Exploring the Flowing Waters of Lancaster

Water is essential to life and to the world around us. It provides a range of biodiversity, easily accessible resources, and even contributes to the surrounding climate. The factual aspects of water seem easily explanatory, but the real value of its ebb and flow are entirely underrated.

Their tranquil ripples and trickles overtake our senses and empower our minds to improve physical, mental, and spiritual health.

We are lucky enough in Lancaster to have two major flows of water – the charming Lancaster Canal and the strapping Lune River, which intersect at the dramatic Lune Aqueduct.

This is a romantic tale of the unparalleled pair of lines that finally meet.

Chapter 1: Lancaster Canal

The Lancaster Canal is a rare coastal canal that connects the two sides of the county, Kendal and Preston. But, more importantly, it connects the two sides of our little student world; the University campus and the city centre.

Now, the canal sells itself by lending itself to practically any form of exercise. It is a perfect route for your next nature walk, run, or cycle. If you prefer to go ‘all in’, the canal even offers the ideal learning environment for budding paddleboarders, kayakers, and canoers. This is because it is built around the natural shape of the land- making it mostly flat, with rare shallow gentle slopes.

For any intrepid explorers who would like the orienteering challenge of navigating without a phone- head directly west from the University campus towards the golf course or garden centre. About halfway there you will be met by the canal. Follow her north into town as she bids you to meet her partner, the Lune, or south, into the great mystery of elsewhere- first Galgate, then Preston. 

The canal is a walk for whatever the season, but it is especially a sight to see in spring and autumn. In spring, its slender current becomes lined and decorated by arches of full green leaves. Your footsteps are barely audible as you trot over the cushioned moss pillows. The canal boats sway gently under the glint of the sun and swans bathe in the warmth as they clean their feathers.

During the opposite time of year, the canal retains its beauty. The autumnal breeze ruffles through the air. Warm, colourful gradients reflect into the dimly lit water; hues of auburn, amber, marigold and mint green. As the sun begins to set, matching the leaves on the trees, the canal boats light up the cosy, crispy carpet into town.

Along the walk, you’ll see people from all walks of life- fishers casting out their lines with hope, young children dancing around the butterflies, elderly couples walking hand in hand who are always up for a chat or a passing smile. It is the perfect route for people-watchers, and perhaps even more so for dog lovers. Many run around excitedly off-lead, wagging their tales, while often looking back impatiently for their walker.

Some canal-boat dwellers may be on the lookout for company, happy to recommend extensions on your walk through the nearby nature reserve. Others may have their back to the world, concentrated on repairing and welding. 

The canal presents to its visitors many benches and bridges along the way. Some are in memoriam, others are historic- one of these is the Carr Lane Bridge, that, once you’re on it, feels like a pathway into the forest of Narnia.

Chapter 2: The River Lune

The Lune emerges from deep within the Pennines until it feeds into the Irish Sea. Its head is at Morecambe Bay, which can be easily reached by bus or car from Lancaster city centre. At the point when it comfortably shoulders through Lancaster, it spans wide and broad.

You can be a part of the river’s journey by following a trail behind Lancaster Castle and the Priory church. It leads across Sainsbury’s Car Park then takes you along the banks of the Lune.

The river creates a feeling of freeness and endlessness, which has, to put it scientifically, a restorative effect on the mind. Poets may word it slightly differently: 

The land’s many picnics parks,

and viewing marks

The water’s light ripples,

and soft ruffles

The birds sing chitter,

and tweet chatter

And there is nothing else.

The Lune provides a wonderful experience for the senses. For the ears, it has moments of still, natural silence, before you hear a powerful thrashing and roaring at Skerton Weir. A particular memory stands out to me; it was a Saturday afternoon, when I was sitting on a sturdy wooden porch just above water level. My toes were dipped in the river as I looked across it to the silhouette of Williamson Park’s Ashton memorial and the ever-beautiful Lancaster skyline.

Chapter 3: The Lune Aqueduct 

The Lune Aqueduct is the picture-perfect bridge where both canal and river meet. This masterpiece of engineering and architecture allows the Lancaster Canal to hold the record for England’s longest lock-free cruising route of 41 miles.

This bridge strikes the country as a wonder of waterway- 202 metres long, safely carrying the entire canal 21 metres above the massive river below.

The historic architecture of this bridge is a marvel to photograph and provides romantic views of the river below and the canal besides. From the bridge and its two flows you will hear soothing sounds, see charming sights, and feel alluring peace. You can look down into the expansive reflection of the sky in the water and feel like you’re witnessing a portal into another world. 

You can walk to the Aqueduct along the canal trail, travelling under arching bridges and alongside sweet apple trees and tangy elderberry bushes.

Then who knows what could happen? Perhaps fate will have it that someone walking along the roaring, silencing river, lost in birdsong and the sight of the skyline, will meet you on your path, fulfilling the prophecy of unparalleled lines finally meeting.

Written by Sai Naga Sirisha Saraswatibhatla