Monday, March 28, 2022

FOLLOWING THE LANCASTER CANAL

Having left Morecambe and Bare behind (I always wanted to say that!), our next stop is Hest Bank, with views over Morecambe Bay. This is looking south.


Now we're seeing the shores of what is now Cumbria, across the sands. It's possible to walk there, but one must take a guide.


The two views above were taken from the old railway station site, on the West Coast Main Line. Here is the station in LNWR days.


Towards the end of steam, my late friend Les Fint, took several pictures at Hest Bank.




 The lower view is looking towards Lancaster and shows the camping coaches positioned here.

Now for a couple of shots taken in October 2021.



The old signal box is still in situ to control the level crossing.


Beside the level crossing is a recently opened micropub, called - yes, you've guessed it - the Crossing.



One of the local breweries has brought more supplies.


Sightly uphill from the railway, the Lancaster Canal runs through the middle of Hest Bank.



In the centre of the village is the Hest Bank Inn, a former Whitbread house. It's a decent boozer these days.


Morecambe & Heysham Corporation buses used to serve Hest Bank. Les Flint took this photo of an AEC Swift in 1967.


Today's bus services to Hest Bank are operated by Stagecoach.


We follow the canal north to the next village, Bolton-le-Sands, where we're greeted by a busy scene.


Beside the canal, at a lower level, is the Royal Hotel, a busy eatery these days, though the beer is pretty decent.



We end this post on a sad note, at the Blue Anchor, a pub that no longer serves beer to the good folk of Bolton-le-Sands.


The next post will see us in Carnforth, for beer and things. Follow the route here.

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