6 reasons why you should visit Lydiate

Summer is here, so it’s time to start planning some days out around the city region, and this time we have your guide to Lydiate.

Here is our look at Lydiate, the gateway to West Lancashire and a lovely location to visit for an afternoon walk, a step back in time, or a pint in the oldest pub in the area.

History

If you think Lydiate is just an overspill of the larger Maghull, think again. The village has a long and distinguished history and retains its own unique identity to this day.

The name comes from the old English Hlid-geat, which was pronounced Lidyat, and literally means swing-gate, indicating that it was an enclosed space where animals grazed, and efforts were made to stop them straying onto the more profitable surrounding arable land.

The influential Ireland family settled in the 16th century and set about building a hall and chapel, similar in style to Speke Hall.

Its ruins can still be found today in the grounds of Lydiate Hall Farm in Southport Road.

Another significant time in its history was the construction of the Leeds to Liverpool canal in 1771, and the Preston turnpike road in the same year which both go through Lydiate and remain significant to the area to this day.

Being close to the old turnpike, now the A59, makes Lydiate easy to reach and a nice stop off if you are heading further afield to Southport or Ormskirk.

Views

Lydiate is quite a flat area but on a clear day the views from the Cheshire Lines path, or the canal side, are of acres of gorgeous countryside. Visit early in the morning and you might spot local wildlife, hares, deer, pheasant and birds of prey.

During the autumn you might be lucky enough to spot migrating geese that have settled on the local fields and moss land for the night before they continue their journey to warmer climes.

Walk

The Cheshire Lines path can be accessed in Lydiate to enjoy and easy walk to Southport, Liverpool, or beyond.

Train services were once run by the Cheshire Lines Railways Company on the moss land that lies between Southport and Liverpool. There was a Lydiate Station on the corner of Carr Lane.

The line closed in the early 1950s and in the 1980s opened as a foot and cycle path and remains very popular to this day.

Cheshire Lines is part of the Trans Pennine Trail, the coast-to-coast route linking Southport and Hornsea on the northeast coast, as well as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull in-between.

Local produce

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to buying local produce. Call into either Lydiate Hall Farm Shop or Church View for fruit and vegetables, eggs, cheese and more.

Both sit on Southport Road and if you call into Lydiate Hall Farm you might even spot the resident peacocks.

Lunch or evening meal

The Running Horses is a traditional pub in Bell Lane near the canal, perfect if you are going for a walk by the water.

With everything from small plates to burgers, grills and in between you’ll be spoiled for choice for lunch or an evening meal.

The Sunday lunch also comes highly recommended and there is a large beer garden for a sunny day.

Find out more and see the menu here.

A good pub

The Scotch Piper is the oldest pub in Merseyside (and before the new boundaries, in Lancashire).

You will find this impressive old ale house on Lydiate’s Southport Road and will immediately feel steeped in its history the minute you walk inside.

A traditional thatched inn, it retains much of the original features from its construction in 1320 when it was called The Royal Oak.

Legend has it that an injured Highland piper took refuge in the pub in 1745, fell in love with the inn keeper’s daughter and the Scotch Piper was born.

It is a grade two listed building and has been lovingly restored following a fire in 2016.

Next door to the inn is the ruins of St Catherine’s chapel or Lydiate Abbey. There is a legend that there are underground tunnels connecting the two buildings, used during the late 1500s to protect Catholic priests, but they have never been found.

Monday night is classic car night and Wednesday is bike night. If you’re out for a morning walk and fancy a nice breakfast, the pub serves bacon and eggs until 12 noon. They also have a camper van area at the back.

The inn regularly appears in the Good Beer Guide so non drivers are guaranteed a good pint.

They have regular live music nights see their Facebook for details of what’s on.

Find out more about the Scotch Piper here.