Our July  “Merseyside Walk” saw us starting from the Hesketh Arms in Rufford at 10.30 am after pre-ordering our lunch at the above hostelry. We crossed the road and went down to the canal and headed towards Burscough along the towpath. The view over the two Marinas was very picturesque and the scene was finished off by watching a holiday barge negotiate the adjacent lock
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Crossing the A59, we walked on fields and footpaths and eventually arrived at Mere Sands Nature Reserve where we had a break for a look around and a cooling drink. We then walked behind Rufford Old Hospital and eventually recrossed the A59 near to the Rufford Arms. We again walked along the canal bank and made our way back to the Hesketh Arms where we were very efficiently served with a very good lunch.
The weather was very kind to us and eighteen people enjoyed a 5 mile meander.

Our August “Merseyside Walk” started from Freshfield Station and twenty six of us set out in glorious sunshine for a walk around old Formby and Freshfield. After many lefts and rights and passage ways we crossed over the Formby by-pass and into a section of fields, with stiles and lots of horses, eventually walking back down to the by-pass by Porters fuschia nurseries. After re-crossing the road we walked down various tracks back to the Freshfield Hotel where sixteen of us had pre-booked. The meal when it came was  good but the speed of service was nowhere as good as the Hesketh Arms. The weather stayed fine  for the duration of the walk and only rained late afternoon. We were very lucky.
Bill Langham