The February Ramble – Led by Veronica Spaven
Only five met at Green Ayre in Lancaster on a beautiful sunny morning, setting off on the Coastal path towards the castle. Taking a footpath on the left the group moved uphill, passing the ruins of the Roman bathhouse, on up to the Priory Church and around Lancaster Castle/Jail.
Walking downhill to the King’s Arms Hotel (where Charles Dickens once slept and it is hoped that he was more comfortable than this writer was when he slept there), turning right to look at the Penny Hospital, built 1720 by Guilermo Penny as alms houses.
Swinging left, the route led past the imposing Town Hall to the Lancaster Canal and onto the towpath. Following the canal south past new developments of apartments, then out into open country until Aldcliffe. Here the ramblers left the canal to walk up a road which had led to Aldcliffe Hall, unfortunately no longer extant, then on into the village.
A footpath on the left was taken, leading down thru’ a muddy lane to the Glasson Lancaster walkway where lunch was taken overlooking the Lune Estuary at high tide. Here hundreds of geese could be seen flying around. The walkers then took the walkway back to Lancaster, but on a whim decided to cross the Lune by the railway bridge ( a surprise climb towards the end of the ramble) and re-crossed the river by the Millennium bridge and returned to the car park.
A pleasant walk of 6.5 miles.
Jim & Janet Sommerville