A good turn out of thirty two walkers assembled at Ormskirk Station and set off North on the path through the Station Approach Woodland. We passed the Mini Beast Trail and followed the Smith Way footpath, but then diverted through a field to Greetby Road, as Brenda and John had earlier found that fallen trees had blocked the path. Walking along Greetby Road to Dark Lane, we could see the fallen trees below near the steps we would have climbed. Further along Dark Lane, the houses and trees gave way to open fields and we forked right along Lathom Lane. A couple of “Blood Bikes” passed us and we soon turned into “Lady’s Walk”. Tree lined at first, this path then took us uphill through more open fields, passing a pumping station. The water tower that gave Tower Hill its name could be seen in the distance, now without its water tank. We came out onto Crosshall Brow and crossed to walk though another field to reach Ruff Wood where we admired carvings of a squirrel, an owl and a woodpecker. The path through the wood had the remains of fallen trees at its edges and it took us out on to Ruff Lane. Ruff Lane then led us back in to the town centre where the group split – some for refreshments in Ormskirk and some heading for the station and the train home.
Thanks to Brenda and John for organising and recce-ing.