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Today’s walk had been in the balance as Storm Benjamin was forecast to hit the country. In the event, the day started bright and sunny with the rain now expected at one o’clock. We took the train to Bromborough Rake and crossed the railway to enter Dibbinsdale Wood. We’d done this walk several times before, but this time were going the opposite way round for a change. This had the benefit of starting downhill instead of facing a steep uphill climb at the end of the walk. The fallen leaves here were a definite slip hazard!  Some of the steps were quite deep. We all reached the bottom without mishaps and crossed the wooden “Lady Bridge” into the wood and more level ground. We soon came to a path alongside an open field before going deeper into the wood with carpets of tawny brown leaves spread amongst the trees. A couple of wooden footbridges needed careful steps, as the recent rain had made them slippery. The ground was now more undulating with tree roots hidden by leaves. Dibbinsdale Brook flanked our left hand side with occasional sandstone outcrops to our right. We came to the “Otter’s Tunnel” and torches were switched on to make sure nobody fell into the channel. (We didn’t have the canal – walking rope with us!) All safely through, we crossed a wooden bridge and carried on alongside the brook. The path crossed the brook again on wooden bridges and we came to St Patrick’s Well – allegedly blessed by St Patrick in 432. It’s not much to look at but the water is said to have healing properties. None of us were inclined to test it and even a dog turned up its nose at it. We left the wood and crossed the busy Bromborough Road. A few hundred yards up the road led us to a footpath back along a disused railway track bed. Tall trees on either side leaned towards each other meeting at their tops. An arched bridge took the A41, New Chester Road over us and after we passed underneath, sheer sandstone walls lined the path. A number of trees had defied the lack of soil and anchored their roots like grasping fingers to cracks in the walls. We were protected from the wind by these walls but the tops of the trees could be seen swaying, and we expected to feel its effects once in the open. Passing under Thermal Road, we zig zagged up to Magazine Lane which took us to Riverbank Road. A ship’s funnel at the side of the road here is believed to be from the original Woodchurch ferry boat. We could now feel the wind, but the road soon led us to Eastham Country Park, where we had the protection of more trees. The river was now visible through the trees and we had views of Grassendale and Garston Docks. We followed the path to the Mimosa Tea Garden, where we had a snack break in its wonderful Halloween display. As we were preparing to leave, the heavens opened and horizontal rain lashed outside. However, by the time waterproofs were donned, the rain had eased and shortly after we set off, it stopped. Anne and Shirley had obviously planned the timings well! We left the Country Park and passed the Leverhulme Sports Ground and the Port Sunlight Tennis Club before emerging on to the New Chester Road. We crossed into Allport Road which took us to the Merebrook pub and Bromborough Station. Some went for the train home and some to the pub for lunch. All agreed that doing the walk “in reverse” had been a good idea.

Thanks to Anne, Shirley and Bob for organising, recce-ing and leading the walk. See you all next time.