| Great escapes: Lancashire 5 |
| Live Wyre |
| We do love to be beside the seaside - but Wyre has much more besides, from the traditions of Fleetwood to the crafts of Thornton |
Between Blackpool and Morecambe Bay, Wyre has its fair share of fine coastline, and none more so than at Fleetwood - famous for its fishermen and its unique tramway. Head east towards Preston and you'll come across many delightful villages, including Poulton-le-Fylde and Garstang, which between them offer great food, shopping, fine architecture and canal boat trips.
1. Wyre Estuary Country Park
If you make Kneps Farm Holiday Home and Touring Park your camping base, you can visit this haven for wildlife at your leisure as it is barely a minute's walk down the road. There are walks, boat-launching facilities
and excellent birdwatching
(keys to a hide are available from the Wyreside Ecology Centre, to the left of the entrance); the Wyre Estuary is one of the most important sites for wildfowl and waders in Europe.
2. Fleetwood by the sea
Zero your trip meter at the end of the approach road to Kneps Farm Holiday Home and Touring Park, then turn right onto River Road and right at the roundabout at 0.4 miles, down Hillylaid Road. At 1 mile turn right onto Lawsons Road at the T-junction
immediately after the level crossing, then at 1.5 miles turn right onto Fleetwood Road. At 3 miles you will pass signs for Farmer Parr's Animal World. Take the third exit at the first roundabout (at 3.2 miles), signposted A585 to Fleetwood, and straight on at the second (at 4.1 miles), and at the third (4.6 miles). At 4.9 miles turn left down Kemp Street, then right at the next T-junction, down Lord Street.
At 5.2 miles turn left down Victoria Street, right down Hesketh Place at 5.4 miles, then left down Bold Street and, immediately after, right at the
T-junction down Mount Road. At 5.5 miles turn right at the T-junction into The Esplanade, along which there is free parking.
Fleetwood is a seaside town which has retained the ambience of such resorts when they were in their heyday - typified by the only original main-street tramway in Britain. Leave the car on The Esplanade and get a tram down to Clevelys to go shopping or visit the Fleetwood Museum, the market and, to round it all off, take a trip on the heritage trawler, Jacinta. In fact, visiting Fleetwood alone could easily fill a whole day.
3. Marsh Mill Craft Village
From The Esplanade, zero your trip meter at the start of North Church Street, which is between the pier and the North Euston Hotel. Turn right
at 0.1 miles along Pharos Street,
then at 0.2 miles turn left down Blakiston Street. Carry on
down Blakiston Street as it goes over a T-junction at 0.3 miles and then turns right at another T-junction. At 0.7 miles turn left down Milton Street, then right at the T-junction onto Poulton Road and straight over the mini-roundabout. At 1.2 miles go straight over the first mini-roundabout, then left at the second, along Broadway. Take the third exit at the roundabout at 1.6 miles, signposted Blackpool A587. At 4.1 miles head straight on at the mini-roundabout,
following the road round to the right. Turn left at the traffic lights down Victoria Road at 4.2 miles and head straight on at the roundabout at 4.9 miles, signposted B412 Thornton. Turn left at 5.3 miles for Marsh Mill Craft Village car park.
The windmill at Thornton dates back to the end of the 18th century, but it's been restored to full working order so you can see how it operates inside. After a guided tour, be sure to visit the many craft shops and stop at the tavern or tearoom for a snack.
4. Take stock of Poulton-le-Fylde
Zero your trip meter at the end of the road on which you entered Thornton and turn left along Victoria Road East. Turn right at the traffic lights at 0.2 miles, signed to Poulton, and at 0.8 miles take the second exit at the roundabout signed B5268 Blackpool. Turn left at the traffic lights at 1.6 miles, turn left onto Poulton Road, then at 2.2 miles follow the road round to the right at the traffic lights, turning left into the car park immediately after the bend.
Poulton-le-Fylde is a mediaeval market town and still has its stocks, in which local miscreants were publicly humiliated. It's an ideal place in which to shop or enjoy a cuppa, but do try and save some time to visit St Chad's Church, which is easily the finest building in the town.
5. Charming Churchtown
Zero your trip meter at the exit of the Poulton-le-Fylde car park, then turn left onto Queens Row, towards Garstang. Follow the road round to the left into Blackpool Old Road. At 0.3 miles turn right at the T-junction at
0.4 miles into Vicarage Road, and right again at the T-junction at 0.6 miles into Station Road. Turn left at 0.7 miles onto the A588 to Blackpool, then left again at the traffic lights at 0.9 miles, onto the A586 to Garstang. Go straight ahead at the traffic lights at 2.4 miles, and at 10.1 miles turn right down Ainspool Lane, signposted Churchtown, then right down Church Street, which has a car park.
Churchtown is a beautiful village that's up there with the best in Ribble Valley, though few places can match its historical and architectural range. The church,
St Helen's, dates from the Norman Conquest, but carries evidence of building work from most periods since. Leaflets showing a village trail are available at the church.
6. Watery Garstang
Zero your trip meter in the car park, leave the same way you came in, then turn right at the T-junction along The Green. Turn right again at 0.2 miles onto The Avenue, then turn left at the T-junction at 0.5 miles onto the A6 to Lancaster. At 1.6 miles turn right into Kepple Lane, signposted Th'Owd Tithebarn. Turn left at the first
mini-roundabout (at 2.1 miles) then right at the next one, just after the to B6430 (Lancaster). At 2.3 miles turn left at the mini-roundabout along Windsor Road, then left into the
car park.
The main draw to Garstang is the canal, where you can take a boat trip - though it's best to set aside a whole morning or an afternoon for this. The town has plenty of shops and a street market (on Thursdays) which has been running since the 14th century. For a historical perspective, visit the local Discovery Centre.
7. Pilling Pottery
Zero your trip meter at the entrance to the car park, turn right
onto Windsor Road, then left at the
mini-roundabout at 0.1 miles. Turn
left at the next roundabout, signposted Lancaster and Cockerham, then go straight on at the traffic lights at 0.6 miles. At 5.1 miles turn left into the A588, signposted Blackpool, then at
9 miles turn right into the unclassified road to Pilling Pottery. Turn right at the T-junction at 9.8 miles onto School Lane, and left into the free
car park at 10.7 miles.
Here you may watch the
potter himself at work or simply browse his wares in the shop -
all are hand-thrown.
On leaving the car park, zero your trip meter and turn left onto Smallwood Hey Road, then follow signs for Blackpool, taking the A588. At 8 miles turn right onto the A585, signeposted Thornton Clevelys, then follow the B5412 signed caravan sites and Kneps Farm.
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Distance 46.8 miles driving;
2-3 miles walking around the various towns and villages
Time All day
Start and finish Kneps Farm Holiday Home and Touring Park
Suitable for All the family
Refreshments
River Wyre Hotel,
Poulton-le-Fylde
Tel 01253 883791
Th'Owd Tithebarn, Garstang
Tel 01995 604486
Punchbowl Inn, Churchtown
Tel 01995 603360
Attractions
Wyre Estuary Country Park
Tel 01253 857890
Farmer Parr's Animal World
Tel 01253 874389
Fleetwood Museum
Tel 01253 876621
Fleetwood Market
Tel 01253 771651
Jacinta Heritage Trawler
Tel 01253 885642
Marsh Mill Craft Village
Tel 01253 860765
Pilling Pottery
Tel 01253 790307
Tourist information
Clevelys Tourist Information Centre
Tel 01253 853378
Garstang Tourist Information Centre
Tel 01995 602125
Fleetwood Tourist Information Centre
Tel 01253 773953
Website CLICK HERE
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