Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston

After many years of preparation Brockholes opened its doors on Easter Sunday 2011; five years earlier,Chris and I had walked through here,on the Lancashire Trail. Take my word for it, it's changed a lot.

Floating Village & Visitor Centre

Our walk can be viewed at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5879254 4.1829 miles
If you have not visited, the Nature Reserve is at Junction 31 on the M6, where it crosses the River Ribble and the A59. You should also be aware that there are car parking charges that vary depending on how long you stay.
Brockholes was a disused sand and gravel quarry. Our circular walk leaves the Reserve and returns, crossing the M6 twice.

Over M6

Under

Woodland flowers brightened our walk including Celandine and Wood Anemones.

Celandine (top) & Wood Anemone (bottom)

The route was, in general easy underfoot, although the climb from the River Ribble, up to the top of the Ridge was quite steep. 

Top of climb from River Ribble

The field at the top had lots of fenced off areas, with access via "kissing gates". A shallow 'scrape' lacked water and signs of frog/toad activity. However there were signs, in the mud, of the presence of deer.

Deer prints in mud

Crossing the M6 we walked around the edge of a housing estate before re-entering woodland. As you would expect on a circular walk, what goes up must come down.

Decent through Brockholes Wood

The decent was aided, in places, by steps and, as woodlands go, provided good views across the Ribble valley including Nature Reserve, working quarry and M6; the woodland itself was showing signs of our late Spring.

Pollen

The only sad site on our walk was, I guess, a casualty from the M6 above us...

Poor Gull (M6 casualty perhaps)

Returning along the River Ribble, we returned to the floating village for a well earned snack.

Samlesbury Church

Billinge - Carr Mill Dam - Billinge

A cold bright sunny morning, ideal for a walk before returning to work after the Easter break.
We've walked around Carr Mill Dam on a number of occasions, the first being at the start of the Lancashire Trail (http://maghullmeanders.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/lancashire-trail.html) way back on the 13th August 2006.
Today I decided we would start in Billinge rather than any of our past starting points of St Helens, Carr Mill Dam, or the Sankey Valley Park at Newton-Le-Willows.
It was hoped that we would see the usual Grebes on Carr Mill Dam.

On the way to the Dam we saw a heron in flight, ready, I'm sure, to feast upon Frogs and Toads as the head to water to mate.
There were lots of ducks, geese, moorhens, coots, and swans

Nesting Swan

at the start of our walk around the Dam. However we didn't see any grebes until we got to the "top end" near the A580.

Grebe & Gull

We also saw Cormorants...

Cormorant

and, on the far bank, another heron.

Heron number 2

Carr Mill Dam has a lot of fish eaters but...

An ex-resident

the number of people fishing, and the image above, suggests there is plenty for all. I hazard a guess it is also re-stocked periodically.
There were a number of signs that Spring has arrived, in spite of the temperature. e.g. 

Coltsfoot

New green leaves

Blossom

Spring flowers, new leaves and blossom.

Robins, chaffinch, long-tailed tits, blue tits, a thrush, blackbirds, sparrows and more flitted around us.

Both Chris and I remembered the weather vane on the round tower, from our Lancashire Trail walk, but couldn't remember what it was until we passed it for a second time in seven years...

Weather Vane

Otter Swift Farm was the clue!

Passing Eric - we returned to the car completing our 4.3293 mile walk.

We even have a whiskey named after you! What Eric!

You can see the walk at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5873858

Walking again soon...

Arrochar Dunbartonshire

Our latest walk was in Scotland 0n 28th March 2013 - A round trip from Forest Holidays, Argyll Cabins.
You can see the walk at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com?r=5867719.

A cold week but sun shining when Chris and I set off on the walk. From the Cabin we made our way past the "Retreat" ...

with its Otter carvings...

through ancient woodland up to the Information Centre. Here we made the decision to walk the "Yellow Route". 

As you can see there were some more wood carvings - Buzzard and Otters.

Apparently there was a gentle climb - Scottish humour me thinks - up into the forest.

It did level out

As you can see, it was cold

The colours and variety of mosses impressive

One of two sad deaths on the footpath

And the shrew the second

The reflections of buildings on the far side of the loch (Loch Long) were impressive.

Reflections in the Loch

As we decended to the "Old Military Road" we saw more carvings on both sides of the road.

Fox

Not sure who this person is/was!

The loop was completed by walking loch side back to the cabins.

Time to put our feet up!

Sunday's short walk

Todays walk,from Aintree to Walton,included the Liverpool Loopline. 

It was only 3.9881 miles, which was shorter than our usual Sunday walk. 
To be fair,the Hare has to go further...

 than the tortoise...

 As you can see, it wasn't very warm...

The ponds,in Walton Hall Park, had a healthy bird population; moorhens, coots, mallards, geese and cormorants, to name just a few...

You can view the walk at...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5862147.

Pex Hill Observatory, Cronton

We started from Cronton today. A former mining village lying between the M62 to the north and Widnes to the south and the walk makes the most of this rural gap. 
Pex Hill is only 67m (220') high but has a most extensive view to the west.
Today our route, the URL for this route is http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5854051, took us 5.7675 miles.

Older maps show a Visitor Centre on Pex Hill, but the building now houses an observatory and a centre for countryside workers.
The start of the walk is up a lane directly opposite Widnes Sixth form College on the A5080. The lane is easily recognized by its green pillars and railings and is on the left if you come from the M62 junction 6.
A metal viewfinder near the start of the walk has the skyline engraved showing Liverpool's two cathedrals, Snowdon, Tryfan and a number of summits in the Carneddau. 
Our first detour was to access the quarry and look at the sheer sandstone walls.

As you can see, the colours and size of the vertical walls were impressive. 
At the road junction, with Holy Family Church ahead, there is an old petrol pump on the immediate right. A museum artifact if ever there was one. We passed the remains of an ancient cross at  just after we passed the 18th century Cronton Hall on our right.
We made another detour to look at a small park; one to take Jack & Emily. Some nice carvings - sadly damaged in somecases. Can you see the mole?

 

In lodge lane we encountered some chickens sheltering under a hedge. Reminded me of Broad Green and the many happy years of my childhood.

Walking down lanes and along footpaths over fields, we observed Magpies ("8 for?" the one Chris couldn't remember), Partridges, 4 Buzzards, Robins, Long-tailed Tits and more. 
Just off Chapel Lane, as we headed for Sandy Lane we passed a barn with sheep ready to lamb. 
The second loop, of the walk, started just before we got back to the car park. It took us to the M62 and past a now unused sewage farm, and up past a reservoir before completing the walk.

If you haven't done this walk, and you are in the area, it's well worth a visit!

I'm back and we're on the Circular trail

Well Chris and I have continued to do our walks but, no excuse, I haven't been writing them up. 

Why have I started again? 

SPAM! That has probably got many of you wondering what on earth I'm on about or, thinking "I don't like" or "I love SPAM" It isn't the 'meat' rather an email. Let me explain I had an email saying this blog, that I've long ignored, was going to be closed down unless I registered it with my Google Account - it was something I was sure I'd done before and "Why were they using my work email when the blog way registered with my personal email?" Checking the short links actual address informed me that the real address (URL) wasn't a site I would chose to visit, lets just say, NSFW (not suitable for work)

I know I still haven't said why I've started again
I was surprised at how many people were still visiting the blog! The new Stats, available since Google took over, encouraged me to "start again" and I hope that you enjoy the walks we share with you.

WIRRAL CIRCULAR TRAIL

We have started the Wirral Circular Trail, taking full advantage of our Senior Rail-Bus-Ferry cards. In the words of the guide we acquired from http://www.visitwirral.com/wirralcirculartrail - "...a voyage of discovery taking in the coastline, the history, the heritage and the rural countryside ..."

35 mile signposted trail

We started at Hoylake Station and walked From King's Gap along the promenade to the new Lifeboat Station on the left. Here the Mersey class lifeboat 'Lady of Hilbre' and crarriage are towed by a caterpillar tracked Talus tractor specifically designed to launch carriage lifeboats.

For bird watchers among you, Meols Promenade is an excellent spot to observe waders at low tide; it was very low when we were walking and the vast beach with wind turbines in Liverpool Bay provided an engaging view. You can see some of our observations at http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/acljohn/posts/347.

Continuing along what becomes Meols Parade we eventually reached Bennet's Lane and Dove Point.

Be Warned!

Although the guide informs you that the current by-law prohibits cycling on part of the path, no body seems to have told the cyclists!

Leasowe Lighthouse - River Birket

Built in 1763  Leasowe Lighthouse is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain. The guide also claims it could possibly be the first building of its kind in the world to use cavity walls for insulation.

Having walked the River Birket in the past, we chose the alternative route along the coast; if you are following the guide, and have not walked the Birket, don't do what we did, follow the walk inland and return to the coast  before Derby Pool car park.

New Brighton Seafront

From the Lifeguard Station, where the coastal path becomes the cycle track, we continued along the seafront promenade keeping King's Parade on our right and the sea on our left all the way to New Brighton.

New Brighton Station Cafe

We almost didn't have a drink or food here as the first impressions were far from good! The Bacon Sandwich I had was excellent! We also found out, from a poster on the shabby walls that New Brighton had a tower; completed in 1900, 10 years after Blackpool Tower and was 49ft taller. Modelled on the Eiffel Tower it attracted over 500,000 visitors a year. War resulted in neglection and it was dismantled in 1921.

Lesson learned - check the wind direction and walk this with the wind on your back; the guide covers directions regardless of the direction you choose to walk.

Watch this space... we hope to continue, weather permitting, tomorrow!