Todays ramble was from the Hop Vine along to “The Farm” near the Martin pub and then along the canal back to Burscough, 5.6 miles by my GPS..The usual late Summer obstacles were overcome ie,Long grass ,nettles,etc. However a totally unexpected event happened as we were nearing “The Farm ” for a welcome pot of tea,there, adjacent to the footpath, was one of these crop watering devices jetting pulses of water over the crops but also over the footpath,we had to try and dodge the spray but by and large not very sucessfully.We had our tea outside in the sun and let good king Sol dry us off.We then walked down to the canal and back to Burscough where we had the usual splendid meals offered by the Hop Vine (and their equally splendid brewed on the premises drinks).Thirty four of us enjoyed the day.

Thursday 8th August saw thirty eight of us setting off from Central Square  for a six mile ramble around Clapham in North Yorkshire.  (The coach driver thought he had drawn the short straw and was destined for Clapham in London!!).

The weather was very kind to us, sunny but not too hot. We started up the street and into the gloom of  a couple of tunnels about 100 metres long, leading to an upland track. This was quite a slog as we were climbing for about a kilometre. After a short stop to catch our breath we continued on the track and then crossed fields to see the Norber Erratics (granite boulders brought down by glaciers in the Ice Age and deposited on a bed of limestone).

After our lunch stop in a field, we regained the track and wended our way down to the village of Austwick.  Here we had a very welcome stop for liquid refreshment at the Gamecock pub. We then returned to Clapham over meadows and fields arriving back in good time for the coach to leave for home at  5 o’clock.

Our next walk starts from the Hop Vine in Burscough on September 5th starting at 10.45am.

We had a walk in Coniston yesterday (9th May) and my usual run of good weather for the longer rambles came to a shuddering halt. Instead of wall to wall sunshine it was wall to wall rain. Forty four of us set out from the southern end of Coniston Water in a slight drizzle but by the time we arrived at the boating pier the rain was coming down in stair rods so we all migrated to the boathouse cafe for a very welcome bowl of soup.

After much discussion thirty three people opted for plan B and walked directly into Coniston while  the remaining eleven completed the longer walk as planned. We all eventually met up in one of the local hostelries where we stayed until the coach left for home.

I am writing this epistle on Friday morning looking out at the rain pouring down and saying a big Thank You to Him upstairs that our ramble yesterday was blessed with wall to wall sunshine all the way. Although it was a bit chilly, at least there was no mud as it had hardened due to the frosts.

We started from Ormskirk bus station the older parts of Ormskirk and up to Aughton having a very welcome cup of tea/coffee at Cafe Vista at the Christ Church Millenium centre. We continued to Gaw Hill reservoir, around to the Nature Reserve where we met Aughton u3a ramblers making their way back to the Millenium centre for lunch. We carried on and worked our way down to the Five Ways pub where we had a lovely Christmas carvery. There were 35 of us and lo and behold the Family history group were already in there for their Christmas lunch so the Five Ways had been taken over by the Maghull & Lydiate U3a.

Our next ramble is on January 17th starting from The Running Horses, Bells Lane Lydiate at 10.30.

Reg regrets that all his walks for December and January have been cancelled. As they say, watch this space.

Another wonderful outing!! The sun shone from start to finish. Fortyfive of us set out from Maghull Square and our first stop was at the Devonshire Arms Hotel in Cracoe where the landlady had tea, coffee and the most delicious biscuits waiting for us. At £1.50 per head it was extremely good value for money – a Hotel I can highly recommend.

We all walked together from Cracoe to the Hamlet of Thorpe where we had our picnic lunch. We then divided into two groups, one led by John & Ann went to Grassington by way of Burnsall where much of “Calendar Girls” was filmed. The other group led by my wife Ann & myself  took a slightly shorter route via the pretty village of Linton.

After an hour or so spent exploring Grassington, we all returned to Maghull tired but happy having had a most enjoyable day’s walking.

Yesterday was our monthly ramble and didn’t we do well!! We had the one day of unbroken sunshine so far this July.

Thirty of us set off from the Hop Vine Hotel, crossed the road and started walking along a passageway between the railway and the premises next door. What a good job I brought secateurs with me. The passage was utterly choked with brambles and nettles so slow progress was made whilst clearing the jungle. (This is supposed to be a main footpath from Burscough to Martin Mere). I don’t think very much of Lancashire County Council’s footpath maintenance. Once through this obstruction the going was relatively easy and we arrived at Brandreth Barn for a welcome coffee/tea stop. Onwards over tracks and fields, eventually walking back to  “Top Locks”via the Rufford canal and joining the Leeds Liverpool canal for the last three quarters of a mile back to the Hop Vine where we had a very good lunch together with their home brewed beer. It can be highly recommended. The walk was nearly six miles long and the only one who suffered fatigue was ME. Was I glad to get back to the pub.

On Thursday, 12th July the walk will start from The Hop Vine in Burscough (previously The Royal Coaching House). This walk will commence at 10.45 to allow time for people coming by bus.
The number 3A from Ormskirk bus station at 10.18 gets into Burscough at 10.36. The number 2A is an hourly service and the 9.48 from Ormskirk gets in at 10.02.
Car parking at the pub is limited but there is usually plenty of room in Tesco’s car park just across the road
The walk is about 5.75 miles and is very flat, going nearly to Martin Mere with a coffee stop en route and returning along the canal.
A highly recommended lunch will be available at The Hop Vine after the walk but if you are intending to eat it is essential that you give your name in to the walking desk. The pub is very popular and reservations are required.

On Thursday, 9th August there will be a coach trip to Grassington for a moderate walk of about 7 miles from Cracoe to Thorpe, Burnsall and on into Grassington. An alternative (shorter) walk will proceed from Thorpe to Linton and on into Grassington. The coach price will be advised later but if you wish to go please give your name and a ?5.00 deposit to the walking desk.

On Thursday, 13th September we propose to have a walk from Bromborough to Neston – full details will be announced at a later date.

Bill Langham
Walk Leader
11th June 2012

Reg wishes to lead a few rambles during June as follows

Friday 1st June   To Leasowe  5 km

Meet at Maghull station for the 9.45 train

Thursday 14th June  Burton Manor  7.5 miles

Meet Maghull station  9.30 train

Friday 22nd June  Parbold   5km

Meet Maghull station at 9.30 to catch the 10.18 bus from Ormskirk – some rising land on this walk.

Friday 27th June  Hilbre Island meet at Maghull Station for the 9.30 train

Reg is planning these walks primarily for those people who do not like walking in large groups & for new members who would graduate to the main walk each month.