England Guide
The Northwest
Lancaster
LANCASTER, Lancashire's county town, dates back at least to the Roman occupation, and by medieval times ships were using the River Lune and the coastal routes to Cumbria. A castle on the heights above the river defended the town from attack and provided a focus for the dispensing of regional justice. Lancaster became an important port on the slave trade triangle, and it's the legacy of predominantly Georgian buildings from that time that gives the town its character. Many people choose to spend a night here on the way to the Lakes or Dales to the north and it's an easy side-trip the few miles west to the resort of Morecambe.
Cycle routes
Lancaster promotes itself as a cycling centre, and miles of canal towpaths, old railway tracks and riverside paths provide excellent traffic-free routes around the Lune estuary, Lancaster Canal and Ribble Valley. Typical is the easy riverside path to the Crook O'Lune beauty spot, where you can reward yourself with a bacon buttie and an Eccles cake at Woodies' famous snack bar. Other good routes are down the Lune estuary or along the canal to Carnforth, all detailed on a useful free map available at the tourist office ( 
www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk ).
Read more ▼
- Sight(s) ▼
- Sports and Outdoor ▼