Walk & Wednesday Pub Lunch #16 - Hare & Hounds, Maghull

We ended up at the Hare and Hounds...

...but the original plan was to give the Weld Blundell...

...a second chance especially as, on the internet it stated...

...what could be wrong in doing that?

So the planned 6.3601 miles (10.2356 km) route was saved and can be seen at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6595902

We set off from the Car Park behind Costa in Maghull and took our usual route onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal turning right towards Leeds.

At Green Lane Swing-bridge we turned left and continued down the lane, past the wood on our left with bluebells in flower...

Pity about the rubbish left by inconsiderate members of the public.

 Alliaria petiolata in flower (Garlic Mustard) in the hedgerows....

 and eventually turning right, when Green Lane takes a sharp left, towards Maghull Brook and the Cheshire Lines.

 Just before reaching the Cheshire Lines we turned right, across Maghull Brook...

  and keeping the brook on our right...

 ... continued until we reached a stile in the hedge...

Spot the damp footprints

Following the clear path we turned left, in front of some houses and headed across a bridge, over a field... 

 ...that took us to another style and up onto the Cheshire lines path...

 A very quiet stroll along the path with lots of blossom, bluebells, birds and more...

 At Carr Lane, where there's a information board about the Trans Pennine Tail and the Cheshire lines

 ...we continued on towards the next X-roads...

 where we turned right and down onto Acres Lane.
Here we turned left and almost immediately right, along the Lydiate Link path.
The map shows the route to Southport Road where you turn left and then right down Hall Lane.
We changed what I'd planned and entered Lydiate Hall grounds where we saw the remains of the hall...

 ...lots of peacocks...

 Continuing along the drive from the hall, we rejoined our planned route.
On our right, along Hall Lane, were lots of sheep and lambs...

Just before the first houses on our right, we turned right and followed the path towards the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Passing, at the top, a warren...

 ...before skirting fenced "gallop tracks"...

 Two parts had to be crossed but they were clearly signposted...

 Eventually we reached the bridge over the canal where we crossed and turned right.

 One narrow boat passed us, heading away from Liverpool...

 We emerged onto Southport Road again and turned left to the Weld Blundell where we planned to have lunch...

They were closed!
We continued along Southport Road to the Coach & Horses...

They didn't do food!

We continued along Southport Road to the Hare & Hounds...

They were open and did food!

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/an-even-worse-start-but-end-is-ok-w-16.html 

After our Pub Lunch (and 3 different beers) we headed back to the start of our walk.

Return to Hale with some slight changes...

The last time we visited Hale, we both think it was with Jan and Dave, Chris' Sister and her other half.
We also talked about the time we visited with Lynn (my little Sister) her better half Pete and my Dad.
Today's 5.975 miles (9.6159 km) Meander, just Chris and me, has been saved and can be seen at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6593415

We parked, just past the church, in Church Road and headed back the way we had come, past the statue of the Childe of Hale...

...and the "Straw horse"...

Straight on, along High Street, turning right along Ramsbrook Lane, at the junction where the main road takes quite a sharp left.

Just past the last house on the left, and before the glass-houses, we took the footpath to our left.

We followed this initially arch covered path, across fields, with horses on our right...

...and through a small wood to the left of a school.

This emerged onto Alderfield Drive where we turned left.

We followed the road round to the right by which time it was running parallel to Hale Road. 

We crossed the grassy patch between the two roads and headed down Dungeon Lane, keeping the Barrier Fence, of Liverpool John Lennon Airport on our right.

There were not many flights today but we did see an EasyJet depart from Sunny Liverpool...

 ...and three others return.

At the end of Dungeon Lane, the road becomes Oglet Lane, veering right. We continued straight on, down towards the River Mersey...

...looking out for the Mersey Way path to our left.

We turned left along the Mersey Way...

...and kept on this shore-line path, past Hale Lighthouse...

...and on to Withen Way with the Runcorn Bridge ahead on the skyline...

Here we walked away from the Mersey...

...back to Church Road and our transport.

A thoroughly enjoyable walk that included...

• Butterflies: - Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Cabbage Whites, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip;
• Three Buzzards;
• Lots of Oyster Catchers;
• One Heron;
• Curlews;
• Shell Ducks;
• Cormorants;
• Canada Geese;

...just to mention a few.

As you can see from the photographs, the Oilseed Rape was also stunning!