Hest Bank

Hest Bank is a village just north of Morecambe. It is notable as the only point on the West Coast Mainline that is actually on the west coast. it is also one of the few places on the West Coast Mainline that still has a level crossing. If you drive over the level crossing, the road turns right into a free car park next to the beach, and that is where I started.

The beach is pebbles, not sand, which is perhaps why it did not develop as a resort. This is the view looking southwest, and if you look really closely you can see Morecambe on the skyline. I think the white building in the centre of the photo is the Midland Hotel.


This is looking north-northwest, across Morecambe Bay at the hills of the Lake District. I think the town in the middle of the photo is Grange-Over-Sands.


Walking across the sands of the bay was once a shortcut to Lancaster, and the safest path brought the traveller to Hest Bank.

I walked south along the beach - not easy. This is the view looking back, with the cark park in the centre, and the line of the railway to the right, below the houses.


Again looking across the bay at Grange-Over-Sands.


This is pretty much the border between Hest Bank and Morecambe, and from here I walked along the Coastal Road back into the village, over the railway, then along Rushley Drive, which has a short footpath down to the Lancaster Canal. The view in the Lancaster direction.


I went the other way. This is bridge 117, Occupation Bridge - very photogenic! The  hills of the Lake District are just visible in the distance.


The canal curves sharply to the right.


And from the curve, there is a great view looking down Station Road.


After the curve, the canal goes under Hest Bank Lane, which is a fairly well used road, despite barely being wide enough for one car. The bridge is called Canal Bridge. This is the view looking back from the other side.


The white building was presumably a warehouse, and dates from 1820. It is now a private dwelling. The figures on the seats to the left seem to be left over from Hallowe'en.

I walked back to the bridge, then crossed over it to find the Hest Bank Hotel, an old coaching in, bits of which are thought to be mid-sixteenth century. It is the oldest building in the village.


At this point I headed back down to the shore, back over Canal Bridge. There is not much at all in the way of a centre; there are a few shops but nothing worth a photo. The station closed in 1969, but surprisingly the building is still standing.

As I left the car park, I got stuck at the level crossing, so my last photo...

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