Garstang

On this Trail you must find the answers to clues around the market town of Garstang that will help you to solve the mystery of the market murder.

Set on the banks of the River Wyre and on the edge of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Garstang is a market town steeped in history. The medieval alleyways, known uniquely as ‘weinds’, add a distinctive character to the High Street and the Market Cross and Greenhalgh Castle act as focal points to the town's historic past. Garstang’s weekly market has run since 1310 and still operates every Thursday selling a good selection of local produce including cheeses, meats and vegetables. The town’s role as a staging-post for horse-drawn coaches on the old Edinburgh to London route is reflected in the number of inns still in existence in the town, many of which retain the original stables.

The Trail explores the history of the town and also follows the banks of the river and the picturesque Lancaster Canal, revealing the lovely countryside that surrounds the town.

The Trail is 1.8 miles long and should take around 1.75 hours. However there is an optional extension to the Trail of just under a mile, with a longer stretch along the canal towpath, for those who want to enjoy a longer walk. This extension also provides a level surface avoiding a steep flight of steps which makes it suitable for pushchairs.

** PLEASE NOTE ** The steps that lead up from the river to the canal are currently damaged and not passable, so the optional extension must be used until the steps have been repaired by the council. This does not affect the solution of the Trail in any way, it just means you have to walk a bit further! (It is quite a pleasant walk though).