Saw the Cheshire Cat but no Alice!

Yes we were in Daresbury for our walk on Sunday 13th April 2014.
The  7.2162 miles route has been saved and the URL is http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6269820

For those who have followed our Meanders, you will see that this walk includes bits of a number of other walks.
We started our loop at the Lewis Carrol Centre, All Saints Church, Daresbury.

You can find out more about the Centre at http://lewiscarrollcentre.org.uk/about-us/
From the car park we headed off towards the pub, turning left and followed the "Timberland Trail" down to the Bridgewater Canal.
Although a nice start to the walk, the number of wild flowers, compared to last week, in the Yarrow Valley, was disappointing.

The oilseed rape in flower, compensated in some way.
Passing across the bottom end of Daresbury Science Park, with the well kept lawns and moorings, it was ironic that no one was allowed to use the moorings. Private Land.
The Bridgewater Canal was a hive of activity, not just the narrow boats, and plastic tubs, but walkers, cyclists (without bicycle bells), horses, and a wide range of wildlife including Herons and ducks that showed no sign of fear at all.

Swapping sides of the Bridgewater we briefly rejoined the "Timberland Trail" before heading off over a golf course and then around one side of Appleton Reservoir. Grebes, Shellducks, Moorhens, Coots, the list goes on, plus those fishing and more. When we emerged from the woodland, even without her distance glasses, my better half spotted possibly the highlight of our walk. Why highlight? Well sadly they are not very common any more. What aren't? Hares. We we lucky to see two hares.

It's not knowing what's around the corner that makes walking in the countryside so enjoyable. (and the company of course).
In contrast, as we returned to the car park, on the B5356, we saw something that was very sad. What did we see? The remains of a Badger. Mixed feelings, sad it had been killed, pleased that there were badgers in the Daresbury Wonderland.

Still no Alice! 

Conservation It's a PIG

Not what we were expecting but, isn't that what's so enjoyable about walking in the English countryside!

What am I on about?
Well it was the surprise near the end of our walk.
Our 5.1885 mile route has been saved and can be found at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6230970 
It includes walking through 3 woodlands Kirklees Wood, America Wood and Borsdane Wood. The latter two skirting the banks of Borsdane Brook.
Lichens, evident on many of the bushes and trees,

as we followed clear paths.

Moss warming the bottom of tree trunks, attempting to access light, provided bright green splashes of colour on the woodland floor. (mainly on the North facing side of the trunk)

The section between Kirklees Wood and America Wood took us past Hindley Hall and the associated Golf Course.

Upon entering America Wood we followed a path above Borsdane Brook, 

that we could see below us.
Descending, via steps, 

we continue along the bank of the brook through the two woodlands.
Among the usual spring flowers,Chris spotted a patch of Butterbur.

Apart from dog owners, that just cannot control their dogs, the walk along the banks of  
Borsdane Brook was very enjoyable.

Then, just before we reached the end of Borsdane Wood we saw a poster.

In fact lots of posters along with the Pigs being used for woodland conservation. One poster asks dog owners to put dogs on leads.
Not one of them, in this area, did as asked!
It's not the dogs that need the training!

How nice however, to see Pigs in natural environments, being used for conservation.

Hunting the White Hart

When I say hunting, I mean "looking for", nothing more than that. 
I've been lucky enough to see the White Hart, when supporting OLASS (Offender Learning and Skills Service) so, I'd hoped to spot him again on this walk.
Our 4.7466 miles route has been saved and the URL for this route is http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6228252

Parking at Bretherton Church we headed off along the B5247 and quickly turned left down an enclosed path towards the B5248.
The rabbits obviously were not expecting us Meandering along the footpath as we made them jump,and to be fair they made us jump as well.
Turning right, when we reached the road we we watched by a flock of, what I think were, Soay Sheep

It was then time to head off towards Long Fold,  Doles Lane, Boundary Farm and Tattersals Farm before emerging back onto the B5248.

At Norris's Farm to say at land owner was inconsiderate, is an understatement. Walking down the side of the farm, we reached the footpath sign and were faced with, if we followed the correct route, a freshly ploughed field to the footbridge on the far side. 
It brought back memories of how careful we were to keep footpaths accessible over our land. Apparently this doesn't matter any more.
We retraced our steps and walked around the edge of the field to eventually reach the footbridge. 

Crossing both the bridge and the nearby railway line ...

Towards Ormskirk

Towards Preston

...we were on the road through the woodland where I've seen the White Hart in the past. I should add that we had both spotted deer prints in the soft edges of arable fields.
Chris scanned the right-hand side of the road and yes, I scanned the left.
I'm sorry if you are looking for a stunning picture but, My White Hart wasn't to be seen.
Turning off the Willow lined road,with their catkins/lamb's tails, 

we crossed Wymott Brook and, via Copeland Farm, returned to the B5247 completing the loop.
Yes I was disappointed Chris didn't seethe White Hart but, an enjoyable walk albeit boggy underfoot in places.
Perhaps next time!

Fox, Badger and a Rabbit!

Sadly that was the road-kill seen on the way to Blakemere Moss in Delamere Forest. Not a good start and, in spite of the warnings of rain, we did enjoy our Sunday Meander in Cheshire.
You can access the 5.7904 miles route, that we took at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6215774.

Starting at the carpark, outside the Bike-Hire and Cafe, 

we headed off towards Blakemere Moss, past the Go-Ape Centre. The paths, except for the odd patch made muddy by mountain-bikes, were good. 

I think it was 1997 that the project started to reinstate this Moss and others in the forest.
As you can see from the images, the moss shows considerable signs of the vegetation that did grow in what now is a large expanse of water.

Apart from the odd goose, mallard duck and the odd cormorant, the most abundant birds were gulls.
Obviously a busy time of year for timber cutting and there are restrictions in place during the week.

But, we are lucky, not at the weekend.
Although we saw lots of walkers, with their wide range of dogs, and cyclists, there were long stretches where all we could hear was the wind in the trees and bird song. On one section we could hear squirrels and see signs of their feeding but,no actual squirrels.
The moss and fungi brighten up the forest floor.

Passing a number of pools

we found most were very dark and like mirrors.

Little did I know, when I went to Winsford, for work, that the moss would attract me back for today's walk which was very enjoyable and it didn't rain.

Don't assume: it makes an ass out of u and me

Well I did assume! 

What?
The Walking World walk, that my better half had printed off, was the one we had done a number of times before.
It wasn't!
Thank goodness our conversation made me look at the map, Chris had printed off, before we had walked too far. 
We returned to the carpark, having almost got to Clock Face Road and set off on the correct route rather than the one I'd assumed to be correct.
If you want to follow in our footsteps, the 5.3126 miles route (not including the detour mentioned) has been saved. The URL for this route is at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6177485 

The first mile took us around Clock Face Country Park...

...including a brief stop at the toposcope.
If you are anything like us, you won't have any idea what a toposcope is either. 
Well don't get too excited it is a metal plate, showing the directions to look to view, weather permitting, major landmarks.

From Clock Face it was down onto the road and back in towards  Maypole and Griffin Woods.
The Mersey Forest, that Maypole and Griffin Woods are part of, has changed so much since we first visited this area. Making the walk more interesting as you can no longer view what lies ahead, until you turn the corner.

From Maypole Wood we exited onto a lane and after a short walk entered Griffin Wood.

A short detour over a bridge and into a clearing, took us to see some carvings including an owl, 

...hedgehog and a rabbit.
Back onto the route, we continued until, just before the M62 we met "The Green Man".
A much more detailed carving that we both found impressive.

Past a large pond, we crossed a quite high Footbridge and headed towards Bold Heath.
On our left there were a large number of dog owners taking part in training. Some obviously more advanced than others. I think most of the training was for the owners not the dogs!
Past the entrance of one of my favourite Golf Clubs, Mersey Valley Golf & Country Club, we arrived at Warrington Road, the A57.
After a short walk, crossing Clock Face Road and School Lane, we turned right along the drive towards Nursery Farm.
We went to the left of an impressive planter (It looked as if it was cast using concrete) of an articulated lorry.

Keeping to the edge of fields we eventually reached the disused railway cutting which, having turned right past some horses in a field, we followed until we reached Finger House Lane.
Crossing the bridge over the railway cutting we immediately turned right and past under the M62 and up into Sutton Manor.
If you've not see the large statue, called "The Dream", it's here you have the opportunity to climb the mound and view it.
We how ever continued along the edge of Sutton Manor to the Miners way and back to the carpark.
Another enjoyable walk albeit frosty at the start, and encouraging signs of spring, with lamb's tails (Catkins) brightening the hedgerows.

It just seemed so wrong!

If you have travelled on Merseyrail, from Maghull towards Liverpool, you'll know what I mean.
The plan was to park at Maghull Station, catch a train to Aintree and walk back to Maghull.
Doesn't sound that great until you realise it includes walking along the Liverpool Loop Line, skirting Aintree Racecourse (the Canal Turn and other jumps), along the tow-path of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and up through Melling, past the Bootle Arms (sadly not open, we were too early) and back to Maghull Station.
The URL for this 4.3938 miles route is available at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6171506
So what was wrong?
Well the train from Maghull left from Platform 2 (the one nearest the carpark) not Platform 1, it's usual departure platform.
Why?
A bus replacement from Maghull to Ormskirk and, I assume, someone thought it would be nice to save people the walk over the footbridge. How nice and considerate I hear you thinking.
The impact?
For those who read the Rail Matrix some confusion but for others - well they walked over the footbridge and then back again once they realised their error.
And yes it did feel so wrong as we pulled off towards Aintree and the start of our walk.
Although cold it didn't take long to get warm as we made our way towards the Loop Line. 
The Pellican Crossing on the A59 seemed to have taken Sunday off as we ended up, after two complete changes of lights for traffic, crossing when there was a gap in traffic flow.
Can quite see why people don't wait for the "Green Man"!
Lots of birds flitted in and out of the trees bushes etc., as we walked along the LoopLine

and blossom was evident on some plants.

 

The jumps on Anitree Racecourse don't seem as impressive in their Winter format but a number of people were taking advantage of the footpath to exercise their dogs and/or wear out their children.

Ducks, Moorhens and Coots were expecting food but, I don't know why, we never seem to remember to take food for them.
Anyhow,if the Wetland Trust are correct, they shouldn't be fed with bread.
Leaving the tow-path we headed up towards Melling along probably the only muddy, wet stretch of the walk.

Past the closed Bootle Arms, very sad, it was all downhill to Maghull Station and then off to Costa for Lunch.

Started to rain just before the M58 but we were lucky with the weather and it was an enjoyable walk.