HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great trails - Lancaster A foot in the past Perhaps best known for its part in the War of the Roses, Lancaster is a city steeped in fascinating history from every era Across the Pennines from York, its main rival for the title of 'most beautiful city in the North', Lancaster has everything the White Rose capital has to offer - and more. GETTING STARTED Zero your trip meter as you exit Holgates Caravan Park and turn left down Cove Road. At 0.7 miles turn left into Park Road, then at 1.2 miles turn right at the T-junction into Red Bridge Lane. At 1.9 miles turn left down Storrs Lane, signposted Kendal. Pass Leighton Moss Nature Reserve and at 5.1 miles turn left into Snape Lane. At 5.7 miles turn right at the T-junction onto the A6. Take the second exit at the roundabout at 6.2 miles (towards the A6 for Lancaster), the second exit again at the roundabout at 7 miles (signposted A601) and turn right at the third, at 7.9 miles, again for the M6 Lancaster. At 12.3 miles turn left off the M6 and follow signs to the A683 Lancaster. At 14.2 miles bear right, then left, then take the right-hand lane to the City Centre. At 15.4 miles turn left at the traffic lights into Market Street (which becomes Meeting House Lane) then left into Dallas Road and into the car park. (Charge: £2 for up to five hours.) 1. THE WAY WE USED TO LIVE Now on foot, leave the car park and walk up Dallas Road to the T-junction with Meeting House Lane, and turn right. Walk down the hill and take the first left, up Castle Hill. Now bear right, down Castle Hill: the Cottage Museum is on the corner. The Cottage Museum is a faithful recreation of a typical 19th-century artisan's family house and offers a fascinating insight into daily life in Lancaster over 100 years ago. Entry is 75p for adults, 25p concessions. Opening hours: 2-5pm, daily. 2. CHILDHOOD MEMORIES Continue down Castle Hill. The Judge's Lodgings Museum is on your left, facing a small cobbled courtyard.Supposedly the city's oldest town house, the Judge's Lodgings contains priceless Gillow furniture and is also home to the town's Museum of Childhood. (Adults £2, concessions £1.) 3. THE SEA, THE SEA Cross the cobbled courtyard and turn left down China Street, then left onto St George's Quay. Follow the road alongside the River Lune. Lancaster Maritime Museum is on your left, just after the George and Dragon pub. Housed in the impressive Custom House, the Museum covers the history of the port, the local fishing industry and the canal as well as the ecology of Morecambe Bay. (Adults £2, concessions £1.) 4. PRIORY FINERY Walk back down St George's Quay, then turn right into the car park. Cross to the left of the car park, then follow the path, turning left at the T-junction where it joins the cycle track. Walk up the steps in the direction of the Castle and Priory, continue past the sign to the Roman Baths, and at the top of the hill you will see Lancaster Priory on your left. This church is thought to date from Saxon times, though the bulk of the building is from the 15th century. Among its features are fine, stained-glass windows and ornately-carved choir stalls. 5. A SPELLBINDING VISIT Continue along the footpath - you will soon see Lancaster Castle, the scene of the famous Witches' Trial of 1612 which found ten local men and women guilty of witchcraft and saw them hanged under a ruling by James I. The castle still houses a working court and may be visited by guided tour - 50-minute tours are usually available every half hour from 10:30am until 4pm. (Adults £4, concessions £2.50.) 6. THE CITY MUSEUM Continue around the perimeter of the castle and turn left onto Castle Park. At the end of the road, turn right back down Castle Hill, then left down Market Street. Continue, crossing Church Street, and on your left you will see the City Museum. Housed in the 18th-century former Town Hall, the City Museum contains archeological collections and displays presenting the history of Lancaster and Lancashire's northern rural regions. Admission is free. 7. LANCASTER CATHEDRAL Continue down Market Street, through the St Nicholas Arcades, then turn right down Great John Street and left at the second set of traffic lights, onto Nelson Street. Turn right after the Town Hall, down Robert Street, then left at the T-junction along Quarry Road. After crossing the bridge, turn left along St Peter's Road. Ahead of you on the right is the Cathedral. This beautiful cathedral is a fine example of 19th-century Gothic architecture. The ornate altarpiece in the Blessed Chapel of the Sacrament is particularly striking. 8. A MEASURE OF LOVE Continue along St Peter's Road and turn right at the crossroads, up East Road. Turn right again at the next crossroads, into Wyresdale Road, for Ashton Memorial Car Park. Turn left at the gates on the brow of the hill and enter Williamson Park. Follow the footpath and you will see the Ashton Memorial ahead of you. The Memorial, commissioned by Lord Ashton as a tribute to his late wife, is a monument of which any city would be proud. Opposite, the Butterfly House is a delight for young and old. (Adults £3.75, children £1.75, concessions £2.75.) Follow the path opposite the Butterfly House to the sundial for some excellent views. Carry on around the perimeter, then head back down the hill, taking the left fork after about 100 yards, down East Road. Follow the road back though town, and at the T-junction with King Street turn left, then right, up Middle Street. Turn left again at the T-junction along the High Street and right at the T-junction onto Dallas Road, back to the car park.  HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT TRAILS   Out on the town  A foot in the past  Regency ramble  Urban island  BACK TO ARCHIVE PLANNING  Distance Driving 30.6 miles, walking 3.5 miles Time 6 hours Start/finish Holgates Caravan Park Suitable for All the family REFRESHMENTS Maritime Museum Café Tel 01524 646637 Butterfly House Café, Williamson Park Tel 01524 33318 O'Malley's Café, Bashful Alley Tel 01524 365561 Sun Café, Sun Street Tel 01524 845599 ATTRACTIONS Cottage Museum Tel 01524 64637 Judge's Lodgings Tel 01524 32808 Maritime Museum Tel 01524 64637 Lancaster Priory Tel 01524 65338 Lancaster Castle Tel 01524 64998 City Museum Tel 01524 64637 St Peter's Cathedral Tel 01524 61860 Ashton Memorial/Williamson Park Tel 01524 33318 INFORMATION Lancaster TIC Tel 01524 32878 HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Motorhome Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.