We had a large turnout for today’s walk with twenty three Stramblers meeting at Sankey Valley Visitor Centre car park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather with plenty of sunshine and an occasional light breeze. The footpath led us through Sankey Valley Park alongside the remains of Sankey/St Helens Canal and Blackbrook Basin. The trees gave us shade with sunshine breaking through intermittently. Further along Continue reading
Category Archives: The Stramblers
Halsall Circular 26/06/25
Today’s walk began at the Ship Inn in Halsall, where twenty two Stramblers met. We set off along Rosemary Lane and crossed the busy main Southport road into School Lane. We passed the Old Post Office with a display of dolls’ houses in its window and a beautiful “chocolate box” thatched cottage before turning into a narrow footpath with tall fences on either side. This led us across a wooden footbridge and Continue reading
Leasowe Circular 22/05/25
For today’s walk, we took the train to Leasowe Station for a circular along the River Birkett and the sea front. A short stretch along Reeds Lane took us to the Wirral Circular Trail along the bank of the River Birkett. We passed the former Typhoo Tea Factory (which closed in 2023) and the Moreton Bakery – Home Of The Mini Roll. With the recent sunny dry spell, there wasn’t much water in the Birkett and Continue reading
West Kirby to Thursaston 24/04/25
For today’s walk, nineteen Stramblers took the train to West Kirby. We couldn’t have asked for better weather with bright sunshine and blue skies. We joined the Wirral Way – part of the Wirral Country Park which opened in 1973. The Wirral Way follows the track bed of part of the former Birkenhead Railway line, which closed in 1962. The path, flanked by trees, led through Ashton Park and further on, it rose to give Continue reading
Chester to Bache 27th March 2025
Chester to Bache 27th March 2025
Twenty three Stramblers and a small dog, Lulu, took the train to Chester for today’s walk. Fortunately the trains were on time, which hasn’t been the case for much of this week.
Led by Ann and Peter we walked from the station along City Road towards the City Centre. We soon reached the bridge over the Shropshire Union Canal where we went down the steps to join the tow path in the direction of Ellesmere Port.
We walked in the shadow of the City Walls for a while, passing the locks, before Continue reading
Hightown to Waterloo 27/02/2025
Twenty Stramblers met at Hightown Station for today’s walk. We couldn’t have picked a better day – blue skies and bright sunshine. Leaving the station at Alt Road, we walked along School Lane to the aptly named Blundell Road. This took us to a footpath through fields to Crosby Coastal Path. A sculpture here, “Pebble” (known locally as the “Wedding Cake”) is a memorial to James Myers, a former pupil of Newfield School, and was created by year 11 pupils from the School and artist Julian Taylor in 2006. The path is popular with cyclists and several groups passed us with cheery waves. We were soon walking parallel to the beach with West Lancs Golf Course on one side and the Crosby “Blitz Beach” on the other. The rubble here was Continue reading
Westhead 28/11/2024
Eighteen Stramblers braved the cold and met at School Lane, Westhead for today’s walk. We set off in bright sunshine along Wigan Road and took a raised path past terraced houses. As we stepped down to the lane we intended to take, we had to wait for the bin lorry to pass – a déjà vu moment – we’d had the same experience last time we walked this way. The lane between the terraced houses Continue reading
Eastham Country Park and Dibbinsdale 24/10/2024
For today’s walk, we took the train to Bromborough Rake Station. The weather was sunny with just a little breeze, and fourteen of us set off along the road which gave the station its name – The Rake. (Rake being an old Norse word for lane or track.) We soon came to The Cross, one of the few surviving market crosses in the country. The base Continue reading
Mere Sands Wood 26/09/2024
Despite the threat of rain, thirteen Stramblers met at St Mary the Virgin Church in Church Road, Rufford for today’s walk. It was lovely to see Anne Blundell back with us. A short walk along Diamond Jubilee Road took us to our old stomping ground, the Leeds Liverpool Canal, and we joined the towpath to head south. Continue reading
Appley Bridge to Burscough 22/08/2024
Appley Bridge to Burscough 22/08/2024
Other commitments reduced our number to seven for this month’s walk and we met at Burscough Bridge Station for the train to Appley Bridge. As we left the station there, the sun battled with some light drizzle. We walked down Appley Lane to the Leeds Liverpool Canal and joined the towpath to head back towards Burscough. The towpath was wide with smooth, sandy coloured, compacted gravel Continue reading