An interesting trip along the delightful Lancaster Canal. Historic, rural countryside meets modern transportation as you pass busy roads on your quiet waterway.

Garstang is a pretty market town nestling in the foothills of the scenic Bowland Fell. As a regular winner of Britain in Bloom awards, its streets are lined with colourful flower displays. It has a weekly market every Thursday, selling an array of local produce, which has been in existence since 1310.

The Hand and Dagger is a traditional country pub, with an open fire and beer garden, enjoying a pretty location by the Lancaster Canal. It is also the home of Ribble Canoe Club, so paddlers can be assured a warm welcome.

The Wyre Aqueduct is a single arch 110 ft long and 34 ft high spanning the river. It is the second largest on the navigation and shares much of its character and design with the larger Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster, also attributed to Rennie. It is constructed of sandstone blocks in bands, alternatively rock-faced and furrowed, above which is a heavy cornice and solid stone parapet. In the summer months, Daubenton’s Bats emerge at dusk to feed on the myriad of flying insects along the canal and river.

Greenhalgh Castle was built in 1490 by Thomas Stanley, the 1st Earl of Derby, to protect his estates around Garstang. The castle was destroyed in the 17th century by the Roundheads during the civil war, when the Royalists made their last stand here.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

• canalrivertrust.org.uk
• visitgarstang.com/