Damian’s toe has proved to be more troublesome than we thought, so I’m on my own today – but it’s only a short walk around the docks and up to the football stadium. He leaves me at Roose station and I make my way though depressing residential streets to Salthouse Junction, where I join a path around Cavendish Dock Reservoir.

Across the reservoir a couple of large ships are docked – I’ll get a closer look at them soon. There are a few dog walkers out but not many – it is Easter Saturday so I assume a lot of people will be having a lie-in.

Round the bend, allowing only pedestrians and cyclists through, is a pretty metal fish gate – to the left a wide expanse of muddy marshland called Rooscote Sands.

.The “sea” wall is punctuated at intervals with these clever umbrella shelters – they would be more attractive if they weren’t plastered with inane tagging, as so many of our urban infrastructure seems to be.

Another fish gate marks the end of the promenade and the start of a series of three docks – Ramsden, Buccleuch and Devonshire.

I follow the cycle path round, past the docked ships, up to the water where I turn right and head into town.

I am now approaching what is marked on the map as the High Level Bridge but goes by the name of Michaelson Bridge, providing a transport link between Central Barrow and Barrow Island. Behind the bridge the massive hulk of a BAE Systems building dominates the skyline.

At the end of the walkway is a Morrisons store so I pop into their cafe for a cup of tea and a cake.

Driven out of the cafe by a chorus of screaming disgruntled children I cross the bridge and head south onto Barrow Island (this must be an exception to my “no islands” rule). Lining the right hand side of the road is an impressive brick building which seems to go on forever. Unusual multi paned windows punctuate the facade. Built in the late 19th century and known locally as The Gun Shop, this Grade II listed building was used as an ammunitions workshop by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering and during the Second World War was the main supplier of armaments to the British Army and Navy. It is now owned by BAE Systems and still plays a significant role in the production of military equipment for the Ministry of Defence.

A lot of buildings in this area of town are in varying states of dereliction but in some places there are signs of gentrification.

Further down the road though it does get very dreary. ………

BAE Systems raises its head again in the form of these colossal hangers that menace the rows of tired terraced houses in front – they almost look computer generated.

What a relief to navigate a busy roundabout and drop down on to the bank of the Walney Channel – Jubilee Bridge off to the left.

I walk past a boatyard – these three sailing ships standing to attention.

Small boats bob gently on the water

I am now following a cycle and pedestrian path beside the water, where there have been some halfhearted attempts to prettify the area. A sparse children’s playground offers a couple of swings and a wreck of a rowing boat on which children are forbidden to play – then why put it there? Of course children are going to want to clamber all over it!

Moving on from my grumpy old woman moment I arrive at the Dock Museum, which I would have liked to take a look around but as always I have an agenda – maybe tomorrow.

From here I walk above banks of slinky mud creeping out into the water – in the distance are the Cumbrian hills.

…………….and here is a real historic vessel.

I have now come to the end of the path and it’s time to turn inland and meet Damian in the carpark of the football stadium. This has been a very urban but interesting walk.

Distance: 5 miles