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 #13 - Running Horses, Lydiate

Our 13th W&WPL (Walk 5.4494 miles (8.7699 km) & Wednesday Pub Lunch) route to the Running Horses, Lydiate...

...has been saved and can be viewed at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6570034

Starting in the car park behind Costa in Maghull, we headed towards the A59, turned left, towards Ormskirk and then right along Dodds Lane.

We stayed on Dodds Lane as it bears to the left at Northway School. 

Crossing Park Lane we walked along Milbank Lane until we reached a signposted path where we turned left, keeping the hedge on our right.

At the corner of the field we passed through the hedge, turned left and, after a short distance turned right along a clear path to Hartley's Nursery...

Continuing along Old Lane we emerged at the roundabout (Robin's Island); here we turned right, then right at the first junction. At the clear gap across the dual-carriage way...

...we crossed the A59 and continued towards Ormskirk.

Just past the signs welcoming us to Lancashire...

...we took the clearly signposted footpath...

...through the hedge and across the field on our left.

We arrived on Back Lane which we followed, even when the road signs indicated a no through road.

We past the horses and donkeys...

...that we expect, and look forward to seeing, when we walk this way.

The next footpath sign appears to have been snapped off but the post and a bit of the sign is still there. It's just before a group of houses, on the left, and takes you through the first house's drive. There are arrows indicating the route.

At the end of the first field, the gate is in need of repair, we past through the gate and turned left. The path is clear and brings you out onto Pygon's Lane.

Here we turned left.

Between the next two houses, on the right, is a signposted path which we took...

...and near the very highest point reached you should, if you look carefully, see this sign on the ground...

We have never been able to see all 6 churches but we feel this was placed before hedges and trees were planted or got so large.

We eventually reached, and crossed, Sandy Lane, heading down Silver Birch Way to the A5147 Southport Road.

Turning left, we could see our planned destination The Weld Blundell ahead...

When we arrived (12:10) it was closed. we walked around the pub, then along Pilling Lane to the canal, and back but it was still closed.

So it was time for Plan B.

Back to the bridge over the Leeds Liverpool Canal, we desended onto the tow-path and turned right.

 It was nice to see blossom on the hedgerow to our right...

 and we continued to the Swing Bridge...

Here was our Plan B Pub the Running Horses. 

It was open and you can see what we thought and how we rated the pub meal at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-running-horses-lydiate-13.html

After our Wednesday Pub Lunch we returned to the tow-path, turning right, and continued to Shop Lane Swing-bridge where we crossed and returned to the car park.

Apart from the cold, very strong wind, it was a very enjoyable walk which we hope you will also enjoy if you follow our footsteps!

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.