Sunday, August 28, 2016

Our Bank Holiday Weekend Meander...

Today's Meander took us 4.89 miles for lunch at Bar Mio and a couple of beers.



You can view the route we took at http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4392836 
Starting from Freshfield Station car park (yes I drove there) we headed north, parallel to the railway line. 
Chris spotted Harebells next to the path...

The Heather was stunning...



...and the honeysuckle berries...

...very bright.
Crossing the railway line, we headed down Fisherman's Path towards the dunes and Liverpool Bay...

In addition to the plants already spotted we saw Evening Primroses...

Past the Lizard Artwork Bench...

...it was time to go up and over the dunes...

Our walk along the beach, in the sunshine, was as enjoyable as always.
I don't think we have ever seen so many Sea Urchins (sea hedgehogs), on this stretch of beach, before...

...Still complete with their spines.
With the Irish Sea to our left...

...(yes the tide was out) and dunes to the right...

...we headed for Ainsdale.
Two lost children's toys...


...and the usual jellyfish...


...were spotted on the tide line.
At Ainsdale we headed in-land to Bar Mio for Lunch/all-day Breakfast...

...and a couple of beers...

The station is in view...

...so we could plan our return time to the car and home.
We both agree that we are very lucky to live so near to such enjoyable walks!
A slideshow of today's photographs can be seen below...

or at  https://sharalike.com/s/pqMZ

Monday, August 08, 2016

Hill #5 of Liverpool's 7 Hills

On yesterday's Meander (7th August 2016) we completed our seventh "Liverpool Hill"!
The 8.00km / 4.97mile walk can be viewed at http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4377428 

Sunny, but windy, our journey to the start of the walk was, to say the least, eventful...
Train #1 from Maghull was delayed due to some 'idiot' on the line at Old Roan; as a result it terminated at Sandhills.The Southport Train then caused further delays as the driver had been stung in the eye by a wasp and couldn't continue. AND THEN...We couldn't catch the Blackpool Train as, on the 'Blackpool Air Show Day', in Summer, Northern Rail had provided a train with two coaches; YES it was full (we and many others were refused access).We then had to wait a half an hour for the Manchester Airport Train.Good job we didn't take any notice of the station staff who had informed us the next train to Broad Green was an hour later.
The journey to Broad Green was fine and the Costa Coffee while we had to wait was nice.
As with the other 6 hills, you can download the maps and/or the Points of Interest Guide at http://www.bikeright.co.uk/merseyside/7hills/
As you can see from the map, we made our way to Childwall Five Ways where our walk started.
Chris spotted Turkey Oak (quercus cerris) Trees among the trees that were both sides of the roads we walked along...

...and, keeping 'The Childwall Fiveways Hotel (Weatherspoons)' on our right...

...we headed up Priory Road.
At the top of the hill, there were some nice floral displays for "Childwall in Bloom"...


Bearing left, into Childwall Abbey Road, we took a path, on the right, alongside the Lodge House...

...pausing briefly to look at the map at the entrance...

We decided, as it was such a nice day, we would explore Childwall Wood & Fields Nature Reserve...






...before returning to the Lodge House.


I've no doubt that we will be revisiting here with the Grandchildren!
Heading down into Childwall Village...

...we passed a number of entrances into the woods...

...as well as the entrance to Lime pictures...

You can find out more about Childwall Hall (long gone) the woods and Lime Picture Studios (who produced Brookside, Hollyoaks, Grange Hill and more) in the downloadable pdf (link at the top of this post)

It was lunchtime and the next "Point of Interest" was Childwall Abbey Inn...

...where we enjoyed "Boon Doggle" Beer, pulled via an interesting hand pump...

...plus Flatbread "Mushroom and Pedigree Rarebit" and chips (Chris had salad not chips with hers)...


Grilled and finished with rocket.
Back outside the Childwall Abbey Inn...

...we explored All Saints Church...

...which, like so many churches on our meanders, was closed. 

As you will read, in the Point of Interest, this is the oldest church within the boundaries of Liverpool.
We located the Lepers' Squint and admired the animal gargoyles.

I should point out that the Childwall Abbey Inn does provide accommodation and the Village cross, which we visited next...

...is quite a long way along Childwall Lane, hardly near Score Lane as stated in the Points of Interest.
Back up the hill and past the church...

...and Inn...


...we visited, and walked through, the "Bloody Acre Field"...


That brought us to the end of Hill Five and, for us, all 7 Liverpool Hills completed.
We made our way back to Broad Green Station and then back home.
Another enjoyable walk which, if you get the chance, is well worth doing; especially Childwall Woods & Fields Local Nature Reserve.
Below is a slideshow of our walk 
or it can be viewed at  https://sharalike.com/s/pd4J