W&WPL #7 - The Ship Inn Haskayne

The 5.364 miles (8.6325 km) Walk part of W&WPL...

...has been saved and the URL for the route is at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6538316

NOTE: We caught the 300 bus back to Maghull.
The Ship Inn at Haskayne...

...was the target for the Wednesday Pub Lunch (WPL) part of W&WPL; you can see our evaluation of The Ship via our Maghull Foodie Blog at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-ship-inn-haskayne.html 

As usual the Walk starts and ends in the car park behind Costa in Maghull.

Starting from the car park, we headed round the front of the shops, turning left and walking parallel to the A59 towards Ormskirk.
We crossed the A59 and along Dodd's Lane, bearing left when we reached Northway School.
Straight across Kenyons Lane and along Millbank Lane.
Turn left through a signposted gap in the hedge (if you reach a junction with a road coming in from the right, you've gone too far).
Keep the hedge on your right and, when you get to the end of the field, pass through the hedge and turn left.
After a short distance, follow the path round to the right and head up to and through Hartley's Nursery and down to Robin's Island.
Bearing left we then crossed the A59, turning right and following the footpath round to the left into Liverpool Road.
Crossing over Liverpool Road, we took the first right into Moss Lane then, a bit further along, right into Pygon's Hill Lane.
Along here we saw our first Dandelions of 2015...

...and some crocus...

Continuing along Pygon's Hill Lane, ignoring Sudell Lane on the right, until we reached the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
The steps down onto the footpath are on the left-hand side of the road.
We descended the steps onto the Tow-path and turned left under Bridge 19...

Bridge 19

We stayed on the Tow-path until we reached The Ship Inn passing a Swing Bridge...

...a family group heading for the winding-hole; they passed the pub, on their return journey, while we were eating...

... another Swing Bridge, which in its current state I doubt would work...

...and The Pride of Sefton 2, a short-boat...

When we reached The Ship Inn, we left the Tow-path, crossing the grassy area with picnic-benches into the car-park. 
From here we went into The Ship Inn for lunch and a pint or two.

After our Wednesday Pub Lunch we went back out through the car-park onto Rosemary Lane. 
We continued until we reached the A5147, Wanishar Lane, where we turned left continuing to the Bus Stop.

At the time of writing this, the 300 Bus leaves this bus stop at...

• 20min or 
• 50min 

...past each hour.
Another enjoyable walk which, as it follows the canal, is fairly level.

W&WPL #6 The Royal Oak Aughton Park

Our 6th W&WPL 5.9597 miles (9.5912 km) route...

...has been saved at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6533487

The return journey is by the 310 Bus back to Maghull 

As usual the Walk starts and ends in the car park behind Costa in Maghull.

You can keep up with the Pub Lunch side of things at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-royal-oak-at-aughton-park.html

Starting from the car park, we headed round the front of the shops, turning left and walking parallel to the A59 towards Ormskirk.
We crossed the A59 and along Dodd's Lane, bearing left when we reached Northway School.
Straight across Kenyons Lane and along Millbank Lane.
Turn left through a signposted gap in the hedge (if you reach a junction with a road coming in from the right, you've gone too far).
Keep the hedge on your right and, when you get to the end of the field, pass through the hedge and turn left.
After a short distance, follow the path round to the right and head up to and through Hartley's Nursery and down to Robin's Island.
Turn right  and head towards Ormskirk. Cross over the A59 (Northway) and look for another signposted path on your left. 
Again pass through the hedge...

...and head straight across the field aiming for the right of a white house.

Here you join Back Lane...

Donkeys and horses will be seen on your left.

We were lucky to see signs of Spring as well...

...and continue straight ahead. Ignore Swan Lane coming in from your right and Sudell Lane going off to the left and you will come to an entrance to a farm.

Turn left along the signposted footpath.
Again we were lucky, seeing our second Hare of 2015.
Follow this clear path through another farm, keeping on the track (Birch's Brow) up to the B5195.
Here turn left and first right up Clieves Hill Brow.
Another 2015 landmark for us, across the fields to our left we saw the first lambs of Spring.

Further up the hill we also saw the first Butterbur coming into flower.

At the junction with Fir Tree Lane...

...turn right and, a short distance along the road left along a path, just before a house/farm, across the fields. The initial part of the path is fenced both sides.
When you reach it, keep to the left of the pond and emerge onto Booth's Lane...

...turn right.
Along here we spotted a dead rook...

...in the hedgerow.
Again, not far along Booth's Lane, turn left across the field and down hill to a footbridge...

...that takes you through part of the Gorse Hill Nature Reserve.
Follow the path up hill and round to the right where, part way along the next stretch, you take a left along another footpath.
Beware of the dinosaur...

You will come out onto Holly Lane where, as the road bends to the right, there are steps up to the left.

Take the steps up to the left and follow the footpath past Gorse Hill Reservoir.
Appropriate plants seen all around...

Ignore the service road to the reservoir but, soon after the road, turn right keeping the hedge on your left. Take a slight dogleg at the end of the field, the hedge now on your right and continue up the hill, through the housing estate and out onto Holborn Hill. 
Turn right and pass Christ Church...

...continuing to the Royal Oak, Aughton Park, our planned destination for our Wednesday Pub Lunch.

Opposite the Royal Oak is the Bus Stop, where we caught the bus back to Maghull. At the time of writing this, they left at 29 Min past the hour.

Another very enjoyable Meander

Enjoyable but, a tad too far...

Today's 10.4036 mile (16.743 km) Meander has been saved, as a map, at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6531329

Yes you did read it correctly, 10.4036 miles.
Why? In part, because Chris wanted to walk through the woodland that runs parallel to the M58 with Bickerstaffe Brook running through it as well.
We set off from home on a foggy morning turning left onto Dodds Lane, and first right down Brock Anenue. 
Cutting diagonally right, across the grassy area onto Ribble Avenue, we continued down to the slip road that runs parallel to Moss Lane.
Turning left we walked along that slip road, until it came to a T-junction, where we dropped down onto Moss Lane, then left onto Deyes Lane.
We crossed Deyes Lane and followed the original route of the Lane, over the railway, turning right through the farmyard, just before rejoining what would be School Lane.
We followed the clear path, towards the M58...

...where, once we had crossed it, we turned left, again following a clear path, running parallel to the M58. Gorse in bloom...

The path carries straight on, and is clearly signposted...

We emerged onto Giddygate Lane, where we turned left and continued up to Maghull Lane and the round-about over the M58.
Crossing Maghull Lane we headed back towards the slip-road up from the Motorway. Taking care, we descended down onto what was a road before the M58 was built.

NOTE: from our experience  this isn't a great way to go I'd advise anyone, following our footsteps, to go along Maghull Lane, away from the Motorway then left along the A506 - Prescot Road.

We carried on until we reach the A506 - Prescot Road where we turned left, then right through the car-park of a now closed pub (Hen & Chickens) / now closed Indian Restaurant.
On the far side of the car-park pass we went through the gap into a field keeping the hedge on our right.
We continued along this path, ignoring the turn to the right, past a field of heavily pregnant sheep...

...and through Cunscough Hall's yard. 
Just after the the Hall,  we took a right turn continuing along the clear path until we reached a "cross-path".
Turning left, and keeping the hedge/ditch on our left, we skirted a coppice and crossed a foot-bridge.

Once we'd crossed the bridge we went slightly to the right and continued with the hedge on our left.
The took us to steps up onto Simonswood Lane.
Here we turned right then left along Back Lane. 
Again we were so lucky today. Here we stood and watched a busy Great Spotted Woodpecker moving from tree to tree and up and down the trunks of the trees.
Just around the first bend we took the path to the left, picking our way through old, engines, vehicles, wood and more.
We walked along the edge of the field, with Bickerstaffe Brook on our left, until we reached Mercer's Lane, where we turned right.
Look out for the Footpath sigh before you reach the farm.
Turn left and with the ditch on our right we went around the farm and then continued along a clear track/path.
Ignoring the track to the right, leading to another farm, with lots of horses...

...we continued until the track takes quite a sharp right.
Here we turn left and keep to the edge of the field with the hedge on our right.
Up and over the M58 we turn left, and walk parallel to the M58 through the wood.

No one had cleared the footpath!

The photograph above shows how vulnerable this could be, so close to the Motorway. At least two vehicles had left the Motorway.

Note: Barriers are now being put along the M58 in places where none currently exist.

High winds had also made some of the trees a tad dangerous, as well.

Turning right when we emerged from the wood, we headed up to Liverpool Road - A506, and turned left. Then right, hedge on our left, a short distance along Liverpool Road.
We did a dog-leg before the woodland and continued along the path with the wood on our right.
Reaching Grave-yard Lane we turned left then right, just past the Grave-yard.
A short distance along this land you will see a style.
Cross and turn left to another style which, once crossed continue straight ahead, then left towards the farm.
It was on that stretch that we saw the albino pheasant...

Difficult to hide when you're white.

Follow the track to the right, Billenge Lane along to the junction. here there is a Foot-path sign that directs you across a field to Bowker's Green Lane where we turned right then left, signposted, across another field and through a gap onto a clear path along the edge of Mossack Hall Golf Club.
When we reached the road we turned left and continued through the car- parks where, crossing part of the Golf-course, we reached a path to the left.
Following the path, keeping the hedge on our right we eventually reach a style...

...that takes us onto Prescott Road.
We turned right, having crossed the road onto the footpath, and continued to the second footpath sign where we turned left; keeping the hedge on our right and following the edge of the field round to left we then turned right towards the railway line at the end of the field.
A bit early but we saw our first Hare of 2015.
Again keeping the ditch on our left we kept to the edge of the field until we reached the tunnel under the railway.

Railway on our left - tunnel ahead on left

Through the tunnel we continued straight ahead reaching Brookfield Lane where we turn left and then back home along along Millbank Lane.

"As the heading suggests, it was probably a bit long but, none the less, an enjoyable walk!"

W&WPL #5 The Derby Arms, Bowkers Green

Our 5.8213 miles (9.3684 km) W&WPL route has been saved and is available at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6527868

As usual the Walk starts and ends in the car park behind Costa in Maghull.

You can keep up with the Pub Lunch side of things at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-derby-arms-bowkers-green.html

This walk starts of following the same route as the #W&WPL on...

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 

Starting from the car park, we headed round the front of the shops, turning left and walking parallel to the A59 towards Ormskirk.
We crossed the A59 and along Dodd's Lane, bearing left when we reached Northway School.
Straight across Kenyons Lane and along Millbank Lane passing through a 'gate'...

...before turning left onto Butchers Lane.
Almost immediately bear right, into Brookfield Lane.
There we some nice holly berries on the corner...

At the second Footpath sign, we turned right, passing the fishing pond and horses, just before crossing the railway line...

Looking back at the railway line

Keeping to the left edge of the field, the footpath does a left, through a gate, and...

View across field as you go through gate

...immediately right, following the right edge of the next field.
The leads you to Mikering Lane where we turned right.
Not far along Mickering Lane, you reach a cross-roads with the B5197 (Prescot Road) and the The Derby Arms, Bowkers Green is visible across the road on the left...

After the Pub Lunch part of our Walk & Wednesday Pub Lunch... 

...we retraced our steps along Mikering Lane where we turned left onto a path that runs parallel to power lines.
Passing through a narrow wooded area, we turned immediately right and followed the edge of the field round to left...

Nice to see so much gorse in flower

...and turning right towards the railway line at the end of the field.
Again keeping the ditch on our left we kept to the edge of the field until we reached the tunnel under the railway.
Continuing straight ahead we reach Brookfield Lane where we turn left and  retrace our steps back along along Millbank Lane.

A friendly Millbank Lane resident (we often see)

Where the road comes into Millbank Lane, from the right, look out for a footpath sign...

...and follow the path to emerge onto Park Lane...

Then it's along Douglas Drive (opposite), second right along Calder Drive, across the small park and along Brock Avenue to Dodds Lane.
Turn left and at the junction with Moss Lane, take the path to the right of the Post Office/shop between the shop and a house.
This takes you to Eskdale Drive where you turn right and walk through Dodds Park back onto Dodds Lane.
It's then a case of retracing your steps back to the car park.
For use an enjoyable Walk and Wednesday Pub Lunch in the sunshine.