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.

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After dropping Edith off at her brothers around 5pm on a glorious early Saturday evening I made my way to the shore at Hest Bank for this walk along part of the Lancashire Coastal Way with a return along the Lancaster Canal.

Route Map

As I drove across the level crossing onto the shore at Hest Bank I was amazed to see the area full of people and lots of cars. I then realised that they were returning Cross-Bay walkers who had been "bussed" back from Grange and/or Kents Bank.

I was soon on my way following the track of the Lancashire Coastal Way along the shore. The remains of the jetty you can see were I believe from the era when small sailing ships would offload here and the goods transported to the canal.

It was a glorious early evening as I made my way towards Red Bank.

A little further along and I reach the point where the Morecambe Bay Cockle-Picking tragedy unfolded on the evening of the evening of the 5th February 1994.

The Lancashire Coastal Way goes up and over the field at Red Bank to return to the shore at the other side. I however will walk around it as it's more interesting.

Like most places around the bay many acres of salt marsh have been lost to the sea here.

Wonder why it's named Red Bank?

A look back

Waling around Red Bank with Arnside Knott straight ahead.....

...and as I progress Warton Crag puts in an appearance.

The faint outline of the Coniston Fells above Hampsfell.

Almost around now as I reach Red Bank farm.

There's a cafe here but I'm too late.

The Coastal Way continues along the shore....

.....passing this row of houses....

....and onto Wild Duck Hall in the middle distance.

The area is popular with the horse riding set but this evening I only saw this solitary rider on the beach.

Wild Duck Hall ahead, and this is where I leave the shore to make my way to the canal.

I followed Mill Lane, (the large building on the right is an old mill) up to the A6 and crossed it to access the canal.

The Lancaster Canal at Bolton-Le-Sands.

There was a kingfisher flying up and down this stretch of the canal but try as I may I couldn't get a picture of it.

A berth near the Royal Hotel at Bolton-le-Sands with an adjacent beer garden.

A glimpse of the Packet Boat

The church spire as developed  a bit of a kink in the rippled waters of the canal.

A few pictures as I followed the canal back to Hest Bank.

Back at Hest Bank, I left the canal to walk down Station Road back to the beach..

Where things were a bit quieter and the cafe was closed :-(

Next Walk:      10th July 2011 - Arnside & Silverdale - Eaves Wood and the Pepper Pot from Silverdale

Last Walk:       7th July 2011 - Arnside & Silverdale AONB - A South Silverdale Saunter

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