A man from Cumbria couldn't believe his eyes when recent high tides have shifted thousands of tons of sand to reveal a historic cart line between Ulverston and Grange-over-Sands.

Jonathan Ryland, 61, from Flookburgh, was out for a Sunday morning walk on April 28 when he could see a sizeable length of the track at Collins Weir.

Contractors Collins built the weir in 1847/48  in an attempt to keep the main channel over to the Ulverston side of the Leven estuary for ships to access Ulverston canal.

READ MORE: 

The weir ran from Kephead to the Black Scars however the use of the canal was found to be limited by inadequate water supply via feeder.

There were suggestions to capture water from Rivers Leven and Crake and a dispute ensued over a scheme to add an extension to Collins Weir which resulted in an Admiralty enquiry.

Construction of the railways in the few years that followed however soon killed off the need for the use of the canal.

The Westmorland Gazette: Around 200 metres of the track were exposed

Jonathan, who works as a welder fabricator, said: "I've been to this place on and off for 30 plus years and I've never seen so much exposed  at any one time.

"I'd say in the last 10 to 15 years some, little pieces of this track have been exposed. 

"Now, well over 200 metres have been uncovered with the last high tides changing the river Levens course taking thousands of tons of sand - leaving this master piece for us to see.

The Westmorland Gazette: Jonathan was amazed by the construction"These photos were taken at the south side of Leven viaduct and the construction is quite amazing.

"I wouldn't advise anyone to come down and see it as the sand is too soft.

"I have lived in Flookburgh all my life and know the terrain well and it's full of quicksand - you can only access this area anyway with permission.

"I thought I'd try and take as many photos as possible whilst I was here as there's a possibility that this much of the cart line may have never been seen before - and may never see again."