CL SITES

Carnforth Station featured in the film Brief Encounter

PICTURE PERFECT John Bateman visits a town that played a poignant part in cinematic history

❖ ARNFORTH, AN unspectacular within easy reach, or Windermere and rectangle backed by a sheltering hedge. little Lancashire town whose Coniston can lure you to the splendours of It is peaceful and offers views across Cmajor claim to fame is its railway adjoining Cumbria. pastures to the reeds, lakes, trails and hides station and a film setting which sadly dates It’s a rich mix and, around Carnforth, of the RSPB’s Leighton Moss nature reserve. those of us who remember it, might appear estuary flatlands and meandering lanes are “We are tenant farmers here on land Ordnance Survey Landranger Maps 97, 98, at first glance to be no more than on the backed by craggy or wooded heights veined that is part of the Hall estate,” says Ailsa, 102, 103 fringe of things in England’s North-West. with inviting paths. who also offers award-winning bed and A closer look at the map, however, or, There is plenty of town action available, breakfast accommodation, which has better still, a good look around from a but my vote goes to quieter spots and, proven popular with CL users who have CL base, presents a very different picture. for lovers of fine houses, gardens and non-caravanning relatives. >> Bordered to the east by the M6 and less birdlife, there can be few better CL than 20 minutes’ drive from to locations than Grisedale Farm, Leighton, the south-west, it is central to a whole crop where John and Ailsa Robinson run a of magnetic attractions. 160-acre beef enterprise on land behind INFORMATION For a start, there is the unspoiled Arnside the magnificent Leighton Hall, historic SITES and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural seat of the Gillow family. Details of the CLs featured and many more in the region can be Beauty. Then, if urban enticements tug The approach to the Hall and CL is found under Carnforth, Lancashire, on p391-392; Hornby, your sleeve, on the menu is Lancaster’s city breathtaking, as the drive cleaves through Lancashire, on p394 and Ingleton, North Yorkshire, on p490-491 of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2009/2010 centre and its great castle or Morecambe’s green, undulating parkland to the resort offerings and arty seafront. mansion, all of it set against a backdrop of TOURISM And there’s more. The huge expanse Lakeland hills. n Lancaster VIC – call 01524 582394 of , the Lune valley, Forest The access lane to farm and CL is next to n Morecambe VIC – call 01524 582808 of Bowland and Yorkshire’s dales are the Hall and the pitching area is a grassy

July 2010 The Caravan Club Magazine 67 CL SITES CARNFORTH

DID YOUBrief KNOW?took place It is a beautiful, restful spot and Club any more. What they do offer at Carnforth walkers. Paths of varying gradients are Filming for members on site while I was there were is a stylish and active station, with splendid easily reached from Warton village, where Encounter at night so as not to disrupt normal enjoying watching marsh harriers and the refreshments, visitor centre, exhibitions, we found a free car park with Crag footpath train services first swallows of spring. Bitterns and avocets events and gift shop. access close to the George Washington also revel at Leighton Moss, the largest Cotestones Farm, Sand Lane, Warton, pub – a refreshing draw on the return trek. Above: beautiful remaining reedbed in the North-West. a mile out of Carnforth, is another all-year Although the rural railway linking local Morecambe Bay – so enticing to walkers Grisedale Farm CL is open all year and CL. Home to Alan and Gillian Close, the communities runs close, according to site advanced booking is essential, not least to 300-acre dairy farm has been in the family regulars like Brian Batty, the trains don’t Below: 18th-century ensure that those arriving don’t meet those for 50 years and sits on the mainly flat spoil the peace. Again, booking is essential. Leighton Hall leaving on the narrow bits near the farm. grasslands between Morecambe Bay and Counties merge seamlessly hereabouts Whether you are on site or not, a visit to the imposing rocks and lofty woodlands and Derrick and Betty Clapham’s Lane Leighton Hall has much to commend it, of Warton Crag. House CL, in Mewith Lane, Bentham, has and make time for a Brief Encounter with Here, the lawned site is a spacious, a Lancaster address but is listed under Carnforth Station. Background music square plot alongside the farmhouse. Ingleton in North Yorkshire. The all-year courtesy of Rachmaninov must be Hook-ups are well placed to maximise site, opposite the house, is an attractive, imagined as you sit in the recreated buffet pitch space, and neat, well-maintained part-sloping meadow offering hook-ups where Alec (Trevor Howard) and Laura toilet and shower amenities are sited at the and well-spaced pitches. There are toilet (Celia Johnson) gazed into each other’s rear of the house where Gillian also runs facilities at the house. eyes in David Lean’s 1945 classic romantic her bed and breakfast. There are good Trees around the site give the CL film. Ahh... they don’t make ’em like that views of the Crag, which is popular with added charm but don’t obscure views of the brooding Pendle Hill and neighbouring heights. There are good walking and cycling routes locally, as ATTRACTIONS there are at the Bridge Inn CL, Lower n Carnforth Station and Visitor Tatham, listed under Hornby in the Centre – call 01524 735165 or Lancashire section of the Sites Directory. see carnforthstation.co.uk Set in the Lune Valley and just inside n Lancaster Castle – call 01524 the , the flat, 64998 or see rectangular site, also open all year, has lancastercastle.com n Leighton Hall – call 01524 electrics and grass or hardstanding 734474 or see n J Atkinson & Co – enjoy your home of witch-hunter Thomas options, plus toilet facilities across the leightonhall.co.uk coffee? Don’t miss Atkinsons in Covell. Call 01524 32808 or see lane during pub opening hours. n Crook O’Lune – beauty spot China Street, Lancaster, which lancashire.gov.uk/museums The added lure of a good meal is a with riverside walks and has more than 80 choices. n The Zone at Greenlands Farm Bridge Inn bonus, and owners Peter and picnic areas Call 01524 65470 or see Village – children’s indoor Bernadette Williams advise booking, n Ingleton Waterfalls Trail – atkinsonsteaandcoffee.co.uk play centre in , scenic walk. Call 01524 n Judges’ Lodgings – found in near Carnforth. Call 01524 especially at weekends. The CL is scenic 241930 or see Church Street, it is Lancaster’s 784195 or see thezoneat but expect a degree of light traffic noise ingletonwaterfallswalk.co.uk oldest townhouse and former greenlands.co.uk and, on some Sundays, clay pigeon shooting on adjacent land. n

68 The Caravan Club Magazine