WyreSelfGuidedTrails:WyreWay(OverviewOnly–detailedRouteCoveredinindividualSectionsheets)
MainWalkSec,onsSec%on1–FleetwoodPeninsulaLoopSec%on2–ShardBridgetoGarstangSec%on3–GarstangtoAbbeysteadSec%on4–TheTarnbrookLoop
1
2
3
4
MainStartPoints1–WyreEstuaryCountryPark2–ShardBridgeHotel3–VistGarstangCentre,Garstang4–StoopsBridge,Abbeystead
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2017)
StartPointsTheprimarystartpointlocationsare:
• WyreEstuaryCountryPark,RiverRoad,Thornton-CleveleysFY55LR
• ShardBridgeHotel,OldBridgeLn,Hambleton,Poulton-le-FyldeFY69BT
• VisitGarstangCentre,CherestancSquareGarstangPR31EF
• StoopsBridge,Abbeystead
Distance/Time.Totaldistanceandapproximatetimeforeachwalksection:Section1-26km(16.2miles)/6.5-8.5hours(PlusFerryCrossingTime)Section2-19km(11.8miles)/5–6hoursSection3-16km(10miles)/4–5hoursSection4-10.5km(6.5miles)3-4hours
Maps………………OSLandranger102-WholeRouteat1:50000scaleOSExplorer296-Sections1and2at1:25000scaleOSExplorerOL41-Sections3and4at1:25000scale
Terrain…………………………..Theroutefollowsroads,farmtracks,fieldsandfootpaths.Therearestiles,gatesandsteps,andpathscanbewetandmuddyafterrain.Gradientsareverygentleformostofthewalk,however,thefinalsection,theTarnbrookLoop,hasaheightgainof200m(600ft).Theremaybeanimalsinthefieldsandfarmyards.Dogsshouldbekeptonashortleadatalltimes.THISWALKISNOTSUITABLEFORTRAMPERVEHICLES
1
SummaryRouteDescriptionTherouteisdescribedinfourmajorsectionsinthemoredetailedguidesonthewebsite,althoughthesecanbedividedintosmallersectionsdependingonavailabletimeandfitness.Thefollowingtextisonlymeanttoprovideashortintroductiontotheroute.ConsulttheWebpagesfordetailedroutedescriptionsandmapsoftheindividualsections.Section1:FleetwoodPeninsulaLoopWehavechosentheWyreEstuaryCountryParkasthestartingpoint,butasthisisacircularwalkotherlocations(e.g.FleetwoodorKnottEnd)couldbeused.PleasebeawarethatyouwillneedtousetheKnottEndferrytocrosstheWyresochecktheferrytimetable(availableontheinternet)beforesettingouttoensuretheferryserviceisoperating.YourplanningshouldalsoensureyouwillavoidperiodsofhightidewhenwalkingbetweenKnottEndandShardBridge.TheroutebeginsheadingNorthalongtheWyre
estuary(ahavenforwadingbirds)beforeturninginland,crossingthepeninsulatojointheIrishSeacoastatRossall.Wefollowthecoast,pasttheimpressiveRossallPointobservationtowerandmarinelakestotheseafrontatFleetwood–withagreatoutlookoverMorecambeBaytotheLakeDistrict.Continuealongtheseafront,pastthelighthouse,totheKnottEndFerryterminal,justpastthelifeboatstation.TaketheferryacrosstheWyreEstuarytocontinuethewalkheadingSouthalongtheriver,pastthelocationofoldsaltmines,alongsectionsofseadefencesandsaltmarshtothewidespanoftheShardBridge.CrosstheriverhereandreturntoTheWyreEstuaryCountryParkpasttheSkipoolCreekyachtmoorings(onceabusyport)andtheBlackpoolandFleetwoodYachtClub.
Important-EstuarySafetyTheinitialsectionsofthewalkbordertheriverWyreEstuaryandpathwayscanfloodduringhightideswhenthereisadefiniteriskofdrowning.Walkersshouldplantodothesesectionsduringtheperiodof3hourseithersideoflowtideatFleetwood.IfindoubtfindanalternativeinlandrouteorcontacttheCoastguardbeforesettingoff.Theroutecrossessalt-marshinsomeplacesalongtheestuary,pleasebeawareofdeepnarrowgullies,oftenhiddenundervegetation,thatcrosstheseareas.Alsopleasestayawayfromareasofopenmudflat–thesecanbedangerous!
AboutThisWalkTheWyreWayispartoftheUKnationalnetworkoflongdistancewalkingroutes.TheroutefollowsthecourseoftheriverWyrefromitsestuaryoutletintoMorecambeBaytothefellsaboveAbbeysteadwheretheriverhasitssource.TheWyreistheonlyriverinUKwherethesourceisvisiblefromitsoutlettothesea.ThesceneryalongtheroutevariesenormouslyfromthewildIrishSeaandMorecambeBaycoastline,busyseasidetowns,widetranquilestuarythroughundulatingpasturelandandonuptowildmoorland.
2
Section2:ShardBridgetoGarstangStartingattheShardBridgeHotel,thissectionbeginsalongtheestuarymarginsbeforeturninginlandacrossthemixedfarmlandofNorthernFylde.Wepasswithin2kmofthevillageofGreatEcclestonbeforeeventuallyre-joiningtheriversidepaththroughthevillageofStMichaels,withitsbeautiful13thcenturychurch.PastthevillageofStMichaelsourroutedivergesfromthatshownontheOSmapduetolackofpublicaccessalongtheriverside.However,afterashortsectionofroad-walkingwerejointheriverformostofthewaytothevillageofChurchtown,whereyouwillfindanother13thcenturychurchandanancientsundialperchedhighonastonepillarinthevillagecentre.Leavingtheriver,wetakea‘shortcut’,crossingfarmlandandacoupleofbusymainroads,beforere-joiningitagainonthewayintothebusymarkettownofGarstang,withafinalshortsectionalongthehistoricLancastercanal.Section3:GarstangtoAbbeysteadFromGarstangweheadNorth,initiallyfollowingtheriverWyre,thenoneofitstributaries–GrizedaleBrook.AftercrossingthebridgeovertheM6motorwaythere’sasectionoffarmlandandwoodlandbeforejoiningaquietcountrylaneintothepicturesquevillageofScorton.Thenextsectionisaverywaterylandscapedottedwithmanylakes;evidenceoflarge-scalegravelworkingsthathavenowbeensensitivelyreturnedtonature.AfterpassingthroughtheWyresideLakesfisheryandcaravansitetheroutere-joinstheriverWyrethroughalovelystretchofcountrysidetotheformermillvillageofDolphinholme.TheroutetoAbbeysteadbeginshighalongthesideoftheriverWyrevalley,offeringgreatviewsacrosstotheNorthBowlandFellsofWard’sStone,GritFellandClougha.After
3
descendingtotheriversidewepassthesiteofthetragicAbbeysteadwater-worksexplosionof1984.Thefinalstretchpassesinfrontofthe,nowdisused,Abbeysteaddam–whichinformertimeswasusedtostorewaterforthemanymillssiteddownstreamalongtheriver.Section4:TheTarnbrookLoopTheTarnbrookloopisarelativelyshortwalkroundtheheadwatersoftheRiverWyre,crossingitstwomainfeederstreams–theMarshawWyreandtheTarnbrookWyre.TheroutetouchestheedgeofthehighmoorlandoftheForestofBowlandandhasamuchwilderfeelthanthedownstreamsections.AftercrossingpasturelanduptothehamletofTarnbrook,therouteclimbssteadilytoitshighpointonHindHill,fromwhere,onacleardaythereareviewsdowntheWyreValleytocoast,andacrossMorecambeBaytotheLakeDistrict.ThereturntoAbbeysteadfollowsthecourseoftheMarshawWyre,descendingthroughamixtureofgrazinglandandwoodland,pastthelargecountryestatehouseoftheDukeofWestminster,andbacktoStoopsBridgeinAbbeystead.
IfyouneedtospeaktosomeoneaboutthisrouteorreportaproblemusethefollowingWyreCouncilcontacts:Website:Wyre.gov.ukAddress:CivicCentre,BreckRoad,Poulton-le-Fylde,Lancashire,FY67PUTelephone: 01253891000E-mail:[email protected]
