The Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership is delighted to announce the opening of a new public footpath diversion at Natland, creating a safe and attractive connection between the Towpath Trail and the thriving local business, The Dairy Shed at Cracalt Farm.
The new route forms part of the Partnership’s 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 both 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 newly created 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, providing a sustainable and local alternative to supermarket products.
The Dairy Shed provides a self‑service vending machine, seating area and toys for younger visitors. Walkers can now reach it from the Towpath Trail by following the signs from Hawes Lane Bridge, or from Natland village.
The 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.
In addition to the new footpath, the funding enabled restoration works on 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 works to ensure there was no disturbance to protected wildlife.
David Faulkner, Chair of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership, officially opened the new route at an event on the 22nd of May and 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. These improvements will enable more people to enjoy their delicious milkshakes while discovering the Towpath Trail.
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.”
Cllr Doug Rathbone, Chairman of the council, member for Kendal South and local representative on the canal regeneration partnership, said: “It is really important to open up the footpath so that we can make a healthier Westmorland and Furness that incorporates all of our residents whether they be walkers, or people in wheelchairs or pushing children. It’s about opening it up our heritage to all residents so that we can enjoy glorious days in the countryside and improve health and access to the countryside and support from Westmorland and Furness Council has been crucial to this.” Cllr Waite added “I enjoyed visiting the site, meeting people, and walking down to the canal and along the towpath. I am sure that local people and visitors will also enjoy it”