With difficulties sailing up the Lune into Lancaster, Glasson became an important port in the late C18th and was originally connected by canal to the Lancaster Canal, opened 1825. This has survived to this day, though only as a leisure facility. A railway line from Lancaster to Glasson Dock opened in 1883, closed to passengers in 1930 and to goods in 1964. Time moves on and a cycleway has been created from Lancaster to Glasson on the bed of the old railway.
The above photo shows that abandoned line heading to Glasson. And that is where I’m heading. I’ve not been out on my bike since May, two months ago when I visited, you guessed it, Glasson. Yes, I know I’ve done this cycle ride and written about it many times, but it is good to have a ready-made, tried and tested itinerary to fall back on. Force of habit indeed.
I do however wander off the tried and tested, as is my wont. After my coffee and snack at the shop in Glasson, cycling back along the line I notice a sign to Stodday off to the right. I’ve not been there before, a quick look at the map and I can see little lanes leading back to the Lancaster Canal on the outskirts of the city. Perfect. That’s how it turns out with narrow paths and quiet lanes lined by hedges full of flowers. I’m not sure if I found Stodday, but I do cycle past the few houses that constitute Aldcliffe.
Then it is all downhill to join the canal. There is a good towpath all the way through the heart of the city, well-used by local residents and the student population. What a fantastic facility and the canal side pubs busy with tourists.
Farther on it was good to see the family of swans who nest every year in the same spot. The six youngsters, almost as large as their parents, spent a lot of time upside down feeding on the plant life. 
I drop off the canal just before the aqueduct across the Lune, and I’m soon loading my bike into the car. Job done and a new variation added.
The lady in the tea van has not reappeared at the Halton car park this summer, sadly missed.
I don’t think it’s possible to visit Glasson too often. But I must try some of the approaches you’ve written about.
Meant to say the Smoke House has not yet opened on the quay, neither has the Victoria Inn.
The sea gate is broken at present and one of the canal/marina locks is leaking. There are problems at Glasson.
I certainly get the impression there’s an undercurrent there. I’ve read of rumblings of discontent with the docks authority, and all the houseboats had gone from the canal last time I was there, moved out beyond the bridge.
Correct.
Walked part of this route back in 2012 with Pete during the Lancaster Canal campaign. Aldcliffe features, but no record of Stodday on my blog:
https://conradwalks.blogspot.com/search?q=Aldcliffe
Super photos all carefully framed.What an improvement from that old camera you had which was like a broken car stuck in first gear. I like the panorama at the beginning, especially as it includes the lifeboat with its orange and blue clever colour combination. I have a soft spot for lifeboats after modelling the larger Severn Class boat with lighting installed, and my huge admiration for the RNLI crews as portrayed in Saving Lives at Sea on the telly. Talk about “above and beyond…”
You will remember my broken car stuck in some gear trying to get up that hill in Grindleton. Your 2012 walk was identical to my new discovery.
That must have been something weird in the workings of my brain. I was not referencing that incident at all, but it brought a smile with the memory.
It’s sod’s law that when I want to take a photo of swans they will turn upside down as soon as I point the camera. I was only thinking about Glasson yesterday and wondering if I can squeeze in an overnighter in the lay-by before the nights start drawing in. A shame to read about the various problems, I hope they soon get sorted.
I’m sure you could get a night out at Glasson before the summer ends.
Nothing wrong with a tried and tested route, it’s new to me! Looks like a good un
It was good to get out and about, feel regenerated. There will be more ‘tried and tested’ coming soon.
A rare thing – a fine day this “summer”!
A couple of decades ago I used to get out on the bike and was reasonably fit. I worked out a route from Glasson riding up to Quernmore and then back to Glasson via the city. Wouldn’t dream of attempting it now!
Yes I’ve done that Quernmore circuit, it’s becoming a little too hilly for me now, so I just stick with the flat cycleways and canal towpaths.
Same here. I must get out on the bike again now I have more time to play with, but it will have to be on the flat!
There is plenty of flat, off-road, in the Lancaster area, Glasson Dock and Morecambe for instance.