Wednesday, April 01, 2015

W&WPL #13 - Running Horses, Lydiate

Our 13th W&WPL (Walk 5.4494 miles (8.7699 km) & Wednesday Pub Lunch) route to the Running Horses, Lydiate...

...has been saved and can be viewed at... 
Starting in the car park behind Costa in Maghull, we headed towards the A59, turned left, towards Ormskirk and then right along Dodds Lane.
We stayed on Dodds Lane as it bears to the left at Northway School
Crossing Park Lane we walked along Milbank Lane until we reached a signposted path where we turned left, keeping the hedge on our right.
At the corner of the field we passed through the hedge, turned left and, after a short distance turned right along a clear path to Hartley's Nursery...

Continuing along Old Lane we emerged at the roundabout (Robin's Island); here we turned right, then right at the first junction. At the clear gap across the dual-carriage way...

...we crossed the A59 and continued towards Ormskirk.
Just past the signs welcoming us to Lancashire...

...we took the clearly signposted footpath...

...through the hedge and across the field on our left.
We arrived on Back Lane which we followed, even when the road signs indicated a no through road.
We past the horses and donkeys...


...that we expect, and look forward to seeing, when we walk this way.
The next footpath sign appears to have been snapped off but the post and a bit of the sign is still there. It's just before a group of houses, on the left, and takes you through the first house's drive. There are arrows indicating the route.
At the end of the first field, the gate is in need of repair, we past through the gate and turned left. The path is clear and brings you out onto Pygon's Lane.

Here we turned left.
Between the next two houses, on the right, is a signposted path which we took...
...and near the very highest point reached you should, if you look carefully, see this sign on the ground...

We have never been able to see all 6 churches but we feel this was placed before hedges and trees were planted or got so large.
We eventually reached, and crossed, Sandy Lane, heading down Silver Birch Way to the A5147 Southport Road.
Turning left, we could see our planned destination The Weld Blundell ahead...

When we arrived (12:10) it was closed. we walked around the pub, then along Pilling Lane to the canal, and back but it was still closed.
So it was time for Plan B.
Back to the bridge over the Leeds Liverpool Canal, we desended onto the tow-path and turned right.
 It was nice to see blossom on the hedgerow to our right...

 and we continued to the Swing Bridge...

Here was our Plan B Pub the Running Horses

It was open and you can see what we thought and how we rated the pub meal at...

After our Wednesday Pub Lunch we returned to the tow-path, turning right, and continued to Shop Lane Swing-bridge where we crossed and returned to the car park.
Apart from the cold, very strong wind, it was a very enjoyable walk which we hope you will also enjoy if you follow our footsteps!

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