Much Hoole 6 Miles. Hooligans. Anthony, Jim, Vic, Paddy and Danny

 We parked on Brook Lane, Much Hoole for the start of today's walk and set off down Pine Avenue. Despite it's name, it is a cul-de-sac and a narrow lane to-boot

At the end of the lane we came across a locked gate. Whoops! Todays leader had missed seeing the stile on the left. Never mind, we only had to backtrack about 50 yds thankfully.

The narrow path alongside the brook provided unwelcome shade from the early morning sun.

                       It wasn't long before we emerged into open pasture land.

Just in time for the sun to sneak behind a cloud😡. Through one field, into the next, we skirted round the perimeter until we came to a hidden stile.

          Paddy stands nonchalantly by as Anthony cautiously crosses a fenceless bridge.

The next field led us out onto the busy A59 Liverpool Rd, which we had to cross. It's surprising how fast a bunch of old men can move when their lives are at stake. Having survived the perils of the traffic, we continued our walk along the grass verge a short distance and round as it turned left into the now pleasantly quiet Old Liverpool Rd which in the past carried all the Liverpool and Southport traffic through the village of Much Hoole.

About 100 yds down the road we came to The Olde Post Office, now a residential property. We turned down the side of the above, to cross a stile onto a narrow path leading us away from the village.

Another stile led us out onto Town Lane. Oh not another stile complained Vic who was having problems with a painful hip and was extolling the virtues of the metal gates which are becoming more popular these days. Not everyone however is in agreement, galvanised iron gates don't sit kindly in a rural environment, but that's the price we have to pay.

Town Lane, a gravel road changed to tarmac as we reached a more recent development of the expanding village.

               The flag in the distance was the venue earmarked for our morning brew.

                                                    A very pleasant place it was too.

Comfy seats to sit on, (if a little cramped), a warm sun shining down on us, what more could we wish for? A bit of peace and quiet that's what. The gardeners were mowing the lawn and strimming round the edges. Actually it wasn't that bad and they were friendly. one of them even took this photo for us. 

Continuing along Town Lane we passed this quaint little cottage, before turning left along another footpath.

                            This well fed hen was not very happy about our intrusion.

The crossing of more meadowland brought us back to the main part of Much Hoole  village.

Vic had been walking bad all morning, and his hip seemed to be inflicting more and more punishment on him, so when we reached the roundabout on the A59. I suggested that he wait here while I went for the car to pick him up. A suggestion to which he readily agreed.
Anthony, Jim and Paddy, meanwhile would carry on to Longton Brick Croft Nature Reserve where we would meet up with them for dinner. Vic seemed to be walking better already after having a sit down for a while.

We met up again for dinner by the lake, then Vic stayed behind while the rest of us continued with the walk back to Jim's car on Brook Lane.

Funny enough, after leaving Vic, we didn't come across any more stiles. They were all his preferred gates.

                                                                     Back to Brook Lane

A lovely border alongside the lane. Jim gave us a lift back to the Nature Reserve to pick Vic up , and my car.
                                                                          DK