Mince pie and a coffee

The photographs that I took on today's 6.0659 miles (9.7622 km) route can be seen below...  

...or at https://sharalike.com/s/kzyB and the route we took can be seen at
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6767562 
We set off earlier than usual as it was supposed to rain by midday.
As you can see from the map, our walk included the...

• Cheshire lines - a disused railway line that was built by the Cheshire Lines Committee, extending the North Liverpool Extension Line to Southport in 1884,
• Jubilee Wood - a former landfill site which has been planted in...♦ Scots pine, ♦ Corsican pine,
  ♦ larch,
  ♦ ash,
  ♦ rowan,
  ♦ willow,
  ♦ birch,
  ♦ hawthorn,
  ♦ guelder rose and
  ♦ dog rose and
• Leeds Liverpool Canal - the longest canal in Northern England at 127 miles long. 

Plants continue to be confused by the mild weather with many in flower and catkins also observed - the third lot in a week.
During the walk we saw...

• Two men practising Falconry - the hunting of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey; in this case a Hobby;
• Buzzards - now the commonest and most widespread UK bird of prey; 
• a Grebe;
• Moorhens;
• Coots and
• Mallards;

...along with the usual hedgerow and field wild birds.
We ended our Meander at Costa, in Maghull, with a coffee and mince pie - a fruit-based mincemeat sweet pie of British origin that is traditionally served during the Christmas season.

The Blue Anchor, Aintree - our 35th Walk and Pub Lunch

Today's 4.3193 miles (6.9513 km) route to the Blue Anchor in Aintree, has been saved and can be seen at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6739583

Starting in the car park, behind Costa, in Maghull, we headed towards the Leeds Liverpool Canal, via our usual short cut... 

Once we joined the Canal at Shop Lane Swing Bridge... 

 we headed towards Liverpool along the tow-path...

 The next swing bridge, at Hall Lane...

 ...is where the boatyard is, that at one time we were hoping to buy...

 We continued along the canal enjoying a wide range of plants...

 ...including waterlilies...

...and the waterfowl (ducks, moorhens, coots, etc.,)...

 In the distance we could see Liverpool's two Cathedrals and Liverpool F.C.'s New Stand being built...

 We were also lucky to see two herons, one that flew away before I could take a photograph...

 ...and another, further on, after the next swing bridge...

 ...that I did capture...

 One thing that Chris pointed out, was how well camouflaged the ducks were...

 ...and how a photograph of them would make a difficult Jigsaw.
There may be one later this week at...

http://www.acljohn.com/

Not long after passing under the M57 we crossed the River Alt...

 ...and we were soon at Canal Turn at Aintree Race Course...

After that it wasn't long before we reached "Melling Road" bridge...

...the road that crosses Aintree Race Course, and, as you can see from the map, this was very close to our destination, The Blue Anchor

 You can find out about our experience at the Blue Anchor, via my Maghull Foodie blog...

After lunch, we caught the 159 bus, just outside the pub, to Old Roan Station...

 Here we caught the Train back to Maghull...

...and a bus back to the start... 

In spite of the weather, very fine rain every now and then, this was another enjoyable Wednesday Meander!

You can take a look at the slide show of the photographs I took at...

https://sharalike.com/s/jdvG

or via the embedded version below...

The Harvester - our 33rd Walk and Pub Lunch

Today's 4.8232 miles (7.7622 km) route to the Harvester at Aintree, has been saved and can be seen at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6730587
After a poor start to the day, weather-wise, the clouds broke up and the sun appeared every now and then.

With some variations to routes well walked in the past, we were lucky enough to see...

• Moorhens.
• Coots,
• Ducks,
• Herons (x2),

...along with the usual rooks, crows, sparrows, gulls etc.
As you can see from the photos, Autumn is rapidly changing the environment.

Green Lane Swing Bridge

Shop Lane Swing Bridge

A59 Bridge over Leeds Liverpool Canal

Info overload on a pole...

As it says on the sign

Path beside Melling Brook

Nice new picnic bench - shame about the cans...

River Alt towards Sefton Village

Switch Island and new Southport road.

River Alt towards the A59

Autumnal

Aldrins Lane Swing Bridge

 Lots of Autumnal signs berries...

 ...of many colours...

 ...and varying amounts...

 and leaves changing colour...

 ...at different rates.
Eventually we reached our target destination, The Harvester at Aintree.

You can find out what we thought at our Maghull Foodie Blog.

After lunch we headed back onto the main road and caught the bus back to Maghull.
You can visit https://sharalike.com/s/hNYc to view a video clip of the photographs that I took or watch this clip...

The Pheasant - our 32nd Walk and Pub Lunch

The 6.138 miles route to the Pheasant, 7.2637 miles (11.6899 km) in total, including the walk from the Pheasant to Hightown Railway Station, can be seen at...

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6727209

and, after 2 weeks in California, the sunshine was welcome.

This was our 32nd Walk and Pub Lunch.

Much of the route has been covered in other walks but no less enjoyable we saw...

•  Butterflies,

• berries, and other hedgerow fruits

• the Leeds Liverpool Canal,

• Ducks,
  

• Geese,
  

• Buzzards,
• River Alt, 

• sadly, dead hedgehog 

... and much more.

Even better the sun was shining!

Eventually we arrived at the Pheasant for Lunch...

You can see how it did on the Maghull Foodie Blog.

After Lunch we finished the walk by going to Hightown Station...

...here we caught the train back to Maghull.

Another enjoyable meander in the North West of England.

P.S. Take a look at the video, of the photographs I took, below...

...or visit https://sharalike.com/s/hDYH