A SERIES of free guided walks starts in Furness this weekend as part of the Bay Archaeology Festival: Rediscovering the Bay's Old Ways.

The walks have been organised by the Morecambe Bay Partnership as parts of its Headlands to Headspace project.

It all begins at 2pm on Saturday, July 16, when the Ulverston-based Greenlane Archaeology takes walkers on a tour of Barrow to learn some of the techniques used to look at old buildings and be able to tell a good deal about their history.

On Sunday, July 17, from 12.30pm the title of the guided walk is Lost in Plain Sight: Piel Island and Castle.

This forms part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.

It includes a walk over the sands from Walney to Piel and a tour of the medieval castle ruins on Piel.

The walk is being led by archaeologist Rachel Newman.

On Thursday, July 21, from 2pm to 4pm you can find out more about one of the oldest monuments in South Cumbria at Birkrigg Stone Circle.

Peter Wilde will discuss some of the theories about its origins and purpose, combined with a look at what we have been able to discover from archaeology.

This event also includes a walk to the nearby Quaker burial ground.

On Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24, at 11am and 2pm on both days, there will be guided tours of the medieval ruins of Furness Abbey.

From July 25 the focus switches to the other side of Morecambe Bay.

There will be a series of sessions, from July 25 to 28, on the recording of military sites and the use of geophysics at Cockerham.

On Tuesday, July 26, from 1pm, you can find out about the industrial history of Jenny Brown's Point and its surviving chimney at Silverdale with local historian Simon Williams.

He will also discuss the story of a sea wall built nearby in the hope of reclaiming land for cultivation and the story of a forgotten shipwreck.

On Saturday, July 30, from 2pm, there is an afternoon of archaeology and history talks at the Storey, Lancaster.

You can find out about recent research on the Warton Crag hill fort, the Lancaster Roman site at Quay Meadow, research at St Patrick's Chapel, Heysham Head and early mapping of Morecambe Bay.

It is followed by a 5pm guided walk to help read thr historic buildings of Lancaster.

The final event is on Sunday, July 31 from 12pm at the Silverdale Hotel and will bring together experts to explore what is known about Jenny Brown's Point.

All the events are free but places need to be booked in advance by calling 01539 734888 or visit the website at www.morecambebay.org.uk/events