Sefton’s Summer Walking & Cycling Newsletter Issue 56 / Jul – Sep 2021

ALL OUR Walks & Rides ARE FREE

Bright ideas to get us all back walking and cycling this Summer in Sefton.

1 ALL OUR Walks ARE FREE Walking Diary Active Walks Sefton, Just turn up to join our walks but please arrive 15 minutes early for your your local walk programme first walk as you will need to fill in offers a great number a Registration Form. To assist you the walks are graded: of regular walks across Grade 1: suitable for people who have not the borough. The walks walked much before. Grade 2: suitable for people who are looking continue throughout to increase their activity levels. Grade 3: for people looking for more the year and are led by challenging walks. Welcome back to the walking and cycling groups in volunteers. Special Interest walks: health walks with a twist. The walks range from short walks of 30 Progressional walks: for people who have Sefton. There has been no newsletter since March 2020, undertaken Walking for Health Grade 3 walks minutes up to 90 minutes or longer walks and are now looking to take their next steps. so this first issue of 2021 is special, just in time for from 90 minutes to 150 minutes. Please note: Please attend a Grade 3 walk the Summer. Discover different parts of Sefton with our Walking is the perfect exercise as it places before joining a Progressional Walk. regular walking groups and cycle rides. Walking and little stress upon bones and joints but uses Progressional Walks: brisk pace, varied over 200 muscles within the body and can terrain, can include stiles/steps/gradients cycling frequently can have huge benefits for your physical help develop and maintain fitness. and uneven surfaces. and mental health, we need to take care of ourselves and Guide dogs are allowed on all health walks. keeping active plays a major role in that. The walking and cycling groups are free to join and will be there throughout the rest of the year to get involved with. Follow our experienced, trained, walking and cycling leaders on a short or long route in Sefton and beyond.

2 3 Walks 19th Jul: Village Diner Churchtown Walks Jul: 20th Walk leaders: Sheila, Chris, Sue 2nd Aug: Frank Hornsby Walk leaders: Peggy Aug: 3rd | 17th | 31st and Veronica 16th Aug: The Alt Pub Time: 10.30am Sep: 14th | 28th Time: 10.00am 30th Aug: NO WALK Place: Corner Sunny Road, Place: Maghull Health Centre L31 0DJ (Bank Holiday) Peaky Blinders MONDAY (outside the rear of the centre). 6th Sep: Hartley’s (unless otherwise stated). TUESDAY The Maghull walks will take around 20th Sep: Sefton Meadows A short walk of 30 minutes, at 90 minutes to complete. The walks N.B.: There are no toilets or a gentle pace around Churchtown, are based around the rural areas refreshments available and it’s including Botanic Gardens and of Maghull/Sefton and so nearly always muddy! the community gardens. suitable clothing and footwear will be required. The group use local cafes to have a tea/coffee

stop and a chat.

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o our Walks t Place: Hesketh Park o or Rides? G ! (corner of Albert Rd/Park Rd W u e yo ’d l om entrance), PR9 9LN ove to hear fr Crosby Walks The Hesketh Park walk is a short Walk leaders: Beryl and Sue walk of 45 minutes, gentle pace, Time: 10.30am taking in views of the lake, wildlife and gardens. Place: Crosby Library outside 26th Jul: Coastguard Station by Hillsborough Memorial, to Waterloo (train) † Crosby Rd North, Crosby L22 0LQ 9th Aug: Rimrose Valley, (unless otherwise stated). Wildflower Meadows We meet on the second and fourth 23rd Aug: Woods (train) † Monday of each month, except for 13th Sep: Coastguard Station Formby Pinewoods Walks Jul: 20th | 27th Bank Holidays. We sometimes use to Hightown (train) † Walk leaders: Anne, Margaret and John Aug: 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th | public transport so walks marked 31st 27th Sep: St Michael’s to Otterspool Time: 10.30am with (†) require a travel pass or cash. and back – optional (train) † Sep: 7th | 14th | 21st | 28th We leave the Library promptly at Place: Pinewoods Pub (front) on 10.30am (unless otherwise stated) Wicks Green (off Rd), L37 1PR when transport is involved, or you can The Pinewoods Walk is a medium meet us at Waterloo Train Stn to catch walk that will take around 75 minutes the 10.40am train in either direction to complete at a steady pace. if the walk that day is somewhere along All the walks use the pinewoods the /Hunts Cross line. and coastal footpaths, there will be sandy paths and gentle inclines throughout the route.

4 5 Waterloo Walks 20th Jul: Rimrose Valley Park Wednesday Social Walks 11th Aug: Halsall to 27th Jul: Southport Walk leader: Chris Scarisbrick Marina Walk leader: Mike Time/Place: 9.55am, Eastbank Time: 10.30am 3rd Aug: Cressington to St Michael’s Time: 10.00am (unless otherwise stated). St (outside Specsavers) to catch Place: Outside Sefton Carers Centre, 10th Aug: Freshfield to Place: The Atkinson, Lord St, S’port 9.55am, 300 bus to Halsall South Rd, Waterloo L22 5PE 17th Aug: New Brighton PR8 1DB (unless otherwise stated). 18th Aug: Dobbies

TUESDAY The Carers Centre walk is a medium 24th Aug: Crosby to Hightown The Southport walks are longer walks 25th Aug: Freshfield to Ainsdale 31st Aug: Sefton Park walk, the walks will take around 60 and visit a variety of locations across Time/Place: 10.00am, S’port Stn WEDNESDAY minutes to complete at a relaxed pace, 7th Sep: Rimrose Valley Park and . to catch 10.07am train 1st Sep: Hesketh Park the group will visit various points of 14th Sep: Cressington to St Michael’s 21st Jul: Marine Lake 8th Sep: Hall Road to Waterloo interest within Sefton and beyond. 21st Sep: Freshfield to Ainsdale 28th Jul: Brunswick to Time/Place: 10.00am, S’port Stn to 28th Sep: Croxteth Hall Albert Dock catch 10.07am train Time/Place: 10.00am, S’port Stn to catch 10.07am train 15th Sep: Botanical Gardens 4th Aug: via 22nd Sep: Southport Park and Rotten Row Time/Place: 10.00am, S’port Stn to catch 10.07am 29th Sep: Birkdale via Duke St and The Walk

Sefton Trailblazers 11th Aug: The Dune Trail Place: Ainsdale Train Stn Walk leaders: Gill and Margaret 18th Aug: Clieves Hill Time: 10.30am Place: Town Green Train Stn Place: Meeting points vary – see listings 25th Aug: Woodlands & Beach The Sefton Trailblazer walks are classed as Place: Formby Train Stn ‘Progressional’ walks for walkers 1st Sep: Cheshire Lines Path Prambles – Formby who prefer a brisk pace (3+ miles per Place: Freshfield Train Stn Walk leader: Karen hour) over a distance of 5 to 7 miles and 8th Sep: Marshside Nature Reserve Time: Every Tuesday – within 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Please wear Place: Southport Train Stn 1.30pm–2.30pm suitable footwear for all types of terrain. 15th Sep: Little Crosby Circular Place: Formby Library, Place: Hall Rd Train Stn For further detail on Progressional 22nd Sep: Crosby Promenade 17D Duke St, Formby L37 4AN Walks please refer to the ‘Walking Diary’ (Outside main entrance). Place: Waterloo Train Stn page 3. 29th Sep: Leeds & Canal Prambles are an amble with NB: no dogs allowed on these walks Place: Maghull Train Stn your pram, free to join, friendly and active. The wallks take place every Walks in BLACK start/finish at the Tuesday and are 60 minutes long. same train station, walks in GREEN start/finish at a different station. To book a place email: [email protected] 21st Jul: Linear Walk to Formby Place: Hightown Train Stn 28th Jul: Town Lane Community Woodland Place: Birkdale Train Stn 4th Aug: Rimrose Valley Country Park Place: Seaforth & Train Stn

6 7 Walking for Health in Jul: 22nd | 29th Southport Central Walks Jul: 23rd | 30th Hesketh Park Aug: 5th | 12th | 19th | 26th Walk leaders: Tony and Peggy Aug: 6th | 13th | 20th | 27th Walk leaders: Sue, Tom and Steph Sep: 2nd | 9th | 16th | 23rd | Time: 10.30am Sep: 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th Time: 1.30pm 30th Place: Dunes Splash World (reception area), S’port PR8 1RX

Place: Hesketh Park Cafe, FRIDAY The Southport Central walks are

THURSDAY PR9 9NW A medium walk of 45 minutes gentle paced walks of around in Hesketh Park, this walk is 30–45 minutes, taking in routes ideal for anyone wanting to such as Victoria Park, Jubilee increase their activity levels. Nature Trail and Marine Lake. The walk provides the perfect opportunity to chat to others whilst keeping active. High Park Walks Jul: 23rd 23rd | 30th – No Walk Formby Walks Jul: 22nd | 29th Walk leaders: Steph Aug: 6th – No Walk | 13th | 20th | 27th Walk leaders: Sue Aug: 5th | 12th | 19th | 26th Time: 10.30am Time: 10.30am Sep: 2nd | 9th | 16th | 23rd | Place: Devonshire Road Playing Fields Sep: 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th Place: Formby Train Stn (in the 30th (at the small car park), Devonshire Rd, large car park entrance area) L37 2JF S’port PR9 7BZ The Formby Pool walk is a longer walk This is a 30 minute walk, around the at a quick pace and will take around High Park and Churchtown area. 90–120 minutes to complete. The walk is circular, and routes include There are routes to suit everybody Salisbury Park, historic Churchtown and include Cabin Hill Nature Reserve, and Devonshire Park playing field. National Trust Nature Reserve and The group sets the pace, ideal for Natural Nature Reserve. increasing your activity levels. Please wear footwear suitable for walking through dunes, along woodland Jul: 23rd | 30th paths and on uneven ground. Dunes Weekly Walks Walk leaders: Jean and Trefor Aug: 6th | 13th | 20th | 27th Time: 1.30pm Sep: 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th THEY’RE BACK… Place: Dunes Splash World, Thursday Evening Walks (outside the main entrance by the Walk leaders: Steph seating), S’port PR8 1RX Time: 6.00pm The Dunes walks are medium length Place: Meeting points vary – see listings walks at a good pace and the walks 22nd Jul The evening walks are 90 minutes in last approximately 75 minutes. Place: Ainsdale Train Stn different areas of Sefton and the routes The group walk along the coast and include woodland paths, sand dunes, 12th Aug enjoy eye-catching views of the Sefton sandy paths and also some inclines. Place: Hall Rd Train Stn coastline which include the sea wall 26th Aug path, Velvet Trail, Marine Lake, Jubilee Place: Formby Train Stn Trail, Kings Gardens and Victoria Park.

8 9 Kings Gardens Walks Jul: 24th Walk leader: Steph and Anne Aug: 7th | 21st Time: 10.30am Sep: 4th | 18th Place: Carousel/beginning of Pier, S’port PR8 1QX The Kings Gardens walk is a short walk SATURDAY at a medium pace and will take around 30–40 minutes to complete. This walk is ideal for anybody who would like to build up their physical activity levels gradually. A gentle pace with the flexibility to increase if needed, the walk route stays within Kings Gardens for the main part and sometimes includes the pier and sea wall. The Wednesday Walking Group a poem by Linda from the Litherland Sports Park Walking Group

Sunday Walks 25th Jul Our walking group has started up Walk leaders: Margaret, Brenda, Place: Freshfield Train Stn After lockdown 2 Chris and Steph 8th Aug As I’m getting ready I’m excited through and through Time: 2.00pm Place: Hightown Train Stn Walking down to Seaforth Place: Meeting points vary – see listings 22nd Aug I’m getting very near SUNDAY The walks will continue to be fortnightly Place: Ainsdale Train Stn To meeting all the people I’ve not seen for over a year throughout the Summer months. 5th Sep They last no longer than 90 minutes Cathy, Ann and Margaret Place: & Crosby Jen and Judith, too and are a medium pace walk. Train Stn These are my best buddies 19th Sep Place: Formby Train Stn To mention just a few I’ve missed the banter and the laughs The singing as we walk The coffee at end as we sit around and talk The mixture of packed lunches Eaten in the great Outdoors Billy passing round the sweets That and so much more I hope they will continue into Summer and The Fall As this is an activity Enjoyed so by us all!

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o our Walks t Walk leaders: Peter, Walk leader: Peter o > MAGHULL: or Rides? G ! W u weekly – 60 mins Karl and Pat Time/Place: 10.30am e yo ’d l om ove to hear fr Walk Leaders: Margaret, Time/Place: 10.30am at Crosby Leisure Centre, Diane and Dave at Crosby Lakeside Mariners Rd, Crosby Time/Place: 10.15am Adventure Centre L23 6SX at Meadows Leisure (Bistro side), Jul: 24th Centre, Hall Ln, Rd, Waterloo L22 1RR Aug: 7th | 21st Maghull L31 7BB PLEASE NOTE: Sep: 4th | 18th On 28th Jul, 25th Aug Monday afternoons and 29th Sep, our > FORMBY: > FORMBY: Wednesday morning walks fortnightly – 90 mins weekly – 90 mins are longer and start at an Walk leader: Peter Nordic Walks Walk leader: Peter earlier time and different Time/Place: 10.30am Time/Place: 1.00pm location – See ‘LAST at Formby Library, Enjoy the great choice of Nordic Walking at Formby Library WEDNESDAY OF EACH Duke St, Formby Duke St, Formby MONTH’ details below. L37 4AN L37 4AN groups available every week throughout Jul: 31st LAST WEDNESDAY Monday evenings OF EACH MONTH Aug: 14th | 28th the Summer season. > CROSBY: Sep: 11th | 25th Wednesday morning weekly – 60 mins Taster Sessions – try out Nordic Walking with a 35 minute Waterloo Walks are 90 Walk leaders: Peter mins on these dates: taster session: Time/Place: 6.00pm Jul: 28th | Aug: 25th With the use of Nordic Walking poles, you are working harder and you are also walking at Crosby Leisure Centre, Sep: 29th faster as the poles help propel you forward. Mariners Rd, Crosby L23 6SX Time/Place: 10.00am Nordic Walking poles are provided for the taster sessions. prompt at Waterloo Tuesday mornings Community Centre, CROSBY: > MAGHULL: 26 Great Georges Rd, Monday 16th August, 10.30am weekly – 90 mins Waterloo L22 1RD at Crosby Leisure Centre, Mariners Rd, Crosby L23 6SX Walk leaders: Brenda, Mixed ability walkers John, Ann, Sue, Dave, will be catered for. SOUTHPORT: Chris and Stuart Tuesday 10th August, 10.30am Time/Place: 6.30pm Wednesday afternoons at Dunes Splash World, Esplanade PR8 1RX at Lydiate Parish Hall > SOUTHPORT: Thursday 9th September, 10.30am 288 Southport Rd, weekly – 60 mins at Dunes Splash World, Esplanade PR8 1RX Lydiate L31 4EQ Walk leaders: Steph and Georgina Booking is essential! Email [email protected] or call 0151 934 2824 Tuesday evenings Time/Place: 1.30pm > : Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. at Dunes Splash World, weekly – 60 mins Esplanade PR8 1RX Walk leader: Steph Time/Place: 6.00pm at Freshfield Pub car park, Massam’s Lane, Formby L37 7BD 14 15 Tuesdays: Pedal Away Intermediate Riders All our led rides within our > Litherland Sports Park Community Cycle Clubs programme Boundary Lane, Litherland L21 7LA are ridden at a leisurely pace and 10.00am – approx 12.00pm offer the rider the chance to chat with like-minded people, not realising Fridays: the miles are ticking by. Intermediate Riders ALL OUR Utilising the plethora of cycle paths > MeCycle Café within Sefton and visiting the many 59 Station Rd, Ainsdale PR8 3HH Rides TUESDAY/FRIDAY picturesque places within the borough 10.00am – approx 12.00pm ARE FREE you’ll be surprised how far and wide your bike can take you. Bikes and helmets are available for loan Cycling Diary They are open to all, even if you – advanced booking required. don’t own a bike, cycles and helmets For Litherland Sports Park are available to use and can be Summer brings the promise of Tel: 01925 234213 fitted to suit the rider. warmer, brighter and longer For Mecycle Tel: 01704 579353 days. Giving you a chance Email: [email protected] to cycle the day away, along Sefton’s many cycle paths lanes, country lanes and beyond. Sefton has a number of cycle groups – some of them meet every week and are led by qualified cycle leaders. The routes you’ll cycle are planned – so you’ll always know where you are going. All you have to do is bring your bike, sit back, pedal and enjoy.

16 17 On 1st & 3rd Thursday each month Thursday Sessions – ‘The Chain Gang’ throughout the year. Tour de Friends 10.00am – 12.00pm > Dunes Splash World As our name suggests, we place as > Waterloo Community Centre Rides for Esplanade, S’port PR8 1RX much emphasis on the social side of Old School Buildings, at 10.00am meeting up as the cycling. Our rides Great Georges Rd, the over 50’s are a perfect way to get back on a bike Aug: 5th | 19th Waterloo L22 1RD THURSDAY This is a great group to join if you’re after time off from cycling. We offer the For more information about the THURSDAY Sep: 2nd | 16th looking to make the step up from your opportunity to make new friends, and a rides, sessions or bike and helmet 12 mile ride to the next level. Racking For more information contact: chance to increase your cycling, whilst availability, contact: Bill Cowley up a distance of about 20 miles ridden Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton riding with a great bunch of people. Email: [email protected] at a gentle steady pace, you’ll be on 01704 542993 In order to comply with Covid restrictions Tel: 07948 013618 amazed how easy but rewarding it can we are currently operating in bubbles. Like and follow our Facebook page – be to increase your mileage. The ride Each bubble consists of at least one Tour de Friends always incorporates a lunch stop around trained bike leader and no more than 7 (AKA Bike Gone Daze) half way, so there’s a chance to refuel or 8 riders. Each bubble group organises before returning to Southport for about its own day, destination and length of 2.00pm. With a wealth of ride leaders ride via a whatsapp group. With the

and experienced cyclists in the group easing of restrictions the bubble groups

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o Don’t worry about expensive cycling kit, restrictions, we all rode together and our Walks t o or Rides? G ! come along in appropriate, comfortable returned to Waterloo Community Centre W u e yo ’d l om clothing and a serviceable bike and for lunch at the Community Kitchen ove to hear fr you’ll be pleasantly surprised what you (kitchen currently closed). can achieve. No bike? No problem, we have a limited number of bikes and helmets available for loan. So why not get in touch, we look forward to meeting you.

18 19 Autumn Newsletter out Sept 2021 For great walks and rides throughout Sefton and beyond, pick up Sefton’s Walking and Cycling Newsletter from your GP surgery, Library, Leisure Centre and other community venues, alternatively download a copy at activetravelsefton.co.uk

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m cycling experiences or Rides? o fr We would love to hear about your experiences, if you have r ea enjoyed a group-led walk and ride or followed one or more of o h We’d love t our walking or cycling routes please give us your feedback. tweet a photo and/or comment to: @SeftonTravel, please use – #ActiveTravelSefton post a photo and/or comment on Instagram: please use – #ActiveTravelSefton Email: [email protected] Call: 0151 934 2824 We look forward to hearing from you

This newsletter has been developed For Walking enquiries: by . The newsletter details [email protected] the different activities organised and 0151 934 2824 promoted by the Walking & Cycling Further information is available at: Team throughout the Summer, including activetravelsefton.co.uk how to get involved. Email: [email protected] Design. Web. Advertising. For general enquiries call – @SeftonTravel Sefton Plus on 0345 1400845 Calls cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. visitseftonandwestlancs.co.uk Designed by www.6770.co.uk Designed by

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