Welcome to Hest Bank?

Thursday, 11 June 2009 20:22

Capernwray Arm to Hest Bank needs a dredger!

It has been a lovely sunny day but there was a very stiff breeze! The views, however, were stunning as we cruised along. The bends gave us new vistas until we began to hear the roar of the M6. The M60 meets the M6 at the bridges marked 129B and 129A.

Before Carnforth there is a little more countryside, the baaing of sheep and the diving of the swallows accompanied us. Carnforth moorings were again nearly full but as we were not stopping this time we were not too concerned.

What did concern us was that after Carnforth, Epiphany did not have any water beneath her! I was making hot drinks and I could hear her bottom scraping. That dredger is so needed!

Leaving Carnforth we began to have views of Morecambe Bay - I could not believe it, as the tide looked as if it was in! At least I assumed that the brown with the occasional white was the sea, shallow over the sands, with very small waves.

Bolton-Le-Sands lines the canal bank with access from various points but no really decent moorings to speak of - some VMs (visitor moorings) are between bridge 124 Bolton Church and 125 Bolton Cinder Ovens. The village is supposed to be attractive and worth a visit. The Waterbus stops here and it is possible to moor nearby on pontoon moorings.

Soon we were approaching Hest Bank swing bridge

The village (now a suburb of Lancaster) lines the canal and there are some lovely properties with gardens coming down to the canal.

All along the bank prior to Hest Bank Bridge there are these notices

After Hest Bank Bridge (118) is Hest Bank Hotel on the off-side. There is a "day mooring" here but the Waterbus also stops there so its passengers can disembark for a dram or walk to the shore.

Hest Bank Hotel mooring

On the towpath side it is all Long Term moorings. We were beginning to wonder if Hest Bank welcomed visiting boats. Tempted by the vacancy at the best mooring we decided that discretion is better than valour.

Best mooring?

We stopped to fill with water at the Sani-station. We could not get right in to the bank. That dredger is sooo needed!

Then we could not find the water tap - the station sign was clearly marked with a tap. Eventually John found it in the men's loo. What happens if you are ladies on a boat, or do ladies not boat on their own?  Humph, did a man plan this?

The sani-station is owned and managed by the Council and BW make a contribution. It has seen better days - is this the measure of interest that councils take in our canals?

We then moved on to the VMs - there are rings here and they are now 7 day moorings

OK - half an hour later we were finally moored. A foot or two out!

That dredger is sooo needed!

Once settled we went for a walk into the village. The shop/PO as mentioned in Nicholson and "The Guide" is either closed or undergoing refurbishment. I hope it is the latter. There are fast food shops, hairdressers, a dental practice and a couple of cafés and that is it. Perhaps there is no passing trade any longer? - There is - on the canal!

We crossed over the railway to get our fill of sea air by the shore

We explored a little further but soon went back to the boat. On our way we saw a mysterious grey unmarked box by the towpath. I remember seeing some others on our travels. John tried the watermate key in the lock and hey presto

Is this the Lanky's best kept secret?

Capernwray Arm to Hest Bank - 3 hours 7 minutes, 6.41 miles