This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Nineteen walkers met at Lydiate Parish Hall in bright sunshine with clear blue skies. Brenda had organised us into four groups to meet current COVID restrictions and ensured we had all read and signed the Risk assessment.
We crossed Southport Road and made our way along Station Road, Punnells Lane and Carr Lane to the Cheshire Lines path. Here we turned south and walked for about a mile, pausing occasionally to let cyclists pass. We left the path and crossed a stile where a footpath took us across a field and through to Bells Lane. We shortly reached the Leeds Liverpool Canal at the Running Horses. Joining the towpath, we walked northwards passing the Mersey Motor Boat Club and crossing the canal at Lydiate Hill Bridge. Here we stopped for a short break – an ideal spot as this bridge doesn’t connect to a road, so we had no need to worry about traffic. We carried on northwards on the far side of the canal and left this path along Pygons Hill Lane. We soon turned off the lane and crossed fields on a footpath now heading south. Brenda pointed out the point on the path which is the highest point in Lydiate (Guiness Book Of Records not required!). The footpath eventually reached Sandy Lane and this took us back to the canal – again on the opposite side to the towpath. After a short walk northwards along this path we went back across the canal at Lydiate Hill Bridge again and took the towpath in the opposite direction, leaving at the field behind the Scout Hut to our start point at the Parish Hall. This was a lovely walk in perfect conditions and on some paths I’ve never walked in 37 years of living in the area. Thanks to Brenda for organising.