The canal was a relative haven of peace and tranquillity compared to the roads we walked on and the busy roads below us in the docks area (A565; A5036). The verges and the banks of the canal were absolutely teeming with wild flowers, fruits and birdlife. Joanna and I were both enamoured of the baby Coots and Moorhens. On the quiet canal the constant calling of a solitary swan had a disconcerting element to it, heavy with immense sorrow.
On a brighter note, there was a glut of blackberries lining the walls and fences of the canal and we both enjoyed the fresh fruit for breakfast, taking care to only pick the high fruit. We left the canal at a point where it started to turn even further inland. Further up, the canal takes an even sharper turn at it heads towards Kirby where it becomes part of the Trans Penine Trail. From where we came off the canal we did walk the busy road for a time but only between Bootle Oriel and Seaforth.
The last section was slightly spoiled by a boring mile-long straight stretch where we were jammed between the firing range on our left and the railway track on our right. The saving grace was the weather which had stayed good throughout the day and was blistering hot on this final stretch. Finishing the straight stretch we had a final mile in to the town to the railway station, where we caught the train back to Liverpool.
All in all, a good day's walking with the crowning glory being the wild flowers, wild life and the wonderfully sweet and sour wild brambles.