W&WPL #11 The Red Squirrel, Ince Blundell

Our 6.3018 miles (10.1418 km) (5.9161 miles to The Red Squirrel, the rest back to the Bus Stop) route has been saved and is available at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6559133

The Wednesday Pub Lunch element can be viewed at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-red-squirrel-ince-blundell-11.html

Our starting point today was back to the car park behind Costa in Maghull.

From here we walked through to Westway, turned left towards the A59 (Northway), where we turned left again and continued towards Ormskirk until we reached the Traffic Lights.

Here we turned left onto Kenyons Lane and continued, straight across the next junction onto Lambshear Lane.

Just before reaching the houses on the right-hand side of Lambshear Lane we turned right and followed a well walked path.

This took us through to Sandy Lane which we followed, ignoring 2 roads off to the left to reach the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Nice to see spring flowers in the hedgerow...

Turning left along the edge of the canal, we eventually emerged onto Southport Road...

Turning right, this time we headed along Southport Road, past hedges with blossom starting to bloom...

...past the Scotch Piper and St Catherine's Chapel <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydiate>...

...taking the next sign-posted footpath to the left.

Skirting the wood...

Nice Snowdrops and daffodils

...following a clear path, we eventually reach Acres Lane where we turned left and, almost immediately right (over a low stile if the gate is closed).

We followed this track, crossing the Cheshire Lines Footpath, until we reach the River Alt.

First 2015 sightings of... 

• Celandines <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_celandine> and 
• Coltsfoot <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tussilago>...

We crossed the bridge...

...and followed the clear footpath along field edges and over small bridges.

At the T-Junction...

...we continued straight ahead (not left towards Carrside Lane) towards the woodland.

This brought us out onto Carr House Lane which we followed to the Junction with Lady Green Lane.

Option time!

• If, like us, you plan to visit The Red Squirrel you turn right and follow Lady Green Lane to the A565 (Scaffold Lane). Here turn right and the pub is on the opposite side of the road at the traffic lights.
• If you are planning to catch the bus back to Maghull the bus stop is to the left...

Note: at the time of writing this, we...

• caught the Number 47 bus to the Bus stop opposite Aldi at Thornton then, 
• crossed the road to catch the Number 133, back to Maghull.

Bus Timetables are available at... 

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travelling-around/timetables/Pages/Bus-Timetables.aspx

An enjoyable Meander...