Enjoyable but, a tad too far...

Today's 10.4036 mile (16.743 km) Meander has been saved, as a map, at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6531329

Yes you did read it correctly, 10.4036 miles.
Why? In part, because Chris wanted to walk through the woodland that runs parallel to the M58 with Bickerstaffe Brook running through it as well.
We set off from home on a foggy morning turning left onto Dodds Lane, and first right down Brock Anenue. 
Cutting diagonally right, across the grassy area onto Ribble Avenue, we continued down to the slip road that runs parallel to Moss Lane.
Turning left we walked along that slip road, until it came to a T-junction, where we dropped down onto Moss Lane, then left onto Deyes Lane.
We crossed Deyes Lane and followed the original route of the Lane, over the railway, turning right through the farmyard, just before rejoining what would be School Lane.
We followed the clear path, towards the M58...

...where, once we had crossed it, we turned left, again following a clear path, running parallel to the M58. Gorse in bloom...

The path carries straight on, and is clearly signposted...

We emerged onto Giddygate Lane, where we turned left and continued up to Maghull Lane and the round-about over the M58.
Crossing Maghull Lane we headed back towards the slip-road up from the Motorway. Taking care, we descended down onto what was a road before the M58 was built.

NOTE: from our experience  this isn't a great way to go I'd advise anyone, following our footsteps, to go along Maghull Lane, away from the Motorway then left along the A506 - Prescot Road.

We carried on until we reach the A506 - Prescot Road where we turned left, then right through the car-park of a now closed pub (Hen & Chickens) / now closed Indian Restaurant.
On the far side of the car-park pass we went through the gap into a field keeping the hedge on our right.
We continued along this path, ignoring the turn to the right, past a field of heavily pregnant sheep...

...and through Cunscough Hall's yard. 
Just after the the Hall,  we took a right turn continuing along the clear path until we reached a "cross-path".
Turning left, and keeping the hedge/ditch on our left, we skirted a coppice and crossed a foot-bridge.

Once we'd crossed the bridge we went slightly to the right and continued with the hedge on our left.
The took us to steps up onto Simonswood Lane.
Here we turned right then left along Back Lane. 
Again we were so lucky today. Here we stood and watched a busy Great Spotted Woodpecker moving from tree to tree and up and down the trunks of the trees.
Just around the first bend we took the path to the left, picking our way through old, engines, vehicles, wood and more.
We walked along the edge of the field, with Bickerstaffe Brook on our left, until we reached Mercer's Lane, where we turned right.
Look out for the Footpath sigh before you reach the farm.
Turn left and with the ditch on our right we went around the farm and then continued along a clear track/path.
Ignoring the track to the right, leading to another farm, with lots of horses...

...we continued until the track takes quite a sharp right.
Here we turn left and keep to the edge of the field with the hedge on our right.
Up and over the M58 we turn left, and walk parallel to the M58 through the wood.

No one had cleared the footpath!

The photograph above shows how vulnerable this could be, so close to the Motorway. At least two vehicles had left the Motorway.

Note: Barriers are now being put along the M58 in places where none currently exist.

High winds had also made some of the trees a tad dangerous, as well.

Turning right when we emerged from the wood, we headed up to Liverpool Road - A506, and turned left. Then right, hedge on our left, a short distance along Liverpool Road.
We did a dog-leg before the woodland and continued along the path with the wood on our right.
Reaching Grave-yard Lane we turned left then right, just past the Grave-yard.
A short distance along this land you will see a style.
Cross and turn left to another style which, once crossed continue straight ahead, then left towards the farm.
It was on that stretch that we saw the albino pheasant...

Difficult to hide when you're white.

Follow the track to the right, Billenge Lane along to the junction. here there is a Foot-path sign that directs you across a field to Bowker's Green Lane where we turned right then left, signposted, across another field and through a gap onto a clear path along the edge of Mossack Hall Golf Club.
When we reached the road we turned left and continued through the car- parks where, crossing part of the Golf-course, we reached a path to the left.
Following the path, keeping the hedge on our right we eventually reach a style...

...that takes us onto Prescott Road.
We turned right, having crossed the road onto the footpath, and continued to the second footpath sign where we turned left; keeping the hedge on our right and following the edge of the field round to left we then turned right towards the railway line at the end of the field.
A bit early but we saw our first Hare of 2015.
Again keeping the ditch on our left we kept to the edge of the field until we reached the tunnel under the railway.

Railway on our left - tunnel ahead on left

Through the tunnel we continued straight ahead reaching Brookfield Lane where we turn left and then back home along along Millbank Lane.

"As the heading suggests, it was probably a bit long but, none the less, an enjoyable walk!"