We had a big turn out for today’s walk, with twenty seven meeting at Hightown Station. The weather was quite mild and I soon regretted wearing a warm coat. We set off along a tarmac footpath alongside the railway line and passed the entrance to Altcar Training Camp. After a mile or so, we crossed the River Alt and the path narrowed and swung left with woods to our left and open fields to our right. Turning north we came Continue reading
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 Continue reading
Meols to New Brighton
27th September 2025
This month we had planned to do a walk in Yarrow Valley Country Park. However during the recce it was noted that the ground was quite wet and slippery even though it hadn’t rained for a few days. It was decided that the walk could only go ahead if there was a prolonged dry period prior to the walk. Last Saturday’s torrential rain put paid to that so plan B was adopted.
23 walkers met and Central Station to catch the train to Meols from where Continue reading
A baker’s dozen of Stramblers met for today’s walk at Burscough Wharf outside the Thirsty Duck Bar. Coincidentally, across the canal, a thirsty duck was having a drink from a dog’s bowl. We set off westwards along the towpath under Bridge 32A as canal boat “Cherokee” passed going towards Lathom. A number of colourful canal boats Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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