A new footpath has opened near Kendal.
The path, at Natland, connects the Towpath Trail to The Dairy Shed at Cracalt Farm.
The Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership said the new route formed part of its ongoing work to enhance access, celebrate heritage and encourage more people to explore the historic Lancaster Canal corridor.
The wider Towpath Trail initiative aims to reconnect Kendal and Lancaster along the original canal towpath, passing watered and unwatered sections of the unique historic landscape.
Until now, the public right of way passed directly through Cracalt Farm, causing confusion for walkers and presenting challenges for a busy working farm.
The new path diverts visitors safely around the farm, through fields, and leads them to The Dairy Shed – a popular refreshment stop offering fresh milk, milkshakes and sweet treats straight from the farm.
Walkers can now reach it from the Towpath Trail by following the signs from Hawes Lane Bridge, or from Natland village.
Improvements have created level access around the farm, replacing a wall stile and a rotten bridge, and installing new gates wide enough for pushchairs.
Walkers should note that the two fields between the Towpath Trail and The Dairy Shed remain unsurfaced, so sturdy footwear and pram wheels are recommended.
The project was funded through Thrive Heritage funding from Westmorland and Furness Council, supporting heritage-led improvements across the region.
The funding also allowed for restoration work of Natland Hall Old Canal Bridge, an original Lancaster Canal bridge.
Although structurally sound, the bridge had suffered from vegetation growth and required repointing.
Specialist heritage contractors carefully removed vegetation and repointed the structure using a traditional lime mortar mix – the same type used by the canal’s navvies when the bridge was built 208 years ago.
As several canal bridges provide roosting sites for various bat species, ecologist Matthew Thomas oversaw the work to ensure there was no disturbance to protected wildlife.
David Faulkner, chair of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership, said: “Thanks to funding from Westmorland and Furness Council, via the Thrive Heritage Programme, the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership with support from the Public Rights of Way team has successfully transformed access to The Dairy Shed.
“We are also delighted to see the restoration of Natland Hall Bridge, a standing testament to the engineering skills of the Lancaster Canal navvies. Our thanks go to Lakes and Dales Ltd for completing a fantastic job that will be enjoyed by many for years to come.”
