Fairy Glen (Delf House Wood)

Our target not the starting point

Today we were back in Appley Bridge again to start today's 6.9091 mile route. The URL to view the route is available at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5936895.

Hybrid Map of walk

We parked at the railway station and headed away from the road, towards Gathurst, and located the path in the left hand corner of the station grounds.
When we reached Mill Lane, we turned left and walked up past Mill Bank and, just before The Dell, took the footpath,on the right, back towards the railway line.
Turning left,just before the path went under the railway, we walked parallel to the line until we reached an open space.
Here we fallowed the path, off to the left, reaching Broadriding Road. Turning left we walked up to, and crossed Miles Lane (B5375).

Looking towards Hullet Hole Wood & Calico Wood

Having walked about 1 mile, we crossed a stream, crossed the Nook road and headed up the side of Hullet Hole Wood.
It was a tad muddy as we cut through Hullet Hole Wood...

Through the wood to cross the M6

...to reach a daunting climb up the footbridge to cross the M6.

To say Chris didn't like this is an understatement!

Although the footpath to the right was well walked, the one to the left was, to say the least, overgrown. Guess which way we were going!
It was obvious that others had walked along the edge of the field, rather than the fenced path. We followed in their steps.

This was the buttercup overgrown path

Crossing the A5209 (Crow Orchard Road) we walked along South Whiteacre, Whiteacre and turned right into Broadacre. Just after Parkway we took the footpath on the left.

Heading towards Boundary Lane

Turning left on Boundary Lane we recrossed the M6. Turning right we walked along Mossy Lea Road (B5250), taking the second left along Tunley Lane. Here were sheep and their lambs.

How the lambs have grown

Left down Tunley Moss Lane, we were soon back in the meadows passing ponds and Geese.

One of a number of ponds

Canada Geese

Grey Lag Geese

As we approached  the stables, lessons were in full swing - all those little girls on ponies - what are the lads doing? Then back onto the country lanes. First left onto Courage Low Lane. Then right along Moss Lane and then, yes this is true, left along Robin Hood Lane.
The final stretch before Fairy Glen was along a new path off to the right.
As you would expect in May, there were plenty of wild flowers including...

Arum maculatum (Cuckoo Pint)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Caltha palustris (kingcup, marsh marigold)

Fairy Glen in May

We decided to have a sit on one of the benches, the picture above shows our view.

Short rest after five and a half miles

Then it was through Delf House Wood and back to Appley Bridge. I'll be honest, until I wrote this blog, I didn't know Fairy Glen by any other name. 
For family members - no we didn't see the magic cat. Perhaps next time:-)

Avoided the rain. Appley Bridge

Today's walk wasn't expected to take place. Why? Well
the weather forecast last night suggested rain from 9:00am. At that time the sun was shining.
Planning was down to Chris today, it was her turn. Let's just say I ended up looking at the OS map and picking what looked an interesting route.
The URL for today's 4.2334 mile route can be found at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5898448.

Start & End at Appley Bridge

This walk could be started at Appley Bridge Station, for those without a car.
As you would expect in April we saw a wide range of spring flowers including...

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)

Lesser celandine

Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

Garlic (Allium sativum)

We walked through a number of woods and/or along their edges. Most included the sound of running water.

Walking up towards Cassicar Wood

Apart from the usual small song birds we saw a large number of Pheasants, Mallard ducks out on the fields, a Jay, a Buzzard and a Kestrel.
We also herded this goose along the path until there was room for her to "goose-under" a fence. (I was going to say duck-under but it seemed wrong)

Her friend was telling us off, very loudly,the whole time.

These were not the only domesticated animals on the walk. Pooh's friend Eeyore had an itch that he was grateful I was able to scratch.

We crossed the River Douglas, the Leads Liverpool Canal and the Southport-Wigan Rail line twice.

River Douglas

Looking towards Parbold

Very glad that, although we had a number of ups and downs, we didn't have to climb Parbold Hill.

Church on Parbold Hill.

What is the last thing you want at the end of a walk?

Fairy Glen

Yes! Steps up out of Fairy Glen.
All in all a very enjoyable walk and the rain started at noon (3hrs later than predicted)