The Haematite Trail

This is a page about my walk along the The Haematite Trial. It is a personal view and not a definitive description of the route. I used the leaflet published by Barrow Borough Council, the OS Explorer Map OL6. I also tracked the route on MapMyWalk. Enjoy the pictures.

The Haematite trail has been devised to explore some of the fascinating remains of the iron mining industry which brought about the industrial expansion of Furness and the subsequent emergence of Barrow… The Haematite Trail is a circular route… It begins at the Abbey Road entrance to Barrow Park and is approximately 29 kilometres (18 miles) long.

I didn’t start the route at the Park as it was easier to pick the route up outside the house. I set off up Rating Lane. Just before turning down towards Manor Road to Furness Abbey you come to Manor Farm.

This was built c1845 and is grade II listed. On certain old maps it is referred to as New Manor House so it is probably fair to assume that other farms stood here before this one. It stands on the junction of one of the older roads in the area that used to lead to Cocken Village.

Cocken Lane ran from the village of Cocken (which stood roughly where the slag banks are) through Ormsgill Reservoir and the cemetery and along Thorncliffe Road. From here it followed the route of Wheatclose Road and part of Abbey Road, down onto Leith Flat Brow and Manor Farm.

Carrying on down Manor Road you approach Furness Abbey. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country.

The distinctive 5 archways (two of which lead into book cupboards, the central large one into The Chapter House and the two smaller arches into the parlour and the slype) have been used to decorate speed signs on the way into Dalton.

Cutting along the path just above the Abbey Mill there is a strange looking arch. It looks like a bridge but is too narrow. It could be something to do with the mill but it is certainly a strange sight (and easily missed.)

Crossing over the railway, head over the field to the road. In this field you cross over the abbey boundary wall and can see Bow Bridge down to the right. Leaving the field, head along the road until you come to a kissing gate. Go through and head up the hill towards Newton.

About half way up is a good place to take in the panoramic view of Barrow. There is also signs of the iron mining that took place at Yarlside mines. Very prominent are the zig zag tracks of the old tramway which took the ore down into the Mill Beck (Red River) valley. Parkhouse Farm is also visible next to the beck.

Carry on to the top of the hill and emerge onto the road opposite the Village Inn. The cottages to the right of the pub are old miners cottages. The Village became one of the first in the area to accommodate miners who came in to work the mines from other areas.

It also boast another pub, The Farmers, a war memorial and the wonderfully named ‘Dickie Pink’s Lane’. This was named, I think, after a mine captain, and was a route taken by miners over time to the local mines.

Head out of the village passed all these places and continue to a public footpath on the left. This takes you through some fields and a farmyard back round to Greystone Lane.

From here you can see the old works and chimney of the Woodbine Pit. Head towards the road. Turn right onto the road and walk a short distance to a style on the left. Climb the stile and cut diagonally across the fields. Cross Long Lane and take the green lane directly opposite. This takes you passed various houses and brings you out onto the road.

Turn right and walk towards the cottages. Just before them, there is a footpath on the left to Slop Lane. Follow the hedge on the right passing Stainton Quarry. The quarry started production here in the late 1860’s.

The path brings you to Stone Barrow Lane. Cross the road to the left and climb the stile into the field opposite. This is full of limestone outcrops. Follow the wall and tractor path down to lane and turn left.

Follow the lane into Little Urswick. Walk through the village. As you exit the village there is a public footpath signpost Dimple Holes Lane. Follow this path, bearing to the right to avoid the coppice and emerge on Hooks Lane. Directly opposite is a footpath that leads diagonally across the fields.

Cross a stile and wander through the ‘cromlech’, which is the site of an ancient burial chamber. Follow the path down the field until you reach Middle Barrow Lane. Here follow another green lane. This was used by workers heading to the lime kiln that was in the field to the right and the mine in the field to the left.

All along this lane are remnants of Bekume Pit No.2. Further along this path you come to a kissing gate in the middle of nowhere. This was built by the Victorians who valued the provision of footpaths for recreation.

There is a large railway embankment, to the left, built by the Furness Railway for use as an ore yard. Pass the tarn and exit the field onto Green Lane.

Pass under the Railway and cross the A590 turning left towards Lindal and the cricket club. Turn first left and walk to the crossroads. Along this road are lots of remains of the Diamond Pit. At the crossroads head straight across towards Marton and then bear to the right towards Whinfield Farm. Pass the farm and then follow the footpath towards Carr Kettle.

Follow the path passing the site of Rawlinson Pit until you come to the second footpath on the left between the houses. (Don’t be fooled by the first footpath because retracing your steps can cause you to twist your ankle.)

Follow the path down the hill passing the pit pool and come out on the road. Turn left and follow the road down towards Marton. Turn right at the junction and enter the village. Walk through Marton.

The New Inn is no longer a pub but the sign is still visible, along with the Hartley’s Brewery sign. A lovely little pub gone the way of many others.

The Reading Rooms were built by mine owners for the use of their employees. The distinctive arched windows give the building an important look.

As you walk through the village you can see that the old telephone box has been put to good use. It now contains local information. A clever use of an iconic symbol. Turn right at the junction and head up the road to Ireleth. At the farm turn through the yard and follow the footpath down to the bridge over the beck, then climb the hill opposite to the road. Cross the road and enter the next field.

This field is full of wind turbines. These huge windmills dominate the skyline. Follow a line of styles down towards the Farm. Just before the farm bear right and head diagonally across the field towards some steps which lead down to the top of Ireleth Hill.

Follow the road down to Askam and cross the railway. Take the first right and head towards the beach. At the beach turn left. (This next part of the walk is best done when the tide is out so you can follow the beach.) Head towards Askam Pier.

Askam Pier was once a loading pier and was made entirely out of hot slag from Askam Ironworks.

Head under the pier and walk toward Roanhead.

(If the tide is in you have to scramble up some steep red hills and through some small coppices. You then meet a road which takes you through a farm and brings you out on Hawthwaite Lane.)

Turn left into Hawthaite Lane and walk passed the farm to the footpath on the right. Take the path and follow it down towards the beach. Along here are remains of a bridge which is made from dressed stone.

Bear right down onto the beach and follow this towards Sowerby Woods. You pass lots of Second World War remnants. (some that wont be in situ much longer.) When you reach a sign to The Coastal Way follow the path to the left and head towards farmyard.

From here follow the green lane, over the bridge over the railway, to the main A590 (Park Road) into Barrow. Cross over the road (carefully) and head along the road to Schneider Road.

Follow Schneider Road to Ainslie Street and at the bottom turn right onto Abbey Road and head towards the park entrance. (This is the actual start of the Trail.)

From the gates head up to the cenotaph and then down the steps to the lake. Cross the bridge and head onto Park Drive. Turn right then left onto Bridgegate. Once over the hill turn left onto Lesh Lane and go all the way to Hollow Lane. Turn right and then left into Newbarns village. Head up Ostley Bank and cross the rugby field and head down passed the play park back onto Raiting Lane.

Here endeth the Trail.