The Morecambe Bay shoreline within the parish boundary of Slyne-with-Hest includes a footpath on the Lancashire Coastal Way. For Hest Bank, there is also the history of the Lancaster Canal. When planning your visit, distinguish between walks along the shore and a walk across the bay: crossing it requires the support of a qualified guide. The canal structures offer a different focus, with named buildings and historical dates.
Shore walks and the historic crossing of the bay
The Shore in Hest Bank is used by day-trippers for activities including walking. A footpath along the shoreline, which is part of the Lancashire Coastal Way, also runs within the parish of Slyne-with-Hest. If you are interested in coastal paths, these are two distinct points to consider when planning your visit: The Shore is mentioned as a walking area, while the other reference concerns the designated path along the shoreline.
A walk across Morecambe Bay is a different matter. The most-used historic route across the bay ran between Hest Bank and Kents Bank; it is a historic crossing, not a statement about an ordinary present-day transport connection. Anyone walking across Morecambe Bay, including on this historic route, must be accompanied by a competent guide who is familiar with the bay. The Lancaster City Council guidance was last updated on 20 February 2024. Check the current guidance before planning a crossing.
Canal history, from bridge to warehouse
On the Lancaster Canal, the stretch of towpath and waterway between Bridge 116 and Bridge 119 is designated as Local Green Space. This designation applies to the stretch with its towpath and water, not to a single building. Bridge No. 118 over the Lancaster Canal opened in 1797, making it a specific, dated point of reference for the canal’s architectural history.
Another is the Canal Warehouse beside the Hest Bank Hotel. It was built in 1820 and has since been converted into private apartments. The dates 1797 and 1820 place two different structures in time: the bridge and the warehouse. The houses at 1 and 3 Hest Bank Lane are also thought to have been former canal warehouses. This tentative attribution differs from the specific identification of the Canal Warehouse beside the Hest Bank Hotel.
Further historical points of interest
At the Hest Bank Pub is the multi-windowed Lantern Room, which faces Morecambe Bay and dates from the late 18th century. Its position facing the bay offers a different point of reference from the canal structures described above. On a walk exploring the area’s history, you can distinguish between a building’s orientation and the dates of the bridge and warehouse, without treating these structures as a single historic complex.
Hest Bank Wharf lies off the coast at the Hest Bank railway crossing. It has been exposed by the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay and stands four metres above the tidal line. This connection to the shoreline adds a specific coastal feature to the architectural history. Together with the Lantern Room, the Wharf offers two distinct references to Morecambe Bay: a building facing the bay and a structure on the coast exposed by the sands.
Planning your trip
A regular bus service to Lancaster runs within the parish of Slyne-with-Hest. Consider this as part of the parish context and check the timetable for your specific journey. When planning your time, you can also distinguish between a walk along the shore, the canal’s architectural history and a possible walk across the bay. The latter requires the support of a competent guide who is familiar with the bay; the other topics offer separate points of interest for your stay in Hest Bank.
Discover more destinations: St Michael's On Wyre, Heysham, Appley Bridge, Whitworth, Bacup, Whalley, Wrea Green, Burnley
For the main travel overview: Lancashire.
