Leave the car park into an attractive cobbled square off the main road, where the Judge's Lodgings overlook the Covell Cross. Walk ahead up Castle Hill and across the green to the castle. No longer used as a prison, visitors can now enter through the imposing John O' Gaunt Gate.

The route, however, continues left of the entrance along a walkway skirting the castle. Descending steps, walk through a gateway into the Priory precincts, where a brief detour right in front of the church offers a fine city view. Return to follow the path, known as Vicarage Lane, below the tower. Beyond the churchyard, a path off right detours to the sparse remains of the Roman bath house.

Resume along Vicarage Lane, dropping across a cycleway and emerging onto St George's Quay at the bottom. The Maritime Museum can be found 200yds (183m) to the left.

After visiting, return along St George's Quay, branching left before a former railway bridge onto the Millennium Bridge. On the bridge, turn right and then left along a footpath/cycleway. Approaching the main road, wind right and then left through the underpass, emerging into Green Ayre. Bear left and follow the river upstream, shortly passing beneath Skerton Bridge. Carry on for another mile (1.6km), to the Lune Aqueduct, which carries the Lancaster Canal high above the river. A stepped path on the right climbs to the canal.

It is worth detouring briefly left for the view from the top of the aqueduct before following the towpath to the right back towards the city. After 1.25 miles (2km), just beyond the Cathedral, cross the canal on Friargate Bridge (No. 100) to pass The White Cross riverside pub. Beyond Penny Street Bridge, the canal curves to the old loading wharves. Cross on the footbridge there and walk out to the road.

Head along Queen Street opposite to reach the main road. Turn left for 100yds (91m), crossing on the traffic lights to swing right into Common Garden Street. At Marks & Spencer, go left into the pedestrian precinct along Penny Street. At Horseshoe Corner, turn left again along Market Street, passing the old Town Hall, now the Lancaster City Museum. Walk on for another 100yds (91m) before leaving along a narrow entry on the right, Music Room Passage. Wind through to a small square overlooked by The Music Room and continue ahead along Sun Street. At the end go left along Church Street back to the main road opposite Covell Square.