To Gathering Fields from M6

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Directions from M6

Leave at Junction 33 (Forton/Lancaster South)

At the roundabout with the A6, turn Left (Towards Garstang Fleetwood and Preston)

Turn Left again almost immediately into a small lane (Hampson Lane). Shortly afterwards, you cross the motorway.

After about a mile, there is a T-junction, turn Right (signposted Dolphinholme)

After a mile or two there is a crossroads at The Fleece Inn, where you have to give way.  Go forward here (Chipping Road, keep The Fleece on your left).

Keep going on this lane few a few miles, at first straight, then it winds a bit, then you will come to a small hump-back bridge (over the River Wyre). There are fish ponds on your right through the trees.

Soon after that, you will come to a staggered crossroads, marked on Google Maps as "Street". Go forward, past Wagon Lane on your left. Signposted Marsham and Trough of Bowland. (It feels like you are leaving the main road as it bends away to the right and continues towards the moors and Chipping)

Soon you will go down into a dip and a road joins in from the right (marked on Google as "Long Lane"). Bear left and cross a little bridge.

The road rises and you will soon see Tinkers Lane joining in from the left. Follow the road as it makes a right hand bend.

You should now see open country on your left. On your left, you will soon pass a white cottage (currently under renovation) and then a farm at the roadside on the left (buildings either side of the road). The road then bends to the right and you may be able to see Swainshead Hall Farm a good distance across the fields to your left.

Start looking for a narrow lane coming in from the left. This is the track leading to the farm. The track is lined by hedges and track and its entrance are hidden. The fields before the turning are open, but there is a very small waterworks in the corner of the field just before the turn-off. There is a stone plaque at the end of the track, but you have to be going slow to see it properly.

The track is in generally good condition. Watch out for sheep where the road dips down. Drive up to the farm, past the barns and the caravan, and turn left immediately into the courtyard.

It is quite easy to get lost in the network of lanes in this area. SatNav may become problematic. Note that the villages of Dolphinholme and Abbeystead are to the north (Lancaster side) and you can't get to the farm easily from there. You need to be nearer the fells to the south. The farm lies in the open country in-between.

From Scorton/Forton (A6 south):

Get onto Anyon Lane and cross the motorway. Drive up Anyon Lane to the crossroads at The Fleece. Turn right and follow directions as for "From M6".