14th October 2010 - Walk No.610

Area:	N. Lancashire	Ascent:	140feet
Walk No:	610	Time:	2hours 30minutes
Date:	14th October 2011	Parking:	Bull Beck Picnic site near Caton.
Distance:	4.75miles	Weather:	Mainly overcast with patches of sun.

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Another day that started dull and murky. There were no views over the bay as we went along the promenade so we decided to have a look at what the Dales had to offer. However when we got to Kirkby Lonsdale there were little views and at Ingleton even less. Heading back towards Lancaster down the Lune Valley it seemed to brighten a little so we decided to leave the car at the Bull Beck picnic site and do this walk which in the event turned out quite good.

Route Map

After a bit of a tour around looking for a place with some brightness we had almost given up when as we made our way back home the day seemed to brighten a little as we approached the Bull Beck picnic site near Caton. We decided to park there and have a walk along the River Lune. Having crossed the A683 from the picnic site we headed along the old railway trackbed towards Caton for short way before....

...taking a lane on the right which leads towards the river.

There was some brightness across the river which is still out of sight.

Looking the other way to Caton Moor and its wind turbines it was still very cloudy although there was some light starting to break through.

Onward we went in the hope that the day would brighten....

....and we soon came across the first of many salmon fishermen. Most were spinning although they did have fly-fishing gear with them as well. We spoke to a number along our walk and the story was always the same...there are plenty of fish in the river but they aren't interested in either fly or spinner.

The sun is trying its best to get through.

We made our along the river to where it makes a 180° turn. We stopped to chat with the couple who had parked the car further along. He was in his 80's and had some mobility problems and therefore had been given special permission to bring his car this far.

Is that a giant football I see before me?

Nope!....Just a big umbrella under which the anglers partner was enjoying a relaxing read of her book.

Caton Moor.

Another fisherman as a number of geese for company.

As we made our way around the bend the sun made an appearance.

Things look a little brighter now although there are no distance views.

Approaching the Waterworks Bridge.

The bridge carries two pipelines that supply water from Thirlmere to Manchester across the Lune. It has been renovated and a footpath provided for walkers crossing the river. However today we will stay on this side of the river.

It is really quite nice now and we are both enjoying this local walk.

Approaching Artle Beck....

with its splendid footbridge. There used to be stepping stones here before the bridge which could make for an interesting crossing when the beck was in spate.

A look back as we continue to follow the river downstream.

Looking over to Baines Crag.

Approaching the flow-measuring station, one of four along the Lune.

Looking down-river from the flow measuring station....

.....and upriver.

We are nearing the Crook O'Lune now, one of the old railway bridges can be see in the distance.

A local as a bit of a tidy-up.

The eastern railway bridge.....closed to all at the moment on safety grounds......work in progress.

Walking under the old rail bridge revealed the road bridge.

The rail bridge from t'other side.

The Crook O'Lune picnic site and time for a brew and bacon buttie at Woodies. The owner, Paul Woodruff is incidentally the current Mayor of Lancaster.