Bilsborrow, the start and finish point for this four-mile walk, is on the Lancaster Canal between the A6 and the Preston to Lancaster railway. Its hub is Guy's and Owd Nell's, a jumble of thatched buildings containing restaurants, bars, accommodation and sports facilities, that's grown up partly due to the increased use of the canal - there are moorings and a marina here, too.

It's unashamedly commercial, but Guy's makes an excellent start to a lazy walk around the tranquil farmland lanes by the canal and the river Brock. The lure of the excellent pizzas made here may even persuade teenagers out of their bedrooms for a ramble.

Leaving the Cricket and Bowling Pavilion car park at Guy's, you cross a little footbridge over a stream and step briefly into a bygone age, with a cobbled lane lined with craft shops and a flagstone-paved square. This stone probably arrived via the Lancaster Canal, which carried cargoes from Preston in the south and Kendal in the north. Look out around the bridges on the canal towpath for grey wagtails, which announce themselves with a flash of yellow accompanied by a quick, cheerful chirrup.

It's rather bizarre to stand on an aqueduct and look down on a river where normally there would be a road, but that's what you do at the Brock Aqueduct, where the canal crosses the River Brock. There's a weir to the right, where engineers lowered the level of the river to ensure the aqueduct had sufficient strength to take the canal. Keep an eye out for the white bib and tails of dippers, who love the shallow, rocky habitat. You may even be lucky enough to see a kingfisher.

After the ruins of Matshead Paper Mill, the route crosses land belonging to Bilsborrow Hall Farm, which dates back to the 17th-Century. Heading back towards Bilsborrow, good views emerge to the north and east of Beacon Fell. The curious octagonal building is the Pot House, and may have been used for making clay pots before it became a Wesleyan chapel.

The path leads back through the village to the towpath, where Guy's and Owd Nell's beckon.

The Route

Distance: 4 miles
Time needed: 2 hours

From Guy's cricket pavilion car park, cross footbridge over Bacchus Brook, go through School House Square and turn left onto towpath. Or join the footpath at Owd Nell's.

Follow Lancaster Canal under Bridge 45 to Brock Aqueduct. Continue along towpath, passing milestone.

At Bridge 47 (every bridge along the canal has a number) go up the steps and onto the pavement.

Turn right and follow the pavement beside the A6 until you reach a post box and fingerpost.

Turn left here and follow track to railway crossing. Cross with care.

Continue along the path, which meets the River Brock; pass under the M6 bridge. Follow track up to an aluminium footbridge. Cross bridge over the River Brock. At fingerpost, take footpath ahead through the ruins of Matshead Paper Mill.

Cross a cobbled yard and go through a gap to the left of the garage. Go through gate and cross stile. Cross field to another stile. Follow footpath along the edge of the field, through a metal gate, across a wooden footbridge at Bull Brook and then along a concrete footpath to Bilsborrow Hall Farm.

Go through the farmyard, taking care to shut all gates behind you, onto Bilsborrow Lane .

Turn right, following Bilsborrow Lane over the motorway bridge. Continue along the pavement past the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. Follow the pavement over Bilsborrow Lane Bridge.

Immediately after the railway bridge, take the road on your right, Church Lane. Follow the pavement past St. Hilda's.

At the A6 turn right, cross at the road island and continue a short way up the road. Turn left into Myerscough Hall Drive, go over canal at Bridge 45 , down the steps and follow towpath back to Owd Nell's.

bilsborrow walk map