15th September 2011: Southport and beyond

In a departure from the usual cycling round Cheshire and Wales, this special ride explored the workings of Merseyrail before a pedal was pushed in anger.  After Norman, Bryan, Ivan, Dave Hill and Janet survived the rigours of the lifts and escalators at Liverpool Moorefields station, we travelled to Freshfields on the Southport line, where we were joined by Dave Heath and Jim (who had used a car and had cycled from Lydiate).

Setting off north from the station, we recrossed the railway line at an unmanned crossing, and then braved flying golf balls before entering Formby woods (a red squirrel reserve). We then joined the last few miles of the Trans Pennine Trail, along an old railway track, but now a busy road with an adjacent cycle track. We passed along the sea wall at Southport, with much use of bells to clear ambling late season tourists out of the way before heading further north along the coast, with clear views of Blackpool Tower, St Annes and the edges of the Trough of Bowland.

At Crossens, we hit the road proper, passing the large Environment Agency pumping station that keeps this part of Lancashire from returning to a lake. It was noted how low the houses were in relation to the cycle path, which is the top of the dyke: we were on a level with their bedrooms! We then passed through Banks. The land here is suited to market gardening on an industrial scale, and we passed fields of greens, and large areas of glasshouses. Although the lanes were narrow, there were lots of 38 ton wagons on them, transporting the goods to the supermarkets (along with very large tractors with spiky things sticking out from them!) 

Crossing the busy A565, we lunched at the Legh Arms, Mere Brow: probably the last time CER members sit outside this year. Food and ale were good, although a sudden descent of seven riders on a sleepy Thursday gave the chef apoplexy, and the service was slow. 

Photograph by Dave Hill

Ready for the return journey

Heading south-ish, we weaved our way through Holmeswood, passing Martin Mere, and skirting Burscough and Ormskirk. Soon we hit the hill challenge for the day, climbing to 56 metres above sea level on the Clieves Hills, for stunning views of our route. Coasting back down the hill, we meandered the lanes again, crossing and re-crossing the canal, passing through Lydiate, and then rejoining the TPT, which is called the Cheshire Lines path in these parts. Dave H and Jim left us here.

We re-emerged from off-road cycling to join rush hour traffic on the road from Maghull to Seaforth. However, turning off the main road after a couple of miles, we reached the inner city oasis of Rimrose Valley Park, which took us away from the hustle and bustle to within a few hundred yards of Seaforth station, and back to the delights of the Underground for the journey home with 42 miles completed.

See route map and/or gpx file download.

NL