Maghull Meanders: Lancashire Trails Part 4

This is a bit late to say the least. 17th September 2006. Link to map. Part 4, from Pushpin 132 to Pushpin 185. Don’t seem to find the time to keep the map of our walk and the text, both up to date.
This part of the Lancashire Trail took us from Coppull Moor to Rivington; all I will say about Rivington is “Tumble Weed”!
We set off from what was the New Seven Stars Inn, taking the broad track, along side the Inn, through a ‘sand winning’ area. Passing through an opening beside metal gates we headed for Hic-Bibi Brook .

Our expected view of Standish Church wasn’t available to do early morning fog. Keeping the brook on our left we walked until we were almost to a third wooden bridge, over the brook, where we then turned right following a line of telegraph poles carrying power cables. Upon reaching some trees we walked to the left, in front of the trees, and then crossed a clearing (covered with piles of rubble when we went) to a farm track.
Following this track, to the right , we crossed a railway bridge and decended towards houses on Platt Lane. Bearing left we passed the Crown Inn and followed the road up to the main A5106.
Upon reaching the main road we crossed and went through an opening beside a farm gate onto another farm track. This track took us down to Worthington Lakes. Here, keeping ahead, we crossed a footbridge and followed a path that crossed between lakes.

Herons (2), one either side of the path, and other water birds. Keeping right, along side railings, with the lake on our right, we headed for a reservoir embankment and a stile in the corner leading down into Arley Wood.
Heading down we followed the path to a footbridge over the River Douglas, yes it is there again.

Keeping ahead we ascended a path on the other side, through the trees, to the edge of Arley Golf Course. Following the track, taking care not to upset golfers, we arrived at the entrance beside Arley Hall (believed to be the oldest moated hall in the country; although the date over the door is 1367, parts of the building are believed to date back to the 12th century). The moss-covered walls were very green.

I’m sure you are expecting a wrong turn somewhere along the route, well here it is. We went right, and should have gone left. I had the usual feeling that we were heading in the wrong direction and, after re-reading the instructions and consulting the map, we retraced our steps and crossed the stone bridge over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Continuing along the lane we crossed a disused railway, now apparently a footpath (note to ourselves that we should investigate at another time), and eventually reached a house called Hollinshead.
Bearing left in front of the house, and then keeping right, we walked along Blundell Lane. Emerging on the main road by Gallaghers pub at Little Scotland, we turned right and walked down hill, to a footpath on the left, just before the first bungalow.
Keeping the hedgerow on the right we eventually ascended the field until we were opposite Gallaghers. Here we turned right and passed through a gap in the hedge and headed for and crossed three stiles/fields. We headed towards a farm ahead (Sibberings Farm).
In the last of these fields we headed, diagonally, for a stile in the far left corner, the farm over to the right.
We were now at a lane; crossing this lane we headed up a short lane to a gap to the left of a farm gate. Keeping the hedge, buildings and eventually bungalows on our left, we came to a stile/gap leading onto a tarmac path behind some more bungalows. Following this path, crossing roads when reaching them, we passed through a housing estate to a community centre in Blackrod. Bearing right, to Vicarage Road we eventually reached the main road junction with a memorial and seats opposite an old Police station.

A short stop for refreshments, water and a banana. Five and a quarter miles down three to go…
Turning right down the B5408 we passed some stone cottages and turned left down the side of the last cottage.

This leads to a stile which we crossed and descended a grass path with views of Rivington Pike/Winter Hill in the distance and Anderton Services (M61) in the foreground.

Crossing another stile, into woodland, we followed the path, keeping left, round to Bank Houses. Having passed Bank Houses turn right beside a sign for White Hall Lane and descend a short narrow cobbled path to cross the A6 trunk road.
On the far side of the A6 we continued down a path to cross a railway line. It was a bit like “look at the submarine” when on Isle of Arran. Me, “I can hear a train”; Chris “very funny”; Train preceded by “two tone horn”. No surprise that I wasn’t believed!

From here it was up the edge of the field, hedge on left, up to a bridge over the M61.

Just before the cattle grid we turned right down a rough track to Anderton Old Hall Farm. Lots of Sloes in hedge row. Note to ourselves to return early October to collect sloes for Sloe Gin!
At Anderton Old Hall Farm we walked closely to the left of farm buildings, over a small stile at the side of a gate and through a metal gate to the right of the very large main entrance gate. Following the lane until it turned to the left were bear right on a narrow path which also swings round to the left crossing a small bridge with a waterfall on our left. Pity about the bike dumped in the waterfall.

We continued along the footpath with the stream on our left, passing through a metal gate, that appears locked, to some new houses. Walking through the houses into a courtyard turning left up to a road. Turn right on the dual carriageway, we crossed the road near the “Welcome to Horwich” sign, and headed up Dryfield Lane. A little further on than the drive to Rivington Lodge there is an obvious path to the left between fields. Chris was upset at a Magpie picking over a dead sheep, in the field to our left.
Upon reaching the main driveways, we turned left and walked down to Liverpool Castle.