We met at Lydiate Parish Hall for today’s walk with twenty one of us hoping the rain would hold off. Setting off on the Southport Road, we soon crossed and walked along Station Road, passing three of the Lydiate Yarn Bombs. As Station Road curved and met Pilling Lane, we turned down Punnels Lane with fields on both sides. At Acres Lane, a quick left and right took us into Carr Lane past farm buildings and on to the Cheshire Lines path at the old Lydiate Station site. Going north on the path for just under a mile, we turned off to follow a farm track which took us back to Acres Lane. Although we only stayed on this lane for about three hundred yards, we had to be wary of traffic with high hedges and blind bends. Having safely negotiated the traffic, we turned right on to another farm track. Passing through some farm buildings, we saw a goat appearing to “herd” some geese. We left the farm and walked along Church Lane where an oystercatcher in a field seemed to call us with a loud peeping sound. Surprising to see one away from the coast, but apparently they nest in grass and farmland sometimes. At the end of Church Lane was the Church of St Thomas, where we stopped for a drinks break and a group photo. The threat of rain had passed and we were now enjoying the warm sunshine. Carrying on, we crossed Southport Road and passed Church View Farm with its duck pond and “speed camera”. Immediately after the farm we took a footpath on the left which appeared to pass through someone’s front garden. This path took us through fields and over a stile and on to Eager Lane for a few hundred yards before turning into Hall Lane. We soon came to the Owl carving on a dead tree and discussed whether it was carved on the tree stump or carved separately and grafted on to the stump. The concensus was a graft, but it’s still impressive and photogenic. We turned off the lane here and walked through fields and over a stile to the “jumps” horse training track. A short walk then took us to the stone footbridge over the canal where we stopped for drinks again. The steep steps then took us down to the towpath and we soon left the canal to reach the Scout field and back to the Parish Hall.

Thanks to Brian and Brenda for organising and leading.

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