Trips & Adventures – 22 March 2018

Historically part of Lancashire, Southport was founded in 1792 when William Sutton, an inn keeper from Churchtown, built a bathing house at what is now the south end of Lord Street. At that time, the area, known as South Hawes, was sparsely populated and dominated by sand dunes. The town was once home to Napoleon III of France.

We had the “special” – fish, chips, peas, bread & butter and a cup of tea/coffee at Jackson’s Traditional Fish & Chip shop. The venue was voted Best Chippy in Southport in 2010 and again in 2013! We didn’t try all the other chip shops, but we certainly enjoyed our meals.

Later we went to Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles, but we could only walk about 100 yards as the pier was being repaired.

We had no alternative but to visit Wetherspoons (!) – The Willow Grove – for refreshments.

This needs booking pronto. On the day we have chosen, 5 of the available 13 time slots are already sold out!

Trips & Adventures – 15 March 2018

March is a busy time with Tony, Pauline and Lynn having birthdays all within the same week – altogether we must be nearly 200 years old!

After meeting in Yates on Portland Street, we made our way to The Goose to celebrate the birthdays with pie, mash, mushy peas and gravy …. and a good time was had by all.

The other website finally allowed me to add photos. Here is a taster:

Trips & Adventures – 8 March 2018

We braved the sleet and snow to catch the train to Marple where the weather was dry and bright and much warmer than recently.

We had a coffee and then found a homely pub – The Norfolk Arms – selling “artisan food”. Artisan food turned out to be pie and chips and mushy peas for an expensive price, but it was delicious and we would recommend returning there.

We climbed the steep hill to Marple and walked down the canal towpath ending at the aqueduct.

Marple Aqueduct was built to carry the lower level of the Peak Forest Canal across a length of the River Goyt and is the highest canal aqueduct in England and the highest masonry-arch aqueduct in Britain. In 1966 it was listed as a Grade 1 ancient monument.

We carried on towards Romiley where we got the train back to Manchester.