W&WPL #11 The Red Squirrel, Ince Blundell

Our 6.3018 miles (10.1418 km) (5.9161 miles to The Red Squirrel, the rest back to the Bus Stop) route has been saved and is available at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6559133

The Wednesday Pub Lunch element can be viewed at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-red-squirrel-ince-blundell-11.html

Our starting point today was back to the car park behind Costa in Maghull.

From here we walked through to Westway, turned left towards the A59 (Northway), where we turned left again and continued towards Ormskirk until we reached the Traffic Lights.

Here we turned left onto Kenyons Lane and continued, straight across the next junction onto Lambshear Lane.

Just before reaching the houses on the right-hand side of Lambshear Lane we turned right and followed a well walked path.

This took us through to Sandy Lane which we followed, ignoring 2 roads off to the left to reach the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Nice to see spring flowers in the hedgerow...

Turning left along the edge of the canal, we eventually emerged onto Southport Road...

Turning right, this time we headed along Southport Road, past hedges with blossom starting to bloom...

...past the Scotch Piper and St Catherine's Chapel <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydiate>...

...taking the next sign-posted footpath to the left.

Skirting the wood...

Nice Snowdrops and daffodils

...following a clear path, we eventually reach Acres Lane where we turned left and, almost immediately right (over a low stile if the gate is closed).

We followed this track, crossing the Cheshire Lines Footpath, until we reach the River Alt.

First 2015 sightings of... 

• Celandines <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_celandine> and 
• Coltsfoot <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tussilago>...

We crossed the bridge...

...and followed the clear footpath along field edges and over small bridges.

At the T-Junction...

...we continued straight ahead (not left towards Carrside Lane) towards the woodland.

This brought us out onto Carr House Lane which we followed to the Junction with Lady Green Lane.

Option time!

• If, like us, you plan to visit The Red Squirrel you turn right and follow Lady Green Lane to the A565 (Scaffold Lane). Here turn right and the pub is on the opposite side of the road at the traffic lights.
• If you are planning to catch the bus back to Maghull the bus stop is to the left...

Note: at the time of writing this, we...

• caught the Number 47 bus to the Bus stop opposite Aldi at Thornton then, 
• crossed the road to catch the Number 133, back to Maghull.

Bus Timetables are available at... 

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travelling-around/timetables/Pages/Bus-Timetables.aspx

An enjoyable Meander...

Will it stay dry long enough?

The URL for today's 6.2609 miles route is 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6129814

Yet another Sunday where it is cloudy, and a high chance of rain. We had already had some heavy showers and a hail storm.
We decided to combine a number of sections from other walks and set off towards the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
A cold wind but again, with some thought, I decided on what I hoped would be the route with the wind behind us most of the time.
Ducks became very excited, when we reached the canal, but sadly we didn't have anything for them. Thinking about it, we never have anything for them.

A couple of Moorhens were the only other birds we saw until we branched off the canal tow-path across the Cricket/football ground. Here gulls were "treading" the pitches for worms. A bit like river dance.

A light shower fell as we crossed the A59 for the third time (once under it on the towpath).
Then past the shops and then down beside the playing fields of Maghull High.

It's a long time since Chris and I worked there!
Crossing the metal bridge we turned left along the lower level of the Cheshire Lines footpath. If you decide to follow our footsteps, I suggest you take the higher path as the gate at the end may not be open,as it was, thank goodness, for us. A heron flew up and settled ahead of us,a number of times before heading off towards Switch Island.
Yes it was then across the A59 again, under the M58, twice...

...and then the Merseyrail line before heading across farmland and through the yard at Wood Hall Farm.

Along the drive to Brewery Lane. 

The hedges along this section were well maintained.
Having crossed the Leeds Liverpool Canal again...

...it was under the M58 and turning right into and along the edge of Balls Wood.

By now the sky had cleared and the sun was out. With the M58 to our right we crossed Leatherbarrows Lane and heads towards the Mobile Phone Mast off Moss Nook Lane.
The berries on the redwood bushes,looking like glass beads...

...were attention grabbing as were the long-tailed tits and the wren.
Crossing farm land and through another farm we emerged onto School Lane. Here we followed the original route over the Merseyrail line and turned right onto Moss Lane.
Taking a short cut across the park/playground between Ribble Avenue and Gilpin Avenue we completed the 6.2609 mile loop.

An enjoyable local walk that ended in Sunshine and a trip to try out the new Costa Coffee near Maghull Square. 

If you haven't tried it you should!