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Walk Around Maghull - Country and Canal Walk

9.69 miles (15.6 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This town in Merseyside has some nice walking trails along the local canal and nature reserve.
This route from the town uses sections of the Trans Pennine Trail and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to create a circular walk through the surrounding area. On the way you'll also pass the famous racecourse at Aintree and the delightful Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve which lies just west of the town.
The route starts in Maghull where you can pick up the canal towpath and follow it south towards Melling and Waddicar. You then head west through Aintree, passing the racecourse which hosts the Grand National each year. The route then leaves the canal and heads north through Netherton to Sefton village where you could enjoy a rest at the fine local public house.
The route then takes you through the Lunt Meadows, a peaceful wetland area where you can look out for a wide variety of birds. Near here you pick up the Trans Pennine Trail and follow it east back to the canal at Maghull.
For more detail on the history and community of the town see the informative wikipedia wikipedia page.

Maghull OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Maghull Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Running Horses pub is located in a fine spot next to the canal just north of the town centre in Lydiate. They serve good food and have a nice garden area next to the canal. You can find them at 25 Bell Lane, L31 4EN.

Dog Walking

The canal trails make for a fine dog walk. You are asked to please keep them on leads through Lunt Meadows. The Running Horses mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Follow the canal north and it will take you towards Omrskirk and Burscough. Mere Sands Wood and the Martin Mere nature reserve can be visited in this area.
To the south there's Croxteth Country Park to explore.

Photos

Anglers on the Leeds Liverpool canal in Maghull - geograph.org.uk - 2540854

Anglers on the Leeds Liverpool canal in Maghull

Trans Pennine signage in Maghull - geograph.org.uk - 2898018

Trans Pennine signage in Maghull

Leeds-Liverpool Canal from Ledson's Bridge, Waddicar- geograph.org.uk - 105410

Leeds-Liverpool Canal from Ledson's Bridge, Waddicar. "The Village", the new estate to the right of the photo has recently been built on the site of an old pottery works. The canal at this point was in a very poor state a few years ago when it was still an industrial site.

River Alt from the Trans Pennine Trail - geograph.org.uk - 1293129

River Alt from the Trans Pennine Trail

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal - geograph.org.uk - 3046488

Canal view at Aintree

Netherton Green - geograph.org.uk - 95129

Netherton Green

Showrick Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 149283

Showrick Bridge over the River Alt at Lunt Meadows.

Grassland, with a view towards Sefton Church in the next square - geograph.org.uk - 2782911

Grassland, with a view towards Sefton Church

GPS Files

GPX File

Maghull.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)