The Ship Inn Burscough - New Lane - Martin Mere - Tarlscough - The Ship Inn

Big skies cold winds and an 8.765 mile walk...
Starting from the Ship Inn next to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal...

We headed up to the main canal and, passing the 'dry-dock' we headed towards Liverpool. The old Ordnance Stores, with the many rabbits, are long gone; replaced by modern houses overlooking the canal. A relatively quiet stroll into a cold wind, took us past Sunday Footballers and past the Lathom Slipway pub; no we didn't stop. Glimpses of the new 'hide' at Martin Mere  were caught as we crossed the Southport-Wigan railway line for the first time...

I took us slightly off the proper path but looking back, when we got back on track, we avoided lots of wet field! Good move!
Back across the line at New Lane Station, I had to do a quick detour as the gates descended to stop the no-existent traffic.
We walked parallel to the railway before crossing a third time, with views of the Mere and Windmill farm in the distance...

The new hide at Martin Mere has resulted in a re-route of the footpath; no further and enabled us to observe hares in the sun along with cormorants flying up from the mere.
Apparently an owl had accidentally dropped this resting mouse...

... and couldn't find it in the dark (I wont say who's theory that is!)
Swans passed overhead as we continued on our way...

...and Hawaiian Geese,

...Guinea Fowl and a Peacock...

were also spotted on the way...
Ready for a pint we ended back at the Ship Inn and enjoyed two pints of Bombardier; Mmmmm!

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The Blue Bell, Haskayne

This week our walk was even closer to home as Chris decided on our start and end pub. The walk, planned on the Lancashire A-Z Street Atlas was as near to 7 miles as you could get. The 'vast skys' and distant views of North Wales and the trough of Bowland adding to what was a pleasant, flat, walk along lanes, farm tracks, across fields and along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
A map of the walk can be found at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1646936.
The initial part of the walk took us into a cutting where the frog, in the newspaper below, was spotted. Chris and I assumed that this was a branch line from the Cheshire Lines which had been turned into a nature/wildlife area.

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

It was too wet and flooded to continue along the cutting so we returned to the road and walked above the cutting until we could rejoin the old 'track' near the lakes. A number of fishermen we evident as they were later along the canal past another of our haunts, The Ship Inn.
"A jerk on one end of a line waiting for a jerk on the other!" Apparently Chis hadn't heard this description before.
One dog, with an owner who had no control, was the only down side to the walk and the sandwich at the end was one of, if not the best we have had on our walks. Well done the Blue Bell!

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Ring O'Bells, Lathom

Our 5th Pub Stroll on the trot; well trot isn't a true picture but stroll is! If you want you can see where we walked at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1631702. All 8.2998 miles!

Why so far you may ask? Well we, that means Chris, decided we could use the Lancashire A-Z Street Atlas to make our own Pub Stroll; after all we had been extending the walks Secret Santa had given me so why not!

It also meant that we wouldn't have to go so far in the car (a green argument if nothing else). It was also more likely that Chris would drive and I could have more than one pint!

Chris chose the Ring O'Bells in Lathom as our starting point and sure enough she volunteered to drive (No argument there). After plotting our walk on the map (I was sure it was longer than 6 miles and it was!) we set off via Burscough's Recycling Centre (we are being green today). Parking in the Ring O'Bells car park Chris set off towards Liverpool and I set of towards Leeds; no comment on who was correct.

The day was 'fresh' to say the least, with quite a hard frost; this made walking easier as the towpath was harder than it would have been. The spring sun shone down and it wasn't long before I had to find Chris's sunglasses as the glare from the canal (Leeds and Liverpool) was very bright. The walk was on excellent footpaths, along towpaths, across farm land and through woods. The only road walking was relatively short and on a bright, dry, sunny day all was well with the world.

Highlights included two sculptures beside the towpath at Moss Bridge Lane; Three fish...

and an "Activity Table"...

This was constructed out of old lock gates.
Apparently a relatively recent image improvement project for the Leeds and Liverpool canal (late 1990's) saw three new public artworks appearing alongside it at Lathom and Parbold. These two - a stone carvings of three fish and an activity table made from discarded lock gates - plus 'The Angel' sculpture (which I assume is in Parbold; not seen it yet), were designed to "capture the spirit of the famous canal, while adding character to the local countryside".
I think that these two achieved just that.
By the way, I've added them both to the Channel 4 "Putting Big Art on the Map" Website; found at http://bigartmob.com/. I think this project is an excellent idea and encourage all of you to make at least three contributions in 2008. My contributions can be found at http://bigartmob.com/blog/acljohn/.
Note: when you add the artwork you can click-n-drag the 'location-pin' on the google map to the actual position of the 'Public Art'!
Chris enjoyed cracking the ice on puddles and apart from horses, lapwings (Green Plovers), a multitude of song birds, a few dogs and a donkey, the walk was quiet and a nice change from the last two weeks where we had the constant noise of motorway traffic.
We stopped at the entrance to Lathom Park (after about 5 miles) and sat briefly on a bench to take on fluids (water) and for Chris to have two biscuits; extra strong mints were consumed on route. None of the horses were close enough to share a mint and the equine at Warm Row Farm, just after we crossed Blythe Lane, put back his/her ears ("it" was behind a brick wall so I couldn't tell) and showed us his/her teeth so I decided against closer contact.
Returning to the Ring O'Bells...

...we finished our stroll with sandwiches and in my case two pints of Greene King IPA. Mmmmmm!

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The Cavendish Arms, Brindle

As our guide says Brindle is "almost the perfect village - with church, school and inn in close proximity".
The first "real spring day" brought us to Brindle and a walk through rolling farming country

with clear field paths and quiet hedged lanes and short stretches along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

The only intrusion to this rural scene was the nearby M65. But even this didn't spoil the views northwards to Bowland and the Lake District.
Part way round the walk, a map of wich can be seen at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1615701, we passed through Withnell Fold. The impressive carving outside the school

represents T. B. Parke, the founder of the village.
The Cavendish Arms was at the end of our 5.5157 mile walk


and the pint of Cross Buttock  was an excellent end to the stroll; again it would have been nice to have been able to stay for a few more! We would have stayed longer an had a sandwich but apparently sandwiches are not available on a Sunday and as there was a huge rush for food (only one other person in the pub) it was more than the landlords jobs worth!
Apparently Brindle takes its name from the 'bryn', the spring - or several springs in fact - which rise there in the hollow of the hills. Or does it?
The Brindle Historic society tells us a different tale. The name, according to them, has its origin in the earlier Burnhul, the "hill by the stream".
"The name partly explains the village’s claim to be the site of the battle of Brunanburh, where in 937 King Athelstan "won undying glory with the edges of swords, against the Norsemen". The possible validity of this location was reinforced by the discovery of the great Cuerdale treasure in the nineteenth century; it can be seen in the British Museum. The Cavendish Arms is in no doubt about the site and its stained glass windows vividly recapture the tale of battle and treasure - there are, of course, other pretenders to this claim!"
The stained glass windows are indeed impressive but don't expect a sandwich on a Sunday!

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The Farmers Arms, Heskin Green

After 35 years Chris becomes the 'wildlife spotter' of the week; the highlight of which was a lone deer!
A level walk following paths, lanes and farm tracks; old farms and houses were passed along the way like Howe Brook House

and Heskin Hall (open to the public as an antique centre).

Never far from the M6 and Camelot Theme Park the background traffic noise was ever present.
A map of our walk can be seen at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1598553.
An enjoyable walk with the additional excitement of watching the deer running across the sky-line and then in front of us as it disappeared into woodland. A short stop in our walk was enforced upon us as we had to wait for, at this time of the year, the ever present hedge trimming tractor to move over and let us through. I don't think the horses we met around the next corner would have enough room to pass! I did warn them of what to expect around the corner.
We completed the walk, 5.1639 miles, and paused for refreshments at the Farmer's Arms

formerly known as the 'Pleasant Retreat'.
In every respect it still remains true to its original name (although many may find the 'stuffed game birds and foxes heads' a little disturbing!)
An excellent pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord and a sandwich finished off our third Pub Stroll; thanks again Secret Santa, the book has produced some pleasant walks albeit I've had to extend them.

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Riley Green; the Royal Oak Hotel Pub Stroll Plus

The three and a quarter mile pub stroll from the Royal Oak was extended using the Lancashire A to Z; we walked 6.4115miles in total. For some reason the Gmaps Pedometer will not save the route so I'm unable to add a map; sorry!
However here is a screen capture...

The first steps on our journey took us from the Royal Oak Hotel carpark in Riley Green, a hamlet straggling a main road, up Green Lane. Fine views, on our right of Hoghton Tower, one of Lancashire's most famous stately homes.
Kings were no strangers to staunchly royalist Lancashire and in 1617 the de Hoghton family entertained King James I. Offering him the finest cut of beef reared on the rolling pastures of the Darwen Valley, James I famously knighted his loin -Sir Loin!

Apparently the loyalty proved costly during the Civil War when Hoghton Tower came under siege by the Roundheads and the mansion's tower was partly destroyed.
There were panoramic views for much of the length of this walk, offering glimpses of both Preston and Blackburn. In spite of the rain we have had during the month, it wasn't too bad under-foot and one hour of our time was spent recording 'bird sightings' as part of the RSPB bird watch. Green Plovers and Mallard were the highest counts of the hour but a heron, a lesser spotted wood-pecker, a long-tailed tit and a Jay were the highlights!
A short stop for bananas and water, outside Hoghton Post Office on the A675 and we were off past Brindle Lodge, another imposing building. You may well be thinking, where are the photographs? Well the batteries failed and, for once, I didn't have any spare ones.
The climb from Millstone Farm up to Duxon Hill, was the most difficult part of the walk which was through pleasant countryside.
A visit to the Royal Oak was a must and the olde-worlde atmosphere remains. Four low oak-beamed rooms served by a central bar with good food and beer (Roast Beef and horseradish on brown for Chris and Ham and mustard on white for me; Wainwright Beer to wash it down) In all an excellent walk enjoyed by us both. Pity I was driving as a few more Wainwrights would have gone down a treat!
PS Just tried to save the map again and you may be pleased to know you can view it at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1581101

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A quick catch-up with our visit to Arran and Hadleigh.

As my friends and family know, Ben, our youngest, has been home for Christmas; he went back to San Francisco last Monday. While he was home Chris, Ben and I spent a few days away in Arran. The one place I feel really 'uplifted' and at home.

The Isle of Arran, Scotland is the most southerly Scottish island and sits in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Kintyre. Arran is 19 miles long by 10 miles wide but has a remarkable diversity of landscapes and seascapes.

The pretty villages on Arran’s beautiful coastline are complemented by a rugged and mountainous interior in the north and green rolling hills and woodland in the south.

If you're reading this and looking to get away from it all, I highly recommend you take the time to uncover the hidden delights of Arran; it really does have something for everyone.

We had clear days...

and snow...

We saw seals...

...and Red Deer...

as well as red squirrels, a vast variety of song birds, birds of prey and water-fowl/birds. Ben took some excellent picture that you can view at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bendalziel/sets/72157603644852577/. My pictures are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/acljohn/sets/72157603630394646/.

No trip to Arran would be complete without visiting the distillery; a visit enjoyed by all.

We completed one fairly long and enjoyable walk starting and finishing at Lochranza.
Lochranza is the most northerly sited of Arran's villages and is located in the north-western corner of Arran. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Lochranza is home to Arran's second ferry route, a short trip to Claonaig on the Kintyre Peninsula south of Tarbert. The whisky distillery opened in 1995, and is easily spotted with its copper pagodas. Castle ruins are located on a curved shingle spit that projects from the southern side of the village. The castle is normally locked but the key can be obtained from Lochranza stores. Lochranza is home to a healthy red deer population and, on the northern shore, grey seals are found year-round. Otters and golden eagles are also spotted in the area. It is also the very first place I stayed at, in Arran, when I was teaching in Phillip Morant School in Colchester Essex in 1986. My how time flies.

The only down side was that we were delayed on the way home due to bad weather; the ferry wouldn't sail due to the difficulties we would encounter entering Ardrossan Harbour. When we did sail we still managed to bump the harbour wall.
The following weekend we all met again at my dads in Hadleigh Suffolk; Ben to see his grandad before returning to the USA (next time they meet Ben will be married) and Mandy and Dave to say goodbye as they embark on their 99 day trip around the world! There wasn't room for me sadly. Dad seemed well and it was nice for all the family to be together again; the last time was a year ago at Mum's funeral. A much happier meeting this time but I kept expecting to see her every time I went into the dining room. We had 'Christmas again; thinking about it, it was the first Christmas of 2008! Lynn, and Bec paid us a brief visit on the Saturday and Pete on the Sunday before 'bell-ringing'. Ben has gone 'home' now and Chris and I are back to normal (what ever that is). Below you will find todays walk; I know it is a bit out of sequence but as everyone else tells me, 'it is finding the time'!.
I'll just leave this blog with an image, taken on Arran, that we came across when walking along the North East coast of Arran...

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The Lord Nelson, Croston

Our walk today is the first of a number of "Pub Strolls" starting by the village green in the centre of Croston (a farming village situated on the A581 halfway between Southport and Chorley. You can view a map of the walk at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1564807.
We parked next to the medical centre, behind the pub, and as we headed out of the carpark towards a thatched cottage...

the sign to the right of the front door was a little confusing...

So was the back door the one on the left of the sign? Is it me?
Apparently 'cross-town', Croston, was built around an ancient holy cross and was for centuries the market centre for the extensive mosslands stretching westwards to the sea. The number of inns testifies to this former importance and makes it an attractive starting point for walks. Red-brick houses, cobbled streets and bridges over the River Yarrow are the main feature of Croston.

The original settlement was founded upon a crossing point of the River Yarrow. A less well known Lancashire river which rises in the Chorley foothills, meandering westward to join the River Douglas (mentioned on a number of previous walks).
The three and a quarter mile walk is entirely flat, leaving the River Yarrow behind as it wanders over Croston Moss along farm tracks before returning to the heart of the village and back over the river.
There is no point in doing a pub stroll if you don't visit the pub. It was what I would call a "drinker's pub".

It lays claim to being the oldest inn in Croston; apparently quite popular but small, cosy and 'rural'. Drinkers were concerned about the level of the Yarrow and 'How to self-certificate' so they still got paid. Apparently the former was affected by the tides (a chart of which was hanging on the wall).
We enjoyed a swift pint before heading to Martin Mere, on the way home, for a bite to eat. Chris wanted to see if the Eider Ducks were 'performing; Oooooo! The were not and, no surprise to anybody, the beavers were no where to be seen either! I hadn't seen this carving on previous visits and it was likely to be the only beaver we see here.

I think Chris and I have decided that, when the nights get lighter we will try fit in at least one Pub Stroll a week and include a meal out. Watch this space.

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Raven Meols Hills

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1521082 will take you to a map of todays walk, the first in 2008.
Making the most of the fine 'Liverpool Bay Beach' and dune walking, our walk explored the National Trust Nature Reserve with its rare natterjack toad and red squirrel. Sad to say neither were on view today. The Red Squirrel have recently been hit hard by a 'squirrel pox' with lots of death among the colony.
Many waders, gulls and migrant birds feed along the shoreline here and both Chris and I have seen semi-fossilised hoofprints of the auroch, a huge, now extinct, beast that grazed the saltmarshes during Neolithic times, when they have been exposed in the inter-tidal sediments.
The reedy pond, a small wildlife area with ducks, coots and moorhens in abundance...

was crossed by a wooden bridge where we paused to take some pictures.

After passing Sandfield Farm we passed fields that sadly are no longer are used to grow the much praised 'Formby Asparagus'; what is the world coming to? Our path then took us through Nicotine Wood where, according to our guide, the path wanders agreeably. What does that mean? I think the author was trying too hard.
Upon returning to the car park we drove back for an ice cream and toilet stop at the entrance. Fat pigeons, magpies and crows were all that could be seen in this usually squirrel abundant area. I do hope the red squirrels recover from this outbreak of pox and that they return in great numbers.

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Haskayne, Clieves Hill (Ormskirk) and the Canal

Back to normal! Today we walked 6.2 miles close to home.

Clieves Hill, just outside Ormskirk, is one of a line of low hills that look west across the Lancashire Plain and have much more distant views than you would expect. The Welsh Hills are frequently in sight, as are the Lake District, Trough of Bowland and Winter Hill. The walk was about one-third arable field-paths, one-third quiet lanes and one-third canal towpath. The walk starts near the Ship Inn at Haskayne, which is easily accessible and has a very attractive setting. Chris and I have frequented this establishment on a number of Wednesday nights after shopping. Good food and local beer. Highlights of the walk, those that made me get out the camera, included a 17th Century House, three horses who were expecting mints, apples or carrots (none of which we had) a minature set of standing stones and the first snowdrops!
All of which I've included in the collage below.

Nature seems confused to say the least, rooks are starting to nest and spring flowers out before the end of the year.
Further research tells me that Haskayne (origin, the village where hazel trees grow) has several cruck-framed thatched cottages, a post office-cum-store and a furniture manufacturer, plus its two pubs. Of these, the Ship is reputed to be the oldest on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, since this section was the first to be constructed in 1770. It is the longest canal in Britain at 127 miles and remains the only navigable canal across the Pennines.

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Christmas at Keldy

We were together again! Ben back from the USA, Melanie, Mandy, Dave, Chris an I spent Christmas together in Keldy Cabins.

It is only when you produce collages, like the one above and the one below, that you realise that ther are no photographs of yourself.

The 'Hot Tub' was a big hit and various members of the family were found in it at various time throughout the day and night.

Ben, I think, spent most time in it but on one occasion we were all in it together; plus glasses of champagne of course!
I can only talk for myself but the few days we spent together were precious from dawn...

...until dusk...

We had many visitors, of wildlife, including squirrels, pheasants, robins, rabbits, tits of various types, tree-creepers, nuthatches to name but a few. Ben was exceptionally lucky when he saw, and photographed a Roe Deer.

We did hear the deer barking, yes I did say barking, when we went on a dusk/evening walk with the Site Ranger. An informative and pleasant walk. Chris an I completed the Blue and Red Walks and Melanie joined us for the walk to the Bird Hide.
Ben, Mandy and Dave completed the white cycle ride and managed to cover themselves in mud.
Chris, Melanie and I drove to Whitby one afternoon and Chris and I climbed the steps to the Abbey...

...walked out along the harbour wall...

and took many more pictures than I've included in this blog. If you want to see more, including the steam bus, polar bear and seagull then go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/acljohn/sets/72157603571403356/
and view the slide show.
A meal in the local pub, on the final evening, finished off what was a complete break for us all.
It will take us a long time to forget Ben, chief fire officer, blowing at regular intervals on the logs, the many games of Quiddler and the visits of wildlife throughout our stay.
I wonder where we will all be next Christmas?

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Kingsley, Dutton Locks and the River Weaver

(better late than never)
This walk allowed Chris and I to explore the peaceful countryside along the terraces above the River Weaver and beside the river itself. There were good views up to the sandstone ridge on one side and the Pennines on the other. Very wet in some places, we encountered a herd of Long-horn cattle while making our way through a particularly muddy patch.

Chris liked the way their horns were on upside down! She was also pleased they watched rather than come closer to see why we were behaving in such an odd way.
The next encounter was that of monkeys!

Someone was having a laugh! The 'monkey puzzle tree' had many residents like the one in the image above.

As the valley was approached, the massive Dutton Viaduct came in sight and trains were seen crossing it every few minutes.

We walked past the lock before...

...the chance to admire the scale of the viaduct as the path passed directly under it. Following a brief encounter with human habitation, the route passes through the most remote part of the lower Weaver Valley.
Apparently, the River Weaver was a working river thirty years ago, with 1,000-ton coasters plying between Liverpool and the former ICI works at Winnington and Wallerscote near Northwich. Salt came by river from the works at Winsford to be transshipped at Liverpool to West Africa and other deep-water destinations. Canalisation of the Weaver in the early 18th Century reduced transport costs and thus enabled Cheshire salt to dominate the UK market for this essential commodity. Further information on Dutton Locks and the Weaver as a working river can be found at www.duttonlocks.co.uk.

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And the rain came tumbling down!

"Here's a man who holding with a smile
Something that he'd wanted for a while
Clasping tight, to lose it in a day
And the rain came tumbling down."
It is the first time that we have walked near reservoirs and found them "Full"; in fact some of the paths near the edge of the reservoirs were under two to three feet of water.
An still more was being added from surrounding streams.

Apart from the rain and floods, the walk around the Turton & Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs was excellent under foot. The now relatively bare hedges and trees make it so much easier to see birds, which in turn adds to the walks enjoyment.
We past the Strawberry Duck twice; yes I did say past! The first time was too early and the second was out of consideration for the landlord/lady; we were very wet! We both remember how we had sat outside in the sunshine when we had walked in this area earlier in the year! Mmmm sunshine!
A number of 'fly-fishermen' were plying their hobby, without any apparent success, as we skirted the reservoirs. At least when walking you can get warm but standing in waders in a reservoir, in the rain, with a cold wind gusting, is not my idea of fun!
As already mentioned, a number of detours had to be made to skirt flooded paths but we made good speed on the excellent pathways passing two "green" celebrations of the Christmas holidays to come.

I wonder if the decorators will return in January (On Plough Monday perhaps) and remove the garlands? I hope so.
Next to one of the decorated Christmas Trees was a wood carving...

Apparently one of a number of carvings to be found in this area. Sadly this was the only one we found. Perhaps another visit is called for when it isn't so cold and wet!

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