Garstang - Riverside & Cherestanc

Essential Intel

Some sections of the Trail route by the riverside may be inaccessible after periods of heavy rain and flooding.

The suggested Windsor Road Pay and Display car park is a maximum of 3 hours. If you need longer, park at the Long Stay High Street Car Park (PR3 1WZ).

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Garstang Riverside & Cherestanc, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Jason DeVillain investigate the death of dodgy market dealer Shorty Change and follow the trail of evidence to work out whodunnit and how.

The investigation covers 2.3 miles and should take around 1.75 hours to complete. You'll begin near Windsor Road Pay and Display car park next to Booths Supermarket, head towards the Town Centre, explore Garstang's historic market streets, follow the River Wyre and Lancaster Canal, and finish in the historic market square before returning to the start.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes a riverside path section and a flight of steps, plus pavements, a lane, a ramp by bridge 62A, a bridge crossing and cobbled ground around the market cross. An optional detour avoids the 30-odd steps at the end of one section, going past the church, along Byerworth Lane North, over a hump-backed bridge, then onto the canal towpath to the aqueduct.

Use the zebra crossings carefully, cross roads only when safe, and take great care on the roadside by the Cornmill care home sign. Stay alert by the river, especially after periods of heavy rain and flooding.

Getting There

By car: Start at Windsor Road Pay and Display car park next to Booths Supermarket (PR3 1EF). Park here and walk past the entrance to Booths in the direction of the Town Centre, then begin at the circular stone design on the ground close to the zebra crossing.

If you need longer than the maximum 3 hours at Windsor Road Pay and Display car park, use Long Stay High Street Car Park (PR3 1WZ).

By public transport: Make your way to Windsor Road Pay and Display car park next to Booths Supermarket, then walk past the entrance to Booths towards the Town Centre and begin at the circular stone design on the ground close to the zebra crossing.

Need the Loo?

Toilets can be found at the car park between Clues 06 and 07, giving Detectives a handy comfort stop part way through the case.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives can join the investigation 🐾

This is a dog friendly Trail, but stay alert and supervise sniffer dogs at all times. The route includes riverside sections, roads, a lane, steps, a bridge crossing and cobbled ground, and some riverside sections may be inaccessible after heavy rain and flooding.

Food & Drink Stops

Keeping up with dodgy market dealings can be hungry work. There are plenty of places to stock up on snacks or stop for refreshments along the way, and the Farmers Arms is passed on the route.

If you are packing your own provisions, there is a picnic opportunity after Clue 07, along the riverside.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Garstang Market Place

The cobbled area around the cross is the original Market Place, and it gives this case a proper historic backdrop. Edward II granted the right to hold a market here on Thursdays in 1314, and Garstang market is still held every Thursday. Look out for the cross too - the steps are 17th century and the column dates from 1754.

River Wyre

The route follows the River Wyre, so slow the investigation down here if your squad wants a scenic breather. The river rises in the Bowland hills that can be seen from the bridge and flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is reputedly the longest river in England whose estuary can be seen from its source.

Lancaster Canal and aqueduct

The Lancaster Canal adds another watery chapter to the mystery. Opened in 1791, it carried 30,000 passengers per year between Kendal and Preston in its heyday. The aqueduct carries the canal 34 feet above the River Wyre and allows the canal to be lock-free along its length.

Garstang Weinds

Keep an eye out for the passageways off to the right, known as Weinds - a street name unique to Garstang. These narrow alleyways date back to medieval times, making them a brilliant little detail for Detectives who like their evidence with extra history attached.

Garstang War Memorial

The 1914-1918 War Memorial is on the route, with a nearby plaque forming part of the investigation. The route also passes a memorial garden, offering a quieter place to pause during your day in Garstang.