Lancashire Way Day 8

Glasson Dock to Dolphinholme
Distance 15 miles
Ascent 350m
Weather: warm and sunny

Parachutes, canoers, swans and cygnets, kingfisher, benches in the sun, friendly cows, cute puppies 

We had breakfast watching the ducks and swans swimming and a cow having a paddle in the canal. Once we'd left the hotel were immediately were on our way along the canal  tow path.

We walked along to Glasson Top where the branch canal meets the main Lancaster Canal (Regional Winner of the Bridge and Lock competition 2002) and turned south to Potters Brook. There was a map on the information board showing a cafe, pub and craft centre to the north and to the south: a duck.

This stretch of the Lancaster Canal is very popular and there were plenty of boats to look at. The sun had come out and it was very warm. 

Leaving the canal we walked through a caravan park and a cow field into Scorton where we had lunch on a shady bench.

We crossed the bridge over the M6 and walked up a lane and up on to the moors, where a chap greeted us with a 'morning' at 1.15pm which might be a record.

There was a steady stream of people all headed up to Nicky Nook (215m) and gathering at the summit trig point, spoiling the views slightly. We carried on walking down into Grizedale and along the edge of the reservoir.

A pretty wooded path with a stream led along the valley where some boys had lit a fire, a woman was telling her small child that there was no need to swear and whoever had come through the gates last had left them all open.

There was a short section of road which was surprisingly busy and then we left on a narrow path through the heather. We contoured around the edge of Harrisend Fell and had a sit down on a big dry stone cairn thing and admired the views of Morecambe Bay, Heysham and Blackpool Tower.

A grassy path at the tree lined edge of sheep fields led back to the lane and we followed the river Wyre into Dolphinholme. We are staying at the Fleece Inn which is just down the road.