Wednesday 20th August 2008

Riverside Walk

Start Point

Bull Beck Picnic site on A683. Map reference SD 531 649

Distance/Time

5 miles. 2 hours

Terrain

Roads, tracks and fields. Can be wet underfoot

Walk Description

The route follows the tarmac surfaced Lune Millennium Park pathway to the Crook O’Lune picnic area, then back to Bull Beck along the bank of the River Lune over reasonably flat grazed pastures (which may be damp at times and are susceptible to flooding after heavy rainfall).

  1. Park at Bull Beck Picnic site, just north east of Caton on the A683. Cross the A683 and join the Lune Millennium Park pathway, heading left. The hawthorn hedges beside the track have been traditionally ‘layed’ to provide a durable stock barrier and an excellent habitat for many birds.
  2. Follow this path for 1 mile crossing a bridge over Artle Beck. Nearby you will see a stone carving by the artist Colin Wilbourn.
  3. Cross a private road (taking the road to the left would take you into the centre of Caton village) and continue along the Lune Millennium Park pathway towards the Crook O’Lune. Just before the river take a small path down to the left.

An interesting detour here is the Crook O’Lune picnic site. Stay on the track over the old railway bridge and up the ramp to your right. Toilets and refreshments are available and the view from the picnic site is splendid. On clear days, you can see the flat-topped hill of Ingleborough in the distance.

  1. Go through the gate and take the small path down to the river. Cross over a wooden footbridge and follow the path round to your right underneath the old railway bridge, and over a second footbridge. Then follow the river upstream along the riverbank. In summer, rosebay willow herb (the ‘railway weed’) and the great hairy willow herb dominate the old railway banks.
  2. Cross Artle Beck using the new footbridge, put in to replace the stepping-stones. Do not cross the large British Waterways bridge in front of you, but carry on along the riverbank looking up at the windmills on Caton Moor. Continue along the riverbank footpath, round the meander.
  3. On reaching track, leave the river, pass a house on the right and turn left, rejoining the Lune Millenium Park pathway. Follow this tarmac path back along to the Bull Beck Picnic site.

About this walk

Caton and Brookhouse are situated on the north-facing slope of the Lune Valley. The villages lie in a scenic area near the celebrated Crook O’Lune - painted by Turner, praised by the poets Thomas Gray and William Wordsworth, and admired by Queen Victoria.

Caton-with-Littledale Parish contains a wide range of habitats, which are home to a variety of special birds, including the rare hen harrier, the symbol of the Forest of Bowland AONB.

Birds to look out for include:

  • The kingfisher. If you are very lucky, you may be able to observe the kingfisher perched, waiting motionless ready to plunge into the water if a small fish swims close.
  • Sand Martins. A large colony of these birds use the sandy banks of the River Lune to nest in summer.
  • Oystercatchers, which can been seen guarding their nests on the shingle beaches during summer months.
  • Goosanders, which are regular visitors to this part of the river, along with swans and numerous types of ducks and geese.