The Mighty Lune Aqueduct & Lancaster Loop

This route starts at the Canal & River Trust car park, next door to McDonalds on Caton Road, Lancaster.

Arriving by bus;

The Skerton Bridge bus stop on Caton Road is near McDonalds and within walking distance of the starting point.

Arriving by bike;

Most parts of this route are also suitable for cycling, follow this link for cycling routes.

Arriving by car;

Start at the Canal & River Trust Car Park next door to McDonalds on Caton Road. This is a free car park and electric charging points will soon be available here.

Walk through the entrance gate into a small nature reserve managed by a dedicated team of Canal & River Trust volunteers. Enjoy the wicker circle next to the pond and look out for the bird boxes before continuing along the path to the foot of the Aqueduct.

Turn left, walking under the Aqueduct arch. You are now on the River Lune cycle path which takes you into Lancaster city centre.

Continue for approximately 1.75km until you’ve walked through the underpass which leads to an exit into Sainsburys car park.

Cross through Sainsburys car park and leave through the pedestrian entrance onto Cable Street. You’ll pass the Lancaster Community Fire and Ambulance station on your left, continue for 100 metres to reach the pedestrian crossing.

Cross on to Chapel Street with The Bobbin pub on the corner.

Continue to the end of Chapel Street, look out for the Lancaster Heritage Plaque on the Grade II listed Church of St John the Evangelist. To learn more about Lancaster’s past and its links to the slave trade follow this link to The Mill Race Heritage Trail.

Turn right onto North Road.  Follow the cycle path road markings across the road to walk in between the stationary planters. Continue to follow the cycle path wayfinding which leads onto North Road.

Continue for 50 metres up North Road passing shops on either side.

At the bend in the road, turn right onto Church Street at the Cheapside crossing (cross the road to read the visitor information on Cheapside).

Stay on Church Street for 210 metres until you reach the Judges’ Lodgings Museum. Take care crossing Sun Street / New Road and China Street / Bridge Lane via the pedestrian crossing.

After enjoying the museum, take the cobbled street to the right of the building which leads you up steps onto St Mary’s Parade.

From here you can visit The Lancaster Priory and Lancaster Castle.

Following your visit to the Castle and Priory take Castle Hill down back towards the City Centre.

Turn left onto Market Street stopping at The Lancaster Museum to view an original passenger carriage from the original Lancaster Canal Packet Boat which was used to transport passengers, in heated cabins, between Kendal and Preston from 1820 until 1846 when it was replaced by trains on the Lancaster and Carlisle railway line.

Continue past the shops to the end of Market Street and turn right onto Penny Street for approximately 140 metres.

Turn left onto Brock Street for 340 metres, passing the Town Hall, Dalton Square and the Baptist Church.

Turn right into the entrance of Nelson Street Car Park and find the pedestrian access to the Towpath Trail in the left-hand corner of the car park.

Turn right towards the Water Witch canalside pub for a halfway break or turn left to continue back to the aqueduct.

Follow the Towpath Trail for approximately 2.6km towards the aqueduct. After admiring the aqueduct from the canal level take the steps on your left-hand side to return under the aqueduct arch, through the nature reserve and back to the Caton Road car park.