Our Bank Holiday Weekend Meander...

Today's Meander took us 4.89 miles for lunch at Bar Mio and a couple of beers.

You can view the route we took at http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4392836 

Starting from Freshfield Station car park (yes I drove there) we headed north, parallel to the railway line. 
Chris spotted Harebells next to the path...

The Heather was stunning...

...and the honeysuckle berries...

...very bright.
Crossing the railway line, we headed down Fisherman's Path towards the dunes and Liverpool Bay...

In addition to the plants already spotted we saw Evening Primroses...

Past the Lizard Artwork Bench...

...it was time to go up and over the dunes...

Our walk along the beach, in the sunshine, was as enjoyable as always.
I don't think we have ever seen so many Sea Urchins (sea hedgehogs), on this stretch of beach, before...

...Still complete with their spines.
With the Irish Sea to our left...

...(yes the tide was out) and dunes to the right...

...we headed for Ainsdale.
Two lost children's toys...

...and the usual jellyfish...

...were spotted on the tide line.
At Ainsdale we headed in-land to Bar Mio for Lunch/all-day Breakfast...

...and a couple of beers...

The station is in view...

...so we could plan our return time to the car and home.

We both agree that we are very lucky to live so near to such enjoyable walks!

A slideshow of today's photographs can be seen below...

or at  https://sharalike.com/s/pqMZ

Fisherman's Path

Hardly politically correct and probably a name that wouldn't be allocated to any new paths but, today we walked along this path to the Sefton Coast where we looked over Liverpool Bay and the Irish Sea, with Blackpool on the Northern Horizon.
The slide show, embedded below, is made up of the images that I took with my iPhone.

Our 3.8129 miles (6.1362 km) route has been saved and is available at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6761687

The National Trust Car Park was closed - For Public Safety Reasons - There had been high winds and some trees, observed on our walk, had been up-rooted.
So we went and parked at the railway station.
It was nice to see the Gorse in flower as we made our way to the railway crossing.

 The bright yellow flowers brightening up a fairly overcast day.

 There were some "Fishermen's Jackets" (at term used for small patches of blue sky) as we crossed the Liverpool - Southport Railway line. Next to the path over the Golf Course, we saw lots of fungi...

 ...of different types....

 ...and sizes...

 The bright green of the conifers also brightened the day...

... as most of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves.
The sign post on the other side of the golf course didn't mention the name of the path we were following...

 ...mustn't upset anyone!

 The Sea Buckthorn berries (also referred to as sandthorn, sallowthorn, or seaberry) were observed throughout the walk

 As we neared the dunes, we saw a new bench that had mosaics of sand lizards embedded on three sides... 

 ...a nice addition to the benches and seating within the reserve.

 The Sea Buckthorn's presence increased as we got closer to the dunes.

 When we reached the dunes and the beach, the tide was way out...

 Looking to the north we could see Blackpool Pleasure Beach, on the horizon...

 After a windy walk along the beach, towards Liverpool, we headed back in land via the dunes. then back into the forest...

 I caught some glimpses of Red Squirrels but unable to photograph them...

As we reached almost the end of our walk, just before walking along Victoria Road, we did see four very active Red Squirrels that made our day!

Ainsdale Loop via Fisherman's Path

Our Sunday Meander started, and ended, in the car park off Shore Road, Ainsdale.
The 6.2456 miles (10.0513 km) route has been saved  and is available at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6557186

Another relatively clear path, the first part involving walking a short distance around the lake, taking the first path to the left and then heading for the beach (through the dunes).

We took a slight detour to walk around the scrape where Natterjack toads breed. 

No signs yet; a bit early I feel.

Once on the beach...

...we turned left, towards Formby.

After walking for 2¾ miles there is a clear sign...

...showing the start of the Fisherman's Path. Here we turned left...

View from top of dunes; fisherman's path straight on, heading slightly to the left

At the bottom of the dunes there is a notice board which tends to have some interesting information ...

Note the NatterJack Toad Walks!

...and a bit further on a large map. 

We chose to follow the "Old Fisherman's Path" that's clearly marked...

...and provides a more interesting route.

We rejoined the main route and follow the path until just before it crosses Formby Golf Course.

Turning left, we skirt the Golf Course and eventually end up walking parallel to the Merseyrail line between Liverpool and Southport. 

We were lucky to see...

Gorse in flower

...as well as a range of other plants.

Eventually the Mersey Way comes into view and we head towards the railway line, under the road bridge and take the first path to the left.

This path, like the others is marked with posts, with white tops. It is in fact part of the Sefton Coastal Path.

I think this part of the walk provides a wider range of things to observe; for us, this time, it was violets...

 ...gorse...

...boardwalks over slightly marshy areas...

...flowering currant...

...and Auricularia auricula-judae, known as the Jew's ear, wood ear, jelly ear or by a number of other common names; it's a species of edible Auriculariales fungus. 

"The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration; it grows upon wood, especially elder. Its specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree; the common name "Judas's ear" eventually became "Jew's ear", while today "jelly ear" and other names are sometimes used."

Eventually we reached Shore Road where we turn left and return to the car park.
In spite of the weather forecast, we were lucky; there was a cool breeze but we had sunshine for most of our enjoyable meander.
P.S. Below I've experimented with adding Street View to this blog, just to see if it works...

Views: Formby by Google Maps

It works!