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Hello!

Welcome to the Towpath Trail September update.

We trust your return to work / school / autumn is treating you well! 

We’ve been busy recruiting more Towpath Trail supporters and advocates, celebrating funding successes, promoting businesses close to the Towpath Trail and enjoying the ‘Tewitfield Troll Trail’.

Read on for more info 🙂

Towpath Trail Supporters 

The Towpath Trail team have enjoyed presenting to Holme Parish Council, Burton-in-Kendal Parish Council and the Lancaster Canal Trust AGM. We’ve also been chatting to lots of Towpath Trail supporters at the Natural Kendal Festival and at the Kendal Farmers Market. Thanks to the Lancaster Canal Trust we’ll be at the Westmorland Show on the 10th and 11th September, come and find us near the canal if you’re also going! 

It’s brilliant to hear how many people are enjoying the improved surface between Stainton and Holme, the positive feedback has been fantastic. The desire, and need, to extend surface improvements for the whole route between Kendal and Lancaster is also being communicated loud and clear! Together with our partners, we’re listening to our supporters and are pleased to be progressing the Towpath Trail vision on behalf of all current and future Towpath Trail wheelers and walkers. 

Stuart Lockton from Kendal’s ‘Wheels for All‘ supports the shared goal of improving accessibility on the Towpath Trail. Wheels for All enables people to ride adapted bikes on the Kendal section of the Towpath Trail. Stuart and his clients are understandably eager for more safe, off-road routes to enjoy. By riding the northern section on a handcycle, Stuart helped to identify the essential improvements required for the Towpath Trail to become accessible. His insights will inform future funding applications and are much appreciated!

Funding Successes

The Community & Equity Working Group of Westmorland & Furness Council have allocated funding from the Local Transport and Travel Fund to help explore access options at Hincaster Tunnel. Thanks to further contributions from Lancaster Canal Trust, we are working with Kendal based Heritage experts Crosby Granger Architects to explore access solutions for the 346 metre long tunnel which is currently inaccessible. A presentation to Canal & River Trust, who own the tunnel, will follow in November.  

The construction of Hincaster Tunnel began in 1813 and was completed in 1818. Approximately 4 million bricks were used which was uncommon and innovative for Northern England at the time. The adjacent ‘Horse Path’ was originally used to guide horses over the tunnel whilst canal barges were ‘legged’ through it. Today the horse path is used by people walking the Towpath Trail.  

A winning combination of design and engineering solutions, Canal & River Trust permission and funding success would create access through the tunnel and create a memorable heritage experience on the Towpath Trail. This feasibility commission is the first step – we’ll keep you posted as we progress.  We’ve also successfully secured ‘Thrive Heritage Funding’ from Westmorland & Furness Council for capital works on Towpath Trail structures. Huge thanks to Mott McDonald who, via their community contribution scheme, surveyed various structures and provided recommendations to inform our Thrive Heritage application – again all much appreciated!

Introducing ‘The Dairy Shed’ Natland 

In case you haven’t been yet… The Dairy Shed at Cracalt Farm is a stone’s throw from the Towpath Trail and serves delicious milkshakes, cakes and fresh milk too! We love the sustainable ethos (you can buy glass bottles and return to refill as often as you like), delicious flavours, heritage tool display and space for kids to play and run around. 

Thanks to our brilliant social media co-ordinator we created a promotional reel that has been viewed nearly 25,000 times – we’re clearly not the only fan of this place! 

Remember to follow our socials via @lancastercanaltowpathtrail to see the reel and benefit from more Towpath Trail recommendations.   

The Tewitfield Troll Trail! 

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