Summary
Route 26b From Lancaster railway station around Lancaster and Morecambe on a mixture of old railway lines, canal and Promenade. An extension to Glasson Dock is possible.AN ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT MIXTURE FROM LANCASTER RAILWAY STATION ALONG THE LUNE MILLENIUM PATH TO THE LANCASTER CANAL, MORECAMBE PROMENADE AND OLD RAILWAY BACK TO THE LUNE PATH AND RAILWAY STATION.
THE OLD RAILWAY LINE TO GLASSON DOCK AND BACK CAN EXTEND THE RIDE.
12 miles (19 km) - 23 miles (37 km) with Glasson Dock extension
Climb 340' (100m) - similar if to Glasson Dock
Grade – easy OS 97 (Kendal) – and 102 (Preston) if to Glasson Dock
Map
To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=630907
Description
The ride starts from Lancaster Railway Station.From the opposite side to the ticket office side, go right, and immediately straight onto a shared path (sign Millenium Bridge/ City Loop N/ Morecambe) through a small park, to then pass (right) under the railway bridge and immediately left towards the Millenium Bridge.
By the bridge (do not cross it) continue straight on this short congested shared use section, crossing under a busy road by a barriered underpass. Beyond the underpass the route follows the line of a former railway line, along the River Lune Cycleway.
After about a mile (2 km) the big Lancaster canal bridge over the River Lune is reached. Here leave the Cycleway and go up the unsigned link to the canal by the bridge.
Go left over the bridge and follow the canal for c3 miles (5 km). The towpath is legal to cycle on and mostly tarmac. Take great care under the bridges, as the towpath is always narrow at these points, with poor visibility ahead.
Approaching the built-up area, a sign takes the route left, away from the towpath (sign Morcambe, Heysham) and quickly onto a short public street.
At the end of this street, join the main road, going left, using the green painted bike strip. In a couple of minutes the route has to cross over this road to the start of the Promenade by a Toucan traffic light bike crossing. Follow the Promenade.
The Promenade is wide and a couple of miles long, often busy, with lots of pedestrians. The Eric Morecambe statue is just beyond the clock tower. Continue past the nearby Midland Hotel to the start of Sustrans 69 Way of the Roses route to Bridlington. It is approx 8 miles (13 km) from the start of the ride to here.
Here leave the promenade and follow the Route 69 signs for this short urban section – across the roundabout to go along Central Drive dual carriageway, and (taking care) right at the nearby roundabout to join the old railway line (sign Lancaster via cycleway) behind Frankie & Bennie's restaurant. The nearby station has trains for the short hop back to Lancaster B.R. if need be.
Continue all the way to Lancaster on the cycleway, and cross the splendid Millenium bridge. Go to the bridge end, and turn right to rejoin the path back to the railway station.
Extension to Glasson Dock and back (c 11 miles/ 18 km)
On the Millenium Bridge, take the right right arm down to the quay, then take the shared path on the river edge (now The Bay Cycleway, Glasson via Estuary, 700 sign), eventually joining the public road 200 yds/m before becoming a shared path again at the road end.
In a few minutes the bridleway does a dog-leg, after which the tarmac is replaced by hardcore (and puddles if wet). This continues on to Conder Green (wc, cafe) and shortly after reaches scenic maritime Glasson Dock (wc, cafe, pub).
The return goes back the same way, up onto the Millenium Bridge, right and then rejoining the route back to the station.
