Local Life - St Helens - February 2018

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silver dome of the Observatory above the vast trees.
You’ll leave the track as it turns towards Pex Hill,
and continue down the footpath on the right of the
corner, heading down past Cronton Hall. But before
you reach Cronton Hall, on your right you will see
a paddock protected by a metal fence which is
home to the most beautiful black Shire horse which
would give Black Beauty a run for its money.
Once you reach Hall Lane (the main road), turn right
and enjoy the quaint village of Cronton. You’ll pass
the weathered remains of Cronton Cross which was
once the resting place for bearers carrying to the
cemetery, and continue straight on to Penny Lane.
Just before you reach Tue Lane, take the public
footpath on the left. Continue along the footpath
which reminded me of the carriage tracks in films
like Great Expectations, until you’ve crossed the
field and hit a stone footbridge that takes you on
towards Cronton Road.
Cross the road and go right, then turn left into
Lodge Lane. Once past the farm, ignore the first
public footpath sign and continue on to the second
one on your left. Take this one, keeping to the right
of the ditch, through the field and into the next,
until you reach the footbridge on your left.
Go over the footbridge and follow the path until reaching the next
footpath sign and turn right. This will then take you up along the
edge of fields until you emerge onto Chapel Lane.
Here you’ll cross the road and go right, following the road round the
bend to the next public footpath on the left. Take this footpath and
you’ll pass the farm building – but if there’s been heavy rainfall be
wary of the deep tractor tracks – and go through two small gates, and
continue to follow the path round and out onto Sandy Lane, where
you go left.
You can take a closer look at
the Dream statue on our Sutton
walk. There are guides to all our
walks at www.locallife247.co.uk