Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve

Our short wander, albeit up and down the sides of the valley, of 2.1881 miles (3.5214 km) at Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve is available at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6612067

However, the map and information from the rangers provides a better overview....

Starting from the Ranger's Office, having had the opportunity to explore the walled garden...

 ...and displays...

...we headed straight on from the exit, to the right of the Mill Pond...

...and, where the path forked, took the right hand path past a willow tunnel...

 The view across the Dibbin Valley, in various places, was stunning...

 ... with so many shades of green.
In the valley we wandered past reed-beds...

 ...with lots of bird and animal prints.
Fallen trees becoming the homes of new plants, mosses, lichens, liverworts etc...

 Eventually we reached the Tunnel, under the railway. The right-hand arch was boarded-up as a bat roost so the left-hand was our route...

Stalactites, tapering structures hanging like an icicle from the roof of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water could be seen in this tunnel...

 Not far from the exit were "sleeping dragons"...

 ...and among the reeds Mallard ducks and ducklings...

 We crossed a number of bridges, as you can see from the map...

 ...and in some parts, quite a few steps, or hills, to climb...

 In some places the River Dibbin was quite wide, as it flowed through the valley...

 and along the banks were many plants including garlic, bluebells, violets etc....

 On the route we took, the sandstone cliffs were more obvious as we neared the end of our walk...

 ...with exposed tree roots supporting the large trunks of a variety of trees...

 ...planted by the Victorians.

 If you follow our steps, don't miss the small St Patrick's Well...

 ...off to the left of the path.
On the right of the small bridge, to see the well, we saw Californian Poppies, which, as always gets us talking about our son and his family in the USA.

Although a short walk, it took quite a long time, as there was so much to look at and enjoy. If you get the chance, it is a nice way to spend your day!

Fairy Glen; We've walked all these paths but...

...not necessarily in this order!
Today's, Bank Holiday Monday, 5.3905 miles (8.6752 km) walk has been saved and can be viewed at... 

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6600448

To say it was a little hillier than usual, is an understatement.

 Setting off from the car park in Parbold, we headed towards the canal, along Station Road... 

 We crossed the Leeds Liverpool Canal bridge, and turned left, down onto the tow-path and headed towards Leeds.
After yesterday's rainy day we were lucky to be walking in the sunshine. Throughout the walk we were accompanied by bird song, which was very nice indeed.
At the second canal bridge...

 ...we past under the bridge, turning immediately right and headed over the canal bridge along Chapel Lane.
At the T-junction with Wood Lane we turned right and almost immediately left, over a stile (the first of many) across a field on the enclosed signposted path...

 The view to our right, as we crossed the field, was beautiful...

...as were many other views. There were lots of calves on both sides of the "fence enclosed" path which made Chris feel more secure.
We emerged onto the A5209 (Parbold Hill) which we crossed, turned left and, after a short distance turned right down into a wooded valley, crossing Alder Lane Brook...

 On this part of our walk, we saw Wood Sorrel (Oxalis) acetosella...

 ...Bluebells...

 ...and, on the Oak trees, Oak Apples...

 ...made in the leaf buds by the larva of certain kinds of gall wasp...

 We eventually reached a footpath sign and turned right, stopping after passing over another style to look back at the view towards the Sefton and Lancashire coast...

 We continued along the path...

 ...that eventually joined Broadhey Lane; along the path we saw Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)

 ...and Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris)...

When Broadhey Lane take a fairly sharp left, we turned right and,when the path divides, we bear left and follow the narrow path alongside Sprodley Brook...

 Here we saw more Bluebells (& some pink and white bells)...

 ...and Marsh Marigolds / King Cups (Caltha palustris)

 We crossed the brook and another stile and continued around the edge of a field with Sheep and lambs...

 We were now back on the A5209 (Hall Lane) where we turned right, crossed the road and made our way into Fairy Glen...

 Here we had much closer views of Marsh Marigolds / King Cups (Caltha palustris)...

 ...and, I think we could smell it before we saw it, Garlic (Allium sativum)

 We stopped for a short time, and watched/listened to the water in Sprodley Brook, cascading over the waterfalls...

 When we could see the farm buildings, on our left, at the end of Finch Lane, we crossed the brook so it was on our left and headed up out of the valley, yes across another stile, and out of Fairy Glen.
We followed a clear path across a field and through wooded areas where the best views of bluebells were seen... 

It's behind you!

 Just after passing houses on our right, we turned left, crossed the bridge over the railway and headed down to the Leeds Liverpool Canal with lots of daises (Bellis perennis)...

 This time we headed towards Liverpool. 

 At Bridge 39 (the one we crossed at the start of our walk) we left the tow-path and turned left passing, on our left, a cross marking the place where once there was a chapel. 
Soon after the cross, we turned right, crossed a foot bridge and followed a clear path that emerges onto Bradshaw Lane which, having crossed another stile, we went straight on, then round to the left, past a carved bear...

We reached the A5209 (Alder Lane) where we turned left, crossed Alder Lane and returned to the car along Mill Lane.
Actually we stopped for lunch at the cafe next to the canal bridge.

All in all, a lovely way to spend a Bank Holiday!