The Over Wyre area of the Borough, everything east of the river up to the A6, has a unique quality of its own. Amongst its attractions are villages such as Pilling, Stalmine, Hambleton and Preesall. There are coastal walks overlooking the tranquil sands and salt marshes of Morecambe Bay and an extensive network of public footpaths that follow dykes and hedges which are alive with wildflowers and birds.
The area is owned by the Environment Agency and managed by the Wyre Countryside Ranger Service. The picnic area is popular with birdwatchers and walkers.
There are a wide range of habitats on the site which are being developed to encourage a variety of wildlife. A network of paths link the picnic area with Pilling Village and the Lancashire Coastal Way.
In Wyre, the hills of Bleasdale, Harrisend Fell,
Fairsnape and Parlick form a spectacular part of this area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Steep sided wooded river valleys
such as the Calder Brock and Wyre start in these fells, and the
surrounding heather coated hills provides a nationally important
habitat for moorland birds. Special care should be taken when
walking in these areas and we advise you take strong boots and
waterproofs with you.
Please check with the Discovery Centre, Garstang on 01995 602125
if you need more details about the access areas which are open to
the public.
For more general information on the
Forest of Bowland, contact the
Bowland Visitor Centre at Beacon Fell on 01995 61693.
This picnic area is owned and managed by Lancashire County Council. Situated about 1 mile north of Scorton Village this picnic area is set on the banks of the River Wyre and offers pleasant walks through lowland country in the foothills of Bowland and links with the villages of Scorton and Dolphinholme. The picnic area offers good opportunities or birdwatching with a variety of woodland and pond habitats.
Brock Picnic Area
The picnic area and car park is on Brock Mill Lane between Claughton Village and Beacon Fell Country Park (approximately 6 miles from Garstang). The picnic area is managed by the Wyre Countryside Ranger Service. This popular area is set in the steep sided wooded clough of the River Brock (a particularly good venue for winter woodland birdwatching).A network of public paths lead through beautiful private woodlands rich in wildlife, and link with the rolling farmland of Bleasdale, Claughton and Brock. Please note that the car park is closed every night.
For closing time and more
information please contact the Wyre Countryside
Ranger Service at the Ranger's Office, Garstang, 01995 606654.
Disabled visitors welcome Situated at the northern end of Garstang, adjacent to the riverside car park, the Discovery Centre is the ideal place for the whole family to visit Open all year round except for Christmas Day the Centre provides an excellent base for visiting the historic market town of Garstang and the neighbouring Forest of Bowland and Over-Wyre countryside. The Centre houses toilets, an exhibition on the heritage of the area, Countryside Rangers Office and guided activities are organised and booked here. school and group visits are welcome but please book in advance. Tourist Information including Book-a-Bed Ahead service is also available from the Centre. Entrance is free.
An attractive riverside picnic area lies on the banks of the River Wyre next to the car park and gives superb views of the Forest of Bowland. The Riverside Path a circular trail suitable for all, links the Discovery Centre with the picnic area and the River Wyre. The Centre is in a superb location to start a longer distance walk in the area, and a fine network of paths link up to the Lancaster Canal and surrounding countryside and villages.
For further details call at the
Discovery Centre, High Street, Garstang,
PR3 1FU, Tel 01995 602125
Disabled visitors welcome The Wyre Estuary Country Park situated on the banks of the River Wyre is a 'BT Countryside Access for All national award winner Many of the facilities at the Country Park are suitable for disabled people and a network of level surfaced paths lead the visitor through a variety of estuary and riverside views The par k provides an ideal place for a quiet stroll and for naturalists to study a wide variety of habitats and wildlife. There are picnic sites at Stanah, Cockle Hall and Skippool and a bird hide which overlooks the Wyre Estuary
The Wyreside Ecology Centre is at the centre of the Country Park. The multipurpose building has toilets, a Tourist and Countryside Information Centre, Countryside Ranger Office, and a classroom, the Riverside Room, for visiting schools and groups. This room is also available to hire. Entrance is free. Two specially adapted hand cycles are now available for hire from the Centre.
For free leaflets and more
information please contact: The Wyreside Ecology Centre Wyre
Estuary Country Park River Road, Stanah, Thornton FY5 5LR Tel:
01253857890
There are two long distance 'ways' in Wyre. The first is the Wyre Way a 16 mile walk around the River Wyre estuary between Fleetwood and Knott End crossing the river at Shard. The route passes through countryside rich in wildlife and history. The ferry between Fleetwood and Knott End (running May to October) allows the route to be completed as a circuit.
The Lancashire Coastal Way ultimately will allow
uninterrupted walking between the Arnside & Silverdale Areas
of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Liverpool.
In Wyre two sections are already open, offering fine views of
Morecambe Bay.
Both ‘ways' are accompanied by route maps and leaflets that
point out features of interest, and the routes are way marked
throughout to make navigation easier. Both routes offer easy
level going and are suited to a wide range of walking abilities.
For more details please ask at any of the
Tourist Information Centres in Wyre.
There is a series of way marked circular walks starting from
pubs and cafes within Wyre. Accompanying leaflets are available,
for a small donation to the Wyre Tourism Heritage Trust,
from Wyre's Tourist Information Centres and the following
venues:
Please also check with the Information Centres for new walks listed.
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