The day was grey and the fells were forecasted to be covered in damp cloud so we opted for a little jogget along the route of the Lancaster to Kendal Canal.
We’d seen various glimpses of the canal over the years as we drove up and down the M6 and the A590 – a tunnel going into a hillside, a stretch of water suddenly coming to an end – and we were intrigued to find out a little of the history, to see where it went, and knowing there was no canal in Kendal we were keen to see where the water stopped.
We researched and Google mapped the route and we could see that we could run along most of the route, at least from Tewitfield, either along the towpath where the canal was still filled with water, or along a footpath where the canal had been emptied, with a few stretches along the road where either the M6 or the A590 had cut through the canal. However, we didn’t want to run 14 miles today so we chose a shorter leg and decided to start just after Crooklands near J36 of the M6.
The plan was to run right to the end, 8 miles to Canal Head in Kendal just below the castle, so we parked Pete’s car conveniently in Kendal and then drove my car to Crooklands….then back home because I’d forgotten my running shoes, and then back to Crooklands again.
The Canal was built in 1794, with the northern section from Tewitfield to Kendal opening in 1819, and was used to transport limestone and gunpowder amongst many other things. It fell out of use in the 1940’s and was eventually closed in 1960. It has been infilled from Stainton to Kendal (hence no canal in Kendal), and had been blocked by the M6 and the A590 at various points.
From Stainton the water stops, but the route remains interesting as it crosses and re-crosses the A590. At Hincaster Tunnel the path leaves the canal. Here the horses had a rest from towing the boats, their route took them up and over a hill, while the men would walk the boats through the tunnel (on their backs with their feet against the sides of the tunnel). The West Coast mainline goes over it and luckily the tunnel and the path have been saved from ‘progress’ by being declared an Ancient Monument.
After Hincaster we lose the line of the canal for a bit. I think the A590 must have just smashed through it, but we pick it up again shortly before Sedgwick where we follow the route through fields and over Sedgwick Aqueduct. There may be no more water here, but there are still plenty of bridges, some just in the middle of fields just sitting there.
When we stopped for a bite to eat after 6 miles, Pete realised he’d left his car key in my car – doh! There was nothing for it but to turn round and head back the way we came! It was a shame not to do the last 2 miles, but we’ll be able to do that from Kendal on another day.
Sounds like a successful day despite the mishaps. We usually have days like that when we get up late and are over anxious to get going… then forget everything.
Sounds interesting! Maybe we can come with you when you try again??!
How did you manage to get the photo of the tunnel end? It looks as if you were standing in/on the water?
😉 … there’s a footbridge over the dry (ish) canal route – it was probably put there just to enable people to appreciate the tunnel…