The Cricketers Ormskirk - our 41st walk for a Wednesday Pub Lunch

It was nice to get out and about today for our 41st Walk and Wednesday Pub Lunch.
The 3.6706 miles (5.9072 km) route has been saved and can be seen at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6766081

Today we...

• caught the bus to Maghull Railway Station, 
• caught the train to Aughton Park then we 
• completed the walk for our pub lunch...

To return home we caught a bus back to Maghull.
There were quite a lot heading into Liverpool...

 ... but very few going to Ormskirk...

 From Aughton Park Station we turned right and headed along Long Lane, crossing the A59 at the end and then across the field towards the reservoir...

 There were patches of blue sky...

 ...albeit small (Fisherman's Jackets).
Gorse was in flower and looking back at the bright yellow flowers, we could see Christ Church, Aughton, that we had passed earlier...

 Looking back in the direction we were heading, we could see more flowers and, in the distance Ormskirk Parish Church...

 As we would expect at this time of year, here in the North West of England, a smallish flock of geese flew over...

 The only other plants of interest were teasels...

 ...and, after we had passed under the railway line...

 ...past the trees, whose trunks were covered in moss...

 ...we saw 'catkins'...

 ...for the second time this week.
We made our way through the Bus Station, to check times for our bus home, and, as always, took a look at the Wall painting at the end of a row of terrace houses facing Moor Street in Ormskirk....

 ...not one of Banksy's although probably inspired by him!
Time for lunch! Find out more about our experience at...
http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-cricketers-ormskirk-our-41st-wandwpl.html

After our lunch, we headed a short distance down the road to catch our bus.

Another enjoyable walk in West Lancashire.

Easter Sunday's Meander: Aughton Park to Maghull

Our 7.6768 miles (12.3547 km) Easter Sunday Meander has been saved at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6573611

We started our walk by catching a train from Maghull to Aughton Park, the idea was to walk back.

The station was quiet on the Ormskirk platform, no so on the Liverpool side. The well kept station gardens always a pleasure to see.

 Once at Aughton Park Station...

 we assended the ramp up on to Long Lane where we turned right. Over the road a Golden Labrador seemed as if (s)he wanted a chat...

 ...or was expecting someone to arrive for Easter Lunch!
At the traffic lights we turned left along Prescott Road (B5197) and then first right along Rosehill Drive.
At the T-Junction at the end we turned right (Swanpool Lane) and, at the next junction, left along Victoria Road.
The footpath at the end of the road took us through to the A59 Liverpool Road. Here we turned right then second left along a track, across fields towards the reservior. The gate into the fenced area was "secure"...

 ...with 10 padlocks!

Looking back towards the A59

 We turned right at the gates and first left along a footpath that followed the security fencing...

 The gorse plants...

 emphasising why this is called Gorse Hill Reservior.
We were lucky to see, among the many birds on our meander, Yellow Hammers...

 Sadly the photograph doesn't do it justice. At the end of the enclosed path we turned right and the slightly left towards a clear path across the field to the corner of a wooded area.
Fields in this area full of a wide range of "Cabbage" family plants...

 At the corner of the wood we turned right and followed the clear path round to Booths Lane. here we turned left and then, opposite the first building on our left, turned right across the field to Fir Tree Lane.
Here we turned left and, opposite Small Lane, turned right, following the track to Clieves Hills Lane.
Turning left here we descended the hill to Formby Lane where we turned left and first right along Birches Brow.
Here we saw our first lambs...

 ...and the pools of water left by the recent rains...

 As we made our way along a clear path (bearing left at the farm) we saw many different plants including dandelions...

 ...and lots more sheep with their lambs...

 We eventually reached Back Lane with its spring flowers in the hedgerow...

...which led to a footpath, straight ahead, across a field to the A59 Northway where we turned right past the flower beds and signs welcoming people to Lancashire...

...and crossed the dual carriage way.

At the roundabout we turned left at the first road towards Hartley's Nursery, where we had lunch.

After lunch, well worth a visit, we followed the footpath across the fields to Millbank Lane  where we turned left. We continued straight across Park Lane and along Dodd's Lane. 

At the Junction with Moss Lane, we went straight across and along the footpath between the Post Office and a private house to Ennerdale Avenue. At the end of the road we turned left along Eskdale Drive then right along Langdale Drive and left along Kendal Drive.

We then took the second right, still  Kendal Drive, then right and cross Deyes Lane at the pedestrian lights.

We the turned right and immediately left along Eastway.

At the crossroads with Foxhouse Lane we turned right keeping left, after passing Daisy Mount, along Tailor's Lane.

At the T-Junction with Station Road we turned left and returned to Maghull Station...

Another enjoyable walk with three highlights...

1. Yellow hammers
2. lambs
3. lunch at Hartley's Nursery

If you get the chance, it's a nice walk.

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