Keith Carter leads a walk through the countryside around Mawdesley, but makes sure he's back in time for tea

Mawdesley folk have produced their own walk called the Mawdesley Jubilee Trail to give local people and visitors a sample of the countryside around their village, and very good it is too. But regular readers will be aware that I prefer to research my walks myself without consulting other published guides and this month’s walk is no different.

My practice is to look at the map and focus on the area to be covered and usually an obvious route leaps out at me. Sometimes obstacles present themselves, a footpath diversion, a farmyard with barking dogs, a busy road, and the route has to be adjusted accordingly. I usually walk the route, often with my companion Jim, preferably on a fine day fit for photography, and on rare occasions have to go back a second time if something is bothering me.

Some rights of way are in dispute and some way marking is insufficient or non-existent. I don’t go to the lengths that I observed when out with a certain Footpath Society of taking a pair of secateurs for use where stiles have become overgrown by hawthorn or otherwise obstructed. This is going a bit far. If a hedge needs trimming, I say, let the farmer do it.

Visitors to Mawdesley are often drawn there by Cedar Farm and although shopping, contemporary crafts, designer accessories and ‘gardenalia’ don’t attract me, they sell the finest tiffin I have ever eaten. It goes straight into my Top Tiffin list which also includes Rocky Road, Flapjack and Chocolate Fudge Cake.

Our walk starts from Cedar Farm car park, turning right out of the entrance and following the lane to where it is joined by Gorsey Lane from the left. Just beyond the junction, on the left, is a stile and footpath sign and this is our way forward. With the property called South View to the right of us, go through two paddocks and at the far left corner of the second, enter woodland.

Cross a stream by a plank and follow the muddy, fenced path to a pond, keeping left to a gate that brings us to a cul de sac with new residences and a children’s slide.

Keep to the right here, ignore a footbridge on the right but follow the stream and join Tarnbeck Drive until coming to a main road. Turn right and opposite Round Bank Farm take the opening on the left, quite a broad access track which passes an equestrian centre called Jigsaw.

At an obvious fork leave the track and keep ahead through a gateway into a field then stay on the edge with a line of trees to the left. On meeting a further track, go left, cross a bridge with stone parapets and join Gales Lane to where it meets Blackmoor Road.

Turn right then left on to Sandy Lane and at the next junction take the left turn then right to arrive in Bispham Green. Here you will find Home Farm Shop selling a fine range of deli-style produce including fresh vegetables and local cheeses and a great little pub The Eagle and Child.

Take the lane beside the pub, Back Lane, and in 50 yards look for a stile on the right which we cross into a field. Walk along the right hand boundary beside a line of trees and when reaching a hedge, the path stays to the right of it as far as a bend in a lane leading to Sills Farm.

To avoid the farm yard, take a gate to the right of a property and enter a narrow path as far as a stile. From here take a line slightly right across a field badly poached by cattle to a stile in the fence ahead and after one further field cross an unusual stile with an old slab come to the road beside the primary school.

To the right of the school is the Farmers Arms pub. Turn left onto Bentleys Lane, walking along it for about 900 yards. If you look to the right the higher, tree-covered high ground is Harrock Hill.

At the first two properties on the right hand side look for a footpath sign on the left just before Jackson’s Lane which is a turning on the right of the road.

Follow the right hand boundary fence of two fields until we meet ametal gate but no stile. Turn left onto a cinder track, pass the end of a stand of poplars and turn right, heading towards Cedar Farm.

In 50 yards a gate admits us to a narrow path that brings us back to the paddocks for the small animals.

Now’s the time to sample that tiffin.

Compass points

Area of walk: Mawdesley, Cedar Farm and Bispham Green

Distance: Five miles, allow two hours

Map: OS Explorer 285 Southport and Chorley

Refreshments: Cedar Farm, The Eagle and Child at Bispham Green

Pushchair/wheelchair friendly? No

Keith will be back next month with a walk around Belmont. For more great walks, click here

The print version of this article appeared in the February 2012 issue of Lancashire Life

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