one run by the Lancaster Canal Trust.

Looking across the canal to St Patrick's Church. St. Patrick's church was originally built in the 1500's, but underwent an extensive rebuild in 1852. Some of the original windows and niches are all that remain from the original building. The church was at one time dedicated to St Gregory, a well stands nearby, which is still referred to as Gregory's Well.

The elderberries are ripening quickly in this spell of fine weather.

There looks to be plenty of caravans here.....watch out for Clarkson.

This small building is used by the Lancaster Canal Trust. Since its formation in 1963 as the Association for the Restoration of the Lancaster Canal, the Trust’s main objective has been to restore, and reopen to navigation, the length of the canal from Tewitfield, just north of Carnforth, to Kendal. In addition, the Trust aims to increase awareness and promote interest amongst all users of this historic and beautiful waterway, be they boaters, walkers, cyclists, or anglers.

More Information........HERE......opens in new page

This is the Waterwitch, owned by the Lancaster Canal Trust which offers free trips (donations welcomed) at certain times of the year.

It is quite warm now and the cows and young family of Swans are chilling out on the opposite bank.

Mattinson's Bridge

Below me preparations are underway for the Westmorland County County which is held here every year. I am happy to report that this years show was a huge success with around 30,800 people attending.....Next years will be held on the 8th September.....put it in your diary

I decided to carry on a while enjoying a bit of shade under the trees.

More preparatory work for the show.

Another family of swans. I counted eight cygnets.

The young lady running along the towpath was the only other person I saw.

Field End farm

Field End Bridge. Here I crossed the bridge to take a farm lane towards Endmoor.

The lane led me up to a single track road from where I could just see the top of Whitbarrow.

A look back at Low Commonmire farm.

Passing by what is known as Deer Park.

After a while I turned off down a farm lane back towards the canal passing by Carter House home of the Lake District Cheese Company.

"Wonder if they run bus trips at Carter House?"

There's lots going on in the fields where they are getting in the last cut.

It's really warm now but I haven't far to go.

Looking along where I walked earlier as I cross the canal at Oldhall Bridge.

I'm wishing I had brought something to eat and drink.

It's preening time for the swan family.

The water running into the canal is a take-off from Peasey Beck nearby to keep the canal topped up.

The M6 ahead of me.

I left the canal here to walk under the M6 and followed the road back to the car....

....stopping on my way at the buttie-bar at t'other end of the lay-by for a cold drink and a bacon bun.

Next Walk:     1st September 2010 - Yorkshire Dales - Head of Wharfedale from Buckden

Last Walk:     30th August 2010 - Lake District - Lower Kentmere with Jess

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