Martin Mere

MERE SANDS, MARTIN MERE and BURSCOUGH from RUFFORD

Distance: 9 or 10 miles - Start: Rufford Station Car Park

This is another flat walk, rather longer than the others which, given anything more than a passing interest wildlife, could easily take a full day. You pass close by the Martin Mere wildfowl reserve and if you wish, you can pass through the Lancashire Trust for Nature Conservation's Mere Sands Wood nature reserve, both are places that one could spend hours visiting. The walk continues along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal towpath and that of its Rufford branch back to the start.

From the car park go up the steps, turn left and walk over the crossing towards the village. Continue over the canal and past the parish church of St. Mary's; as good an example of Victoriana as you could wish for. Turn left along the A59. It is a noisy and unpleasant road but happily after 300yds. you can part company and turn right along the Southport road. On the corner of Flash Lane is the village school which the stone declares was started in 1824 by Sir Thomas Dalrymple. Where the houses end on the left turn down Brick Kiln Lane and continue to the old Methodist Church, opened in 1881 and now converted to house the Rufford Centre, a Christian conference retreat. Just beyond the Centre a footpath goes off to the right and follows the far bank of the stream. It soon emerges onto a lane by the cricket field but continues across the lane along the opposite bank of the stream and heads for the trees surrounding the Mere Sands Wood Reserve. After you cross the stile into the reserve you have a choice, if you have time I strongly recommend that you take time to stroll round. Entry is free for walkers and you can use one of the many s hides to get close to the wildfowl. If you are lucky you may sight one of the resident red squirrels. A right turn by the boundary stile takes you onto a footpath which goes right round the edge. To return to the walk route simply keep a going around the perimeter path just inside the trees until, shortly after crossing the third footbridge, you come to a cross ditch with open fields beyond, the perimeter path turns left along the ditch, you should turn right to cross the boundary fence, then continue at (A) below.

If you don't want to visit the reserve continue ahead, do not cross the footbridge on your left but continue beside the ditch to the end of the reserve and cross the boundary fence. (A) Continue along the right bank of the Rufford Boundary Sluice and turn left when it meets Sandywy. This is a quiet country lane with flat fertile fields stretching. all around; the views to the east begin to open up, they will improve as the walk progresses. Where the lane turn sharp left continue ahead beside a hawthorn hedge, cross the footbridge and turn right to follow footpath 134 beside the ditch. You are now at the lowest point of the walk, a mere 7ft. above mean sea level; it is difficult now to imagine this area as it was before Thomas Eccleston set to work with his scheme for draining Martin Mere. 100yds ahead cross another footbridge and as you do note the attractive converted windmill over the fields. Immediately over the bridge turn left to follow footpath 133 beside the ditch and cross the stile in the field corner. The footpath joins another ditch and follows it for about 20yds. before a sign directs you to the right between the fields to join a raised track now heading straight for Tarlescough Hall. The views are really spectacular here, the Upholland Ridge lies closest, behind that is the broad sweep of the West Pennines and further round the Bowland Fells. Turn right when you reach the cross track which curves around the farm and where it forks take the right track heading for the road. The Wildfowl Trust Reserve, Martin Mere, lies in th. trees to your right. There is plenty to be seen at any season but the reserve is at its best in the winter months when enormous flocks of wildfowl are in residence.

f you do not wish to visit the reserve turn left along Fish Lane and take the first road on the right, Marsh Moss Lane. You now have about a mile of road walking but it is a quiet lane and not too arduous. The lane passes the tiny settlement of New Lane before reaching the Leeds - Liverpool Canal beside the Farmer's Arms, the first of several waterside inns that you pass, or don't pass as the case may be. Turn left onto the nearside towpath, a welcome relief after the last mile of tarmac, and walk past the moorings; I was there in early spring at the start of the season, there was much cleaning and polishing going on as the owners prepared their boats for the summer. Follow the towpath under the A59 and through Burscough to the junction with the Rufford branch of the canal. The area around the junction is deservedly a conservation area known as Top Locks; the row of attractive whitewashed cottages bear the date 1797 although this part of the main canal was opened in 1779 and the branch canal opened in 1781. The towpath rises over a cobbled humped bridge with a tiny stone tollbooth and a dry dock below. Cross the bridge and turn left along the right bank of the Rufford Canal passing the first of the 7 well preserved locks on this stretch of canal .

The way back to Rufford and the starting point is straightforward and needs no directions. However, as you approach the village and the bridge that would take you back to the car park, if you have the energy left and have not already done so I would recommend a short diversion further along the towpath. The stretch of towpath running for 500yds. beyond the bridge is especially attractive, it is overhung with trees within which glimpses of Rufford Old Hall may be seen, a leisurely stroll along it is the perfect end to the walk.