Tewitfield to capernwray walk (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Tewitfield to capernwray walk

6:16pm Wednesday 13th January 2010 in

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THIS is a great walk for days short on daylight. It is full of interest and quiet to walk after moving away from the M6.

Eight of the Tewitfield locks, all without their gates, raised the Lancaster Canal 75 feet in half a mile.

These were the only locks on the 57 miles of the canal between Preston and Kendal and they were in use from 1819 to 1942.

In September 1992 Lancaster Canal Trust workers began to restore the disused locks to the point where all that would be needed to get them working again would be the addition of gates and paddles.

Alas, they have been unable to complete this work.

HOW TO GET THERE: Park in the extensive car park of Longlands Hotel and Restaurant, grid ref 521737.

If approaching from the north along the A6070, almost immediately after passing Greenlands caravan site, turn right to pass the hotel on your left, the car parking area lies just beyond.

From the parking area rejoin the narrow road you turned into from the A6070 and walk left. Where the tarmac ends go on ahead along a track, which comes to the side of the M6 and winds right below the road bridge carrying the A-road. Continue ahead along the well kept grassy way with the rather sad and neglected canal to your right. It was here that we saw the first kingfisher of the day. The noise of the M6 traffic is almost unbearable but before the road was constructed this must have been a delightful tranquil area of the ‘cut.’ Go on along the grassy way to leave it just before Saltermire Bridge, which you cross, right, to carry on along a quiet hedged lane.

Cross the A6070, and stroll on along the lane ahead to take the signposted stile, in the hedge on your right. Carry on diagonally across the pathless pasture to take a stile in the far left corner. Beyond, turn left, go through a gate in the fence and keep to the same diagonal across the next large pasture to another stile in the far left corner. Once over, pause to look along the hedge, ahead and on your left, to see a large ladderstile. Climb into an old walled and hedged path. This has remained remarkably dry in spite of all the rain we have had. At its end turn right to walk a narrow lane into pretty quiet Priest Hutton.

At the village green, wind left on the road, signposted Borwick, and remain on this, Borwick Lane, as it curves right. This continues through peaceful countryside to pass the large village hall, shared by Priest Hutton and Borwick. Carry on to go by Borwick’s St Mary’s Church. Next to the church is a footpath sign. Do not follow this but, if the road is busy, you may prefer to walk the footpath running parallel with the road. This deposits you closer to the village. Ignore a left turn and walk on by the tiny green to pass, on your left, Borwick Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan house, built around 1590 for Kendal clothier, Robert Bindloss, and now used as an outdoor centre. If the gate in the wall is open, go inside to view the splendid garden and the glorious front of the mansion. Walk on to cross Borwick Bridge over the canal. Turn left into a track and left through a gate on to the towpath.

Stroll the pleasing way, right. Eventually you pass, on the far side of the canal, the Capernwray Canal Arm, constructed to link a quarry with the cut. Continue on past colourful boats moored on the opposite bank. Look right across a hedge and meadow to see a stone viaduct. Then go under a grey sided railway bridge, rather an eyesore. Beyond, look down, right, to see the River Keer far down in its valley. Walk on to the next Rennie bridge. Just before it, climb steps up to a track, slightly left. Then turn right to descend gently a wide, hedged good track. This leads you towards the splendid viaduct. Then you reach the gem of the walk – a superb medieval packhorse bridge spanning the River Keer. Both the bridge and the river are overshadowed by the viaduct in this magic corner.

Carry on along the delightful track as it moves out into quiet countryside. After half a mile, ignore a right turn and go on ahead. Follow it as it winds right and brings you to the gate below Borwick Bridge. Go through and turn left. Follow the delightful stretch of the canal, soon to wind left as it comes close to the M6, past the marina and holiday homes. Go with the path as it leads you right to join the track and then road back to the parking area.