The Lancashire Cycleway. Jon Sparks

In winter you can usually spot cormorants here. Above the weir a broad and relatively straight reach of the river is popular with rowers.

      The Lune Aqueduct dates from 1797 and carries the Lancaster Canal. Its construction was so expensive that the canal company was unable to build another bridge at Preston, which would have connected the Lancaster Canal to the national network. A connection was finally made in 2002 (Day Ride 16 visits this Ribble Link).

STAGE 1

      Halton to Hornby

Start	Bridge over River Lune SD 504 646
Distance	42.2km/26.2 miles; Arnside Loop adds 5.4km/3.4 miles
Total ascent	336m/1100ft
Steepest climb	Approx 5% (Thrang Brow)
Ride	Mostly rolling lanes: a fairly steep climb out of Halton, and another at Thrang Brow. Elsewhere gradients are moderate. One footbridge, where you should defer to pedestrians.
OS maps	Landranger 97 Kendal & Morecambe
Connections	Regular trains to Manchester (airport), and Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness from Carnforth; for the West Coast Main Line, change at Lancaster. Silverdale and Arnside also have trains to Manchester and Barrow. Hornby’s nearest station is at Wennington (Lancaster–Leeds line).
Accommodation	Pubs, hotels and B&Bs in Silverdale, and in Arnside, which also has a Youth Hostel. The area has several camping/caravan sites. Thereafter little until the Lune Valley, where Hornby has two comfortable pubs and some B&B accommodation.
Intermediate distances	Carnforth 9.2km/5.7 miles; Silverdale 17.2km/10.7 miles; Borwick 30.5km/19 miles; Arkholme 38km/23.6 miles.

      From Halton, usefully tied into the Lancaster Link, the route climbs onto a ridge which offers some great views, especially over Morecambe Bay. After Carnforth the way winds through the gentle scenery of the Arnside and Silverdale AONB.

      Arnside, across the county boundary in Cumbria, is a useful and very pleasant place to stop. The views across the Kent estuary to the Lakeland Fells are superb, too. It’s easily reached by a short optional loop, adding 5.4km/3.4m, described where it leaves the main route.

      If you've come along the Lancaster Link, turn left. If you’ve ridden in from Crook O’Lune, turn right. Either way, cross the narrow bridge. The entry and exit show evidence of inaccurate driving, but there’s additional space for bikes and pedestrians. Follow the lane up to a T junction and go left, passing the Greyhound Inn before rising to a mini-roundabout. Go straight across (second exit) into Foundry Lane.

      Continue up through the trees then, still climbing, over the motorway to a crossroads. Turn right and climb steadily, passing a tall television mast. At the next T junction go right, re-crossing the motorway, then climb again through Nether Kellet. Near the top of the village turn left for Carnforth: you can freewheel almost all the way if you like.

      Nether Kellet’s village pub is the Limeburner’s Arms, a highly appropriate name as there are still working quarries nearby. It’s probably the most traditional pub on the Cycleway route. Don’t expect food, and don’t expect to find it open in the daytime either.

      Turn left at a T junction onto the B6254 and go down into Carnforth over a narrow bridge with traffic lights, crossing the Lancaster Canal. Go straight ahead at the next set of traffic lights and down to pass Carnforth Station.

      Carnforth boasts one of the best second-hand bookshops in the north-west, and a variety of pubs and cafés. The main claim to fame is Carnforth Station, which was a principal location for one of the all-time classic British movies, Brief Encounter (released in 1945 and starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard). There’s a pleasant tearoom (it lacks the smoky atmosphere of the film, which may be why it’s pleasant) and some intriguing historical displays. The curved platforms that provided so many great camera angles have also been spruced up. Don’t miss the platform clock, which figured significantly in the film.

      Carnforth Station, with its ‘film-star’ clock

      Continue over one railway bridge (over the West Coast Main Line), then under a second (the line to Leeds). Turn left before a third bridge to follow a minor road alongside the muddy River Keer.