Killington Lake was constructed to provide the water for the Lancaster Canal. The water from Killington runs down the Peasey Beck to join the canal between Crooklands and Millness.
Again we are at Killington where the outflow can easily be seen taking the water into the Peasey Beck.
Kendal Brown House, in the centre of the photograph, was and still is the Snuff Mill of Samuel Gawith who in 1878 moved from Lowther St. to set up his own snuff business in Canal Head North. Adjoining to the left are sets of warehouses that led towards another snuff works at Aynam Mill.
Crossing Parkside Road near the old gas works the canal runs alongside a cable storage depot.
Castle Bridge (no187) is the first bridge coming south from Kendal. It is so called because it leads up to Kendal Castle. This bridge has been upgraded and refurbished recently by Cumbria County Council.
Castle Bridge (no187) newly strengthened and painted by Cumbria County Council.
Another view of Bridge 187, Castle Bridge. The cycle/walkway is on the line of the canal and will be removed before restoration.
At Change Bridge ( no 186), as it's name suggests, the tow path changes from the west side of the canal to the east.
This image of Change bridge was taken soon after it had been refurbished by British Waterways. The money for this project was raised by Kendal Civic Society. Various grants were obtained from Heritage Lottery Fund, Inland Waterways Association, Lancaster Canal Trust, etc.
The cycle/walkway to Kendal continues under Change Bridge.
This, more distant, view of Change Bridge shows the path taken by the horses - up from the left hand side, over the bridge and down the curved path on the east side. This allowed the horses and boat to carry on without being unhitched from one another.
How wonderful for boaters to come along under Change bridge and look ahead to the Lake District Hills.
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These steps at natland Mill Bridge (no 184) were deemed by Kendal Civic Society to be a hazard, so they applied for more grants to upgrade them.
The upgraded steps at Natland Mill Bridge (no 184) after Kendal Civic Society had had them changed from limestone (which can get slippery) to sandstone and a beautifully wrought 'ropelike' handrail installed.
Another vies of Natland Mill Bridge (no 184) showing the new steps, handrail and the cycle/walkway into Kendal.
As the canal wends its way southwards towards Tewitfield it is still dry, but this farmer, near natland, has left the canal profile in his field.
Larkrigg Hall Bridge (no 180) showing the depth of the canal bed under a bridge.
The towpath approaching Larkrigg Hall Bridge ( no 180). This farmer has left the dry bed of the canal in view.
Horse Park Bridge (no 179) is left all alone in the middle of a field. No canal bed is seen here as it has been enveloped into the field.
The canal bed can still be seen at Sellet Hall Bridge (no 173) which is between the end of the watered section and where the canal is cut off by the Kendal by-pass (A590) just before Hincaster Tunnel (travelling north).
Stainton Aqueduct (no 171) where the Stainton Beck runs under the canal. This is one of the aqueducts with walkways under the canal alongside the beck.
This is a view of Stainton Aqueduct from the eastern side.
Sedgwick Aqueduct (no 178) is unusual for this canal in that it allows the canal to pass over a road rather than a river. This is a 'listed' structure. You can see that it's design is similar to that of Stainton Aqueduct(no 171).
On top of Sedgwick Aqueduct ( no 172) you can see that the canal bed is very overgrown. The 'table' contains a display board with historical and wildlife details. This was erected by Lancaster Canal Trust.
At the western end of Hincaster Tunnel we see what nature will do to a canal bed left dry for over 40 years. The profile of the canal is still obvious, but rather a lot of selfset trees have grown. The lady on the right is actually stqnding on the towpath, showing that the canal wasn't really very deep.
Although from the western end it looks rather overgrown during summer, Hincaster Tunnel is still in excellent shape and will be used again when the canal is restored.
Looking a little forlorn, Hincaster Tunnel is ready for use again, though we don't expect boaters to have to either pull or leg their boats through. There is no towpath through the tunnel - the horses had to be taken oveer the horse path to meet their boat at the other end.
Lancaster Canal Working Party constructed this bridge across the canal bed so that walkers could get a safer view inside the tunnel.
Although the 'listed' entrance portals of the tunnel are made of limestone, the inner lining of the tunnel is of brick.
The towpath leaves the eastern portal of the Hincaster Tunnel to approach Well Heads Lane, where the canal was secered by the A590 and the walker has to take a short diversion to cross this road. When the canal is restored there will be a tunnel under the A590 and a lift bridge on Well Heads Lane.
At the moment, the water stops at Stainton Crossing, but it can still be enjoyed by smaller boaters.
Looking through Stainton Crossing Bridge ( no 172) as the watered 'remaindered section wends it's way towards the first crossing of the motorway.
Typical reflections of geese and boats near the end of the water at Stainton. Water was retained as near to Kendal as this because the Stainton Beck is a water supply feeder.
Again near Stainton village, these cottages will soon be able to welcome more passing boats than canoes, inflatables, Optimist and 'Waterwitch' - the Lancaster Canal Trust trip boat which sometimes takes passnegers to the 'end of the water'.
Dukes Bridge (no 155) is where another detour from the towpath has to be taken - for walkers, that is.
The Peasey Beck runs under the Crooklands Aqueduct after disgorging a lot of its water into the canal just east of this aqueduct. The main filler for the canal can be seen from our trip boat, or by walking along the canal towards the motorway.
This building is now our trip boat start point. It was the stable for the horses from the Gatebeck Gunpowder Works. The gunpowder was transported to the canal by wagon ( the horses had copper horseshoes so they didn't produce any sparks to set off the gunpowder). The Lancaster Canal Trust Working Parties roofed and made the building secure so now it houses a small exhibition and the parphernalia for the trip boat.
The roof is on, there are 2 landing stages - one on each side of the canal. We moor 'Waterwitch' on the off side during the week and bring her over to the newly constructed - from recycled plastic - landing stage where you can see folk waiting for the next trip. This is all opposite the Crooklands hotel on the A65 (Bridge no 166).
Now we are standing above the culverts which take the canal on its first sortie under the motorway (M6) and we are looking back towards bridge 165 (Millness).
Looking towards the M6 at Millness winding hole it is easy to see that the height of the motorway above the canal will allow the engineers to 'thrust-bore' under the motorway and alow the canal to continue at this point.
Here we see Millness Bridge (no 165) again, but from a much smaller boat. This is a beautifully restored boat called 'Optimist', owned by a trust member and running very quietly with an electric motor.
Coming from Kendal, we reach another problem - the M6, but, as you can see there is plenty of room for the canal to be taken under the motorway at this point. On the right, Millness winding hole can be seen where our trip boat 'Waterwitch' turns round on it's journeys.
A plaque describing the former cinder ovens across the canal. This plaque is on the towpath near Holme between bridges 148 and 149
The ducks are enjoying the Autumn sunlight just north of the village of Holme. They, unlike us, are not looking at Farleton Fell.
Another view of Farleton Fell from this lovely open stretch of the canal near Burton-in -Kendal, between bridges 144 and 145.
Just north of Dukes Bridge (no 155) one of the packet boat stables is seen on the left. Packet boats were speedy passenger boats travelling at around 10 miles an hour so the horses quickly got tired and had to be changed every four or five miles.
On this open stretch of canal between bridges 144 & 145 you can see the distant Lakeland Fells and also the nearer Farleton Fell.
Typical canal reflections in the water below Jansons Bridge (no150) near Holme village.
At Spinney Culvert just north of Holme, the M6 (bridge 154a)again rears its ugly head and cuts off the canal- which is culverted again.
At the top of Tewitfield Locks the most southerly cutting of the canal by the M6 took place. You can see that there is not enough space for a canal boat to cross under the motorway at this point, but a crossing will be possible when the canal is lowered to Lock 2 level and 'thrust-bored' under the motorway ready for a new lock 1 to be dug on the west side of the motorway, raising the canal to its present level.
Lark Bridge (no 140) goes over the canal at Lock 4 in the Tewitfield flight.
The M6 motorway can be seen running alongside the canal just north of Tewitfield. This picture is taken from the A 6070 bridge near Longlands Hotel. You can see where the water ends and the canal is culverted yet again to join the navigable section south of the A6070. Lock no 8 of the 8 locks can be seen.
A similar image with the motorway running alongisde, but here the 'spoil' from dredging of the pounds has been dumped and spread on the adjacent fields. The dredging was done to allow the passage of more water to the main navigable canal for the Glasson Branch and the Ribble Link.
Again just north of Tewitfield, the British Waterways 'Welcome to the Northern Reaches' sign can be seen from both canal and motorway.
The white car in the picture is on the A6070 on the bridge which had to be built over the motorway. You can see where the water is fed under the A6070 through culverts. The end of navigation is just under the bridge. This image shows the first lock, unfortunately without gates.