We met at Hall Road Station for today’s walk. The weather had lived up to its forecast and we had clear blue skies. Setting off inland along Hall Road East we passed a square set building with crenellated tops to its walls giving the impression of a fort. At the end of the road we joined a wide tarmacked path flanked by a field on one side and a tall hawthorn hedge on the other. The path is known as Dibb lane. A horse rider dismounted and led her horse past us, perhaps thinking our large group might spook her (the horse, not the rider!). The lane led through some houses at its end with a toy stuffed monkey hanging from a tree in one of the gardens. We crossed Delph Road into Moss Lane and passed St Mary’s Church before turning into Back Lane. This lane took us around the walls of Crosby Hall grounds. In a field across the lane, some horses came to the fence to greet us. One small one reminded me of Thelwell’s cartoons. We passed Virgin’s Lane and went through a kissing gate into a field where a footpath took us further around the Crosby Hall walls. As we reached Little Crosby Road, we came to the magnificent pillars holding the gates to the Hall. These are topped with large “Lions Rampant”, each holding a hammer. We then followed Little Crosby Road until it led us into the more built up Great Crosby. Miller Avenue and Victoria Road, with some quaint cottages (five named Ivy, Beech, Elm, Hawthorn and Oak next to The Crow’s Nest pub) took us past the Duck Pond to Blundellsands Road East. We passed under the railway via a decorated subway into Blundellsands Road West with Sacred Heart College (once Seafield Convent) on our left. An arch over the entrance has the Blundell family crest with the initials NB and AMB either side (for Nicholas Blundell and his wife Mary Ann Blundell). We turned into Burbo Bank Road to reach Crosby Leisure Centre for a drinks/comfort break. Out to sea, the Iron Men were keeping watch over the wind farm. After our break, we took a footpath behind the sand dunes to Beach Lawn, Adelaide Terrace and Marine Crescent. The terraced houses here, facing the sea are all listed buildings. We then reached our walk’s end at South Road.
Thanks to Anne and Bob for organising and leading the walk. See you all next time.