STAGE 71 (W12) – SHARD BRIDGE to KNOTT END
6 miles – 2.5 hours walk
149 feet climbed – highest point 74 feet – near Burrow’s Farm on Burrow’s Lane.
More soggy flood plain to begin with but after that we are treated to a decent walk with good views of the Wyre and its estuary.
A map of Stage 71 can be found below courtesy of Ordnance Survey maps. You can subscribe yourself using this link, https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk, which will enable you to import the GPX file which can be downloaded below.
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To download the GPX file for this stage click on the link above.
This Stage at the beginning can be affected by tides. If this is the case, then please follow roads to Hambleton.
From the Shard Riverside, take the access road (old Bridge Lane!) away from the pub and look out for the path on your left which takes you back down to the flood plain. Follow the flood plain downstream and under the new bridge. Continue downstream around Point Shard keeping as close to the boundary of the land to your right – there is a distinct path as it used by locals.
Head towards the village of Hambleton. Turn left and keep on the flood plain with the various properties to your right. At the end of these properties turn right and exit on to Kiln Lane. Turn left and follow the lane around Wardley’s Marina Yacht club and then turn right on to Wardley’s Lane.
Pass the caravan park and continue to the small hamlet of Staynall. Turn left and then right on to Burrows Lane. Continue north. Near Burrows Farm you reach a height of 23m (74ft) which gives surprisingly good views west towards the Bowland Fells. Shortly after that you descend to Burrow’s Marsh.
At the road junction bear left towards The Heads on Brown’s Lane. Pass the caravan site that is being developed and then the road ends. There is a stony track on your right but we carry straight on to a gate that then gives access to an embankment. Follow this north as it skirts along the Barnaby’s Sands nature reserve.
When you reach a wood on your right join the track and continue north.
When the track comes to a junction, turn left and skirt around the right-hand side of Hackensall Hall, which is now part of Knott End Golf Club. Turn right just after the buildings and head across the golf course towards the river. You will see properties below to your left and that river again. Carry on along the path with the golf course to your right and when you come to another set of properties bear right to pass around these and then turn left to head to the river. Turn right and follow the concrete path along riverbank into Knott End.
The Stage ends at the jetty.
Look out for the excellent sculpture of a Matchstick Man and his Dog. LS Lowry visited the area several times and sketched the ferry and its occupants from here which culminated in a famous painting of 1958 – The Ferry Boat at Knott End.
We have not quite finished with the River Wyre yet as we have to cross it to Fleetwood to continue our journey back to Blackpool. There is a ferry that runs at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour from Fleetwood to Knott End and these return around five minutes later. The service covers less of the day during winter. The current cost is £2.50 per passenger and is cash only. Make sure you have some!! Please check details before you set off – they do change and sometimes there is no service due to planned maintenance or repairs! It is, however, a fascinating little boat, which almost seems to sit on top of the water, bobbing around but it is highly manoeuvrable. The journey is a fitting end to our walk along the Wyre.
If there is an issue with the ferry, then there is a bus stop just along the road from the jetty and you have two alternatives. Service 89 and 88 go to Lancaster with the latter travelling via Garstang, with its bus links with Preston. The 5C service goes to Poulton and Blackpool both have rail links and also have buses and trams that can take you on to Fleetwood to begin the next stage, although admittedly this is the long way round!
END OF STAGE
Click here to go straight to Stage 72 (W13)
There are pubs, cafes and shops in Knott End for provisions. If you are looking for accommodation, then Fleetwood is the better option including the grand and historic North Euston Hotel. For more details see the next Stage.