The Maghull Trail

Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4.0 miles / 6.5 km
Time
2h 00m
Start
Maghull railway station
Map
OS Explorer 285 Southport & Chorley
Terrain
Mostly level but some unsurfaced paths
Barriers
One kissing gate, one / -shaped squeeze gap, five flights of steps
Accessibility
Category 5 Explain
Toilets
Public convenience, Leighton Avenue, Maghull
Contact

Sefton Public Rights of Way Team: 0845 140 0845

Look out for Frank Hornby's marble memorial in St Andrew's Church graveyard in Maghull. Frank Hornby used to live on Station Road by Maghull station and later at Quarry Mount, now the convent of Mercy in Hall Lane. He was not only the inventor of Hornby Trains but also of Dinky Toys and Meccano, as well as a Member of Parliament. Just behind the church is the pre-Reformation chapel which dates to 1300.

The little village of Melling, which can be seen from across the canal, used to be surrounded by the marshland around the River Alt. It was occupied by Anglian settlers in the late 6th century, who came from Yorkshire and Durham. At the time of the Domesday survey, Godiva, the widow of Leofric, Earl of Mercia owned Melling which was surrounded by a huge forest that stretched from Waddicar (Wood Acre) to Wood End in Maghull.

Wood Hall Farm is another ancient site, which was owned by the Molyneux family. A charter dated 1300 names a Molyneux of The Wood as a witness. An 'account of all persons within Melling and Cunscough, Freeholders' relating to 1630 lists 'Robert Molyneux of the Hall in ye wood Esq.' The family were persecuted for their adherence to Catholicism during the Elizabethan period. James II is believed to have stayed at the house. The current house is late 17th century with later alterations and together with the stone wall to the north of the front garden is Grade II listed.

  1. Begin in the Maghull station car park.

  2. Turn right along Station Road.

  3. Take the second left, Rutherford Road.

  4. At the end cross the canal on the footbridge and turn left on the towpath.

  5. At Melling Stone Bridge join the road and turn right.

  6. Bear right where the road forks.

  7. Pass through Wood Hall farmyard.

  8. After passing underneath the railway turn left along the motorway for a short distance.

  9. Cross the footbridge.

  10. Follow the path across to the other carriageway and under the subway.

  11. Cross Dunnings Bridge Road.

  12. Take the path opposite along the left hand bank of the River Alt.

  13. Cross the second bridge and head up the track.

  14. Cross the dismantled railway and Melling Brook.

  15. Cross Ormonde Drive and join Liverpool Road South.

  16. Follow the road round to the left.

  17. Turn right on to Avondale Avenue.

  18. The path from the end of the road takes you to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath again; turn right, passing under the Northway.

  19. Recross Draper's Bridge.

  20. Turn right at the T junction and return to the station.