by Lawrence Bland
Although heavy rain showers were promised, it turned out to be a lovely warm and sunny day, perfect for a hike, reasonably flat but there were too many stiles to climb over! A small party travelled from Lancaster at 1205 to Forton by bus, having a first drink in the Holly, a house beer ‘Holly in Hops’ by Thwaites. Then we headed west across fields to Winder Lane, passing Moorlands & Nicholson‘s Farms, rejoining the main road and over Ratcliffe Bridge, left along a road parallel to the canal, going through Hornby Farm to join the north-south path, passing over Park Lane Brook and deviating briefly to the Patten Arms, I had a Fuzzy Duck Cunning Stunt. Returning to the path and passing through Kiln Trees Farm, to join the canal towpath for several miles onto Garstang. Leaving to visit the Bellflower at Nateby, and as in all the other pubs full of diners having their Sunday lunches, Bank‘s Sunbeam was surprisingly good. Returning to our hike, along Moss Lane to rejoin the canal briefly to the Old Tithe Barn and a Blackjack Pokies. Walking to the centre of town and a first visit to the new Cobblers Café Bar, no real ale, but bottles were available, we tried a BrewDog Punk IPA, another would have gone down well, but they close at 5pm on Sundays. Whilst waiting for our return bus, a Robinson‘s seasonal special Beerdo was sampled at the Royal Oak. Returning on the 1749 bus back to Lancaster.