Water never far away!

Today's 5.0739 miles (8.1657 km) route has been saved and can be viewed at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6606070

Starting at the Carpark, near Rufford Station, we walked up onto Meadow Lane and turned right towards White Bridge.

Before the bridge we crossed the road and went onto the signposted footpath with the River Douglas on our right.

Be warned!

The path under the railway line is very slippery and muddy every time we've been here!

Once under the bridge and over the stile, the footpath is good and clear...

Ahead of us, on our left, was what had been a huge and very old tree; now still alive and, if you ignore the stump, looks like a new tree - determined to survive.

 On the walk we saw lots of sheep with lambs ranging from quite large to very small...

 There were also a number of wind-turbines, one of which was close to the path...

 It was quite obvious how the sheep kept the grass, on the first part of the walk, once we went into the agricultural area. Bees, butterflies and a wide range of wild flowers were on this part of the embankment...

 After some time we reached Meadow Lane, where it crossed the river, Here we saw ducklings on the River Douglas.

 We crossed the road and continued along the embankment. On the opposite bank were more lambs...

 We were lucky, for the second week running to hear lots of bird song and, among the expected birds seen, we also saw...

• a heron (Ardeidae), 
• a shelduck (Tadorna),
• a number of Oyster Catchers (Haematopodidae),
• a few Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and
• Plovers (Charadriinae)

At Eyes Lane, with the green metal bridge over the river, we turned left, passing horses on our right...

 ...lots of nice spring flowers, blossom etc.,

 ... geese and Goslings...

 ...eventually reaching the Rufford Branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Before reaching the bridge over the canal, we turned left...

 and walked along the tow-path...

 Mayflowers lined the tow-path...

 We walked past the first swing-bridge...

 where we saw swans and 9 cygnets...

  Under the A581 and then right, across the next swing-bridge, we emerged onto Liverpool Road (A59). Here we turned left past the walled woodland...

 of Rufford Old Hall...

 We visited the Hall for lunch and took a closer look at the Woolen Woods in Bloom (only on for a few weeks...

 

 

 

 The gardens were also worth the wander...

 

 

 

Returning to the A59 we turned left and at the next junction, left again. This took us back to the car-park.

Another very enjoyable walk in Lancashire which, if 

you get the chance, is well worth doing.

W&WPL #8 The Lochy, Banavie

This is one Walk (and Wednesday Pub Lunch) that doesn't start in the Car Park behind Costa in Maghull.
It was bound to happen at some point; we were on holiday in Scotland, staying at the The Alexandra Hotel in Fort William...

...and so, to keep our resolution we had to plan this walk.
Our 5.3578 miles (8.6226 km) route...

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

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6547798

It was probably the easiest route to follow as we walked along the Great Glen Way.

Leaving the Hotel we headed, via the underpass towards the Fort William Rail Station. Once through the underpass we headed across Morrison's Car Park towards the round-about on the far side. Here, and throughout our walk, we found signposts with this symbol...

...on them.

Very little thought was required, just looking for such signs at junctions.

This meant that we could enjoy our surroundings far more, without having to look at maps.

The view, towards River Lochy, as we crossed the River Nevis, can be seen here...

 ...and looking upstream...

 Soon after crossing the bridge we were taken left and, as you can see here...

 ...the signs were very clear. Foot bridges...

 ...took us over small streams past trees and bushes covered with lichens...

 The power of water, from the Hydro-electric power station was impressive as it forced its way into the River Lochy...

 Look at how high the water rises with the posts supporting a private walkway...

 On the other side of the path, sheep and snow capped mountains; including Ben Nevis...

Before crossing the River Lochy, via a narrow footbridge...

...we took a detour, under the railway line, to view the remains of Old Inverlochy Castle...

Old Inverlochy Castle

Ruins

How it was

Moat now a grassy walkway

Must have been impressive

 Then we returned to cross the footbridge...

 Oyster Catchers were on most areas of grass...

As we approached the Canal, we could see the sawmill at the end of the loch; the one we had past, on the train journey the previous day...

 Man made sculptures...

 and more Oyster Catchers...

 ...plus beached boats

 Just before heading up onto a tow-path we past the weir from the canal...

 It was then up and onto the banks of the canal and the first locks...

 This is a panorama taken from the tow-path...

 ...on the far side were some highland cattle...

 ...and before long we were at the foot of Neptune's Staircase...

A closer view of Neptune's Staircase

 We walked up the right-hand side of the staircase, where we saw small eco-systems...

 ...posters about the locks...

 ...to reach the view at the top lock...

Left bank

Right bank

 It was then time to walk back down the other side of the locks and back across the railway line...

...where we saw the swing bridge in action.
A short way along Kilmallie Road we went into the Lochy Pub for lunch...

...we then caught a bus back to the hotel from the bus stop, a little further along the road.