An Inexpensive Day Out – by Fr. Hubert Strowbridge, former Parish Priest of St. Helen’s. 
This is the first in what we hope will be a series of articles intended for use by those who have an English National Countrywide Bus Pass.
Our first destination is Chorley, where the real Market Day is Tuesday – but there is a Market that is open every day except Sunday. To get to Chorley we go to Southport first. We must get to Southport for 10.50 am. It will partly depend on where you live as to how you get to Southport. Obviously if you live near the Railway Station (Blundellsands and Crosby or Hall Road) or wish to drive to the Station, then obviously use the train (usually a quarter hourly service) to Southport. If you live on or near the Liverpool to Southport bus route (47 or 48 or X2) you would perhaps prefer the bus ride.
Anyhow you need to be at the Lord Street/Duke Street junction (Morrisons) by 10.50 am to catch the 347 bus (on the same side as Morrisons) to Chorley, arriving around 12 noon. the Market is only a short walk from the Bus Station. There are plenty of eating places in Chorley. If, however, you have brought your own refreshments you might like to go into Astley Park – only a few minutes walk from the Bus Station – to devour them.
On these outings we will sometimes try to be like the “Wise Men” who the Bible says “went back another way.” So if we go back to the Bus Station for either 2.10 pm or 4.15 pm we can get the 337 bus to Ormskirk and from Ormskirk bus station we can go down the slope to get the train to Sandhills and then from there the train to Crosby. If you wish to return via Southport you would need to get the 347 bus at 3.10 from Chorley Bus Station to Southport, as that is the last one on that route. (Please let Fr. Strowbridge know if you enjoyed this article or if you went on the day out, by contacting us. Thank you!)
