ウィラルでののおすすめランニングルート

The North Wirral section of the Circular Trail takes you from Seacombe Ferry Terminal to West Kirby, via the rejuvenated New Brighton Resort with its Floral Pavilion, Fort Perch Rock, Lighthouse, Marine Lake and new Retail Park. The route continues along the promenade to Wallasey Beach and into North Wirral Coastal Park. The route then turns inland at The Gunsite, the location of World War II gun emplacements, to follow the Birket Cycle Route. Pedestrians can if they wish carry on along the embankment past Leasowe Common where in 1864 the oldest skeleton in Merseyside was found. Moreton Beach is where the world’s first passenger hovercraft service operated to Rhyl in North Wales. The route joins North Shore near Leasowe Lighthouse, which is the oldest brick built lighthouse in the country. Pass the prehistoric sunken forest and onto Meols, famous for the number of archaeological metal finds that have been made there totalling over 5,000 and most of which date from 500BC to 1500AD. At King’s Gap, cyclists head inland, whilst pedestrians can continue along the foreshore or via Stanley Road to Red Rocks and onto West Kirby.

Leasowe Lighthouse built in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain and possibly the first building of its kind in the world to use cavity walls for insulation. It stands 101ft (27m) tall on Leasowe Common. It was one of four lights on the North Wirral Foreshore used to guide ships into the entrance to the Rock Channel and the Port of Liverpool. Now a site of public interest, and a Grade II Listed monument, the Lighthouse features guided tours and special events with displays about Leasowe Lighthouse, the North Wirral Coastal Park and the Wirral Coastline.

Meols beach is sandy and offers both parking and toilets. Just off the A553 to Hoylake, and served by local buses, Meols beach also has local shops and cafes nearby if you need to stock-up for your trip to the seaside. Horse riding and sand buggying are popular at certain times of the year at Meols, but be sure to check weather and tide times. Meols beach is also popular during the winter for coastal birdwatching. The four-mile-long North Wirral Coastal Park is next to the beach and adjacent to the sea embankment.

Meols beach is sandy and offers both parking and toilets. Just off the A553 to Hoylake, and served by local buses, Meols beach also has local shops and cafes nearby if you need to stock-up for your trip to the seaside. Horse riding and sand buggying are popular at certain times of the year at Meols, but be sure to check weather and tide times. Meols beach is also popular during the winter for coastal birdwatching. The four-mile-long North Wirral Coastal Park is next to the beach and adjacent to the sea embankment.

Leasowe Lighthouse Built in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, Leasowe Lighthouse is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain and possibly the first building of its kind in the world to use cavity walls for insulation. It stands 101ft (27m) tall on Leasowe Common. It was one of four lights on the North Wirral Foreshore used to guide ships into the entrance to the Rock Channel and the Port of Liverpool. Now a site of public interest, and a Grade II Listed monument, the Lighthouse features guided tours and special events with displays about Leasowe Lighthouse, the North Wirral Coastal Park and the Wirral Coastline.

The North Wirral section of the Circular Trail takes you from Seacombe Ferry Terminal to West Kirby, via the rejuvenated New Brighton Resort with its Floral Pavilion, Fort Perch Rock, Lighthouse, Marine Lake and new Retail Park. The route continues along the promenade to Wallasey Beach and into North Wirral Coastal Park. The route then turns inland at The Gunsite, the location of World War II gun emplacements, to follow the Birket Cycle Route. Pedestrians can if they wish carry on along the embankment past Leasowe Common where in 1864 the oldest skeleton in Merseyside was found.

"Central Lodge is one of the 8 gatehouses built in the early 1840s as part of the original Birkenhead Park. It was lived in by Head Gardeners of the Park until the late 20th century. The building is undergoing complete renovation and modernisation. The property has been empty for over 12 years and has suffered much decay. The current owners have removed modern plaster and ceilings to reveal the fabric of the building and visitors can now see original features including a blind window, internal guttering and downpipe, copper heater and bench sink." Source: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/central-lodge-birkenhead-park.html

"John Laird (14 June 1805 – 29 October 1874) was a British shipbuilder and key figure in the development of the town of Birkenhead. He was the elder brother of Macgregor Laird. He was one of the first to use iron in the construction of ships" You can read more about him here; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Laird_(shipbuilder)

"This building is the Head Office of The British East India Company Limited. This famous building was constructed in 1871 as Britain’s first purpose build college for Art and Science. The land, construction and running costs were fully financed by Mr John Laird, the son of William Laird the Scottish Philanthropist famous for his founding of Modern Birkenhead and the well known British Shipyard Cammel Lairds Ltd. The building became internationally known as the Birkenhead College of Art." Source: http://www.thebritisheastindiacompany.com/TheJohnLairdCentre.html

"The Grand Entrance is at the northeast entrance to Birkenhead Park. It consists of three arches flanked by lodges and is in Ionic style. The entrance was designed by Lewis Hornblower, with amendments by Joseph Paxton, the designer of the park. The park, and its entrance, were opened in 1847. The Grand Entrance is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building." Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_Park

The fountain is also where lots of very friendly grey squirrels hang out 😁 They are obviously very comfortable around humans amd look like they expect to be fed by everyone who passes by 😁

"The Jackson Memorial Drinking Fountain near the main entrance to Birkenhead Park is in the form of an obelisk that was made in 1860. It is in polished granite, and stands on a pedimented plinth surrounded by steps. It is dedicated to John Somerville Jackson who was instrumental in the creation of the park." Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_Park

The cafe is excellent too. I opted for the 'meal deal' - delicious cheese and ham toastie with a packet of crisps and a large cappucino - for a very reasonable £7.20. They also serve 'brunch' ice cream and milkshakes. The cafe is 'pooch' friendly too. It is modern, clean and bright and, unsurprisingly, very popular.

The Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre and Cafe is an excellent facility. It is open from 9 am to 4 pm seven days a week. The centre offers guided walks, events, activities, nature education, bird feeding, volunteering opportunities and room hire. It has a function room and gallery space. You can also purchase approved duck feed and bird seed at the centre. The Park staff discourage visitors from feeding the ducks, geese and swans with bread or any other food not designed for them as it is unhealthy and attracts rats which are a danger to the wildlife.

"Birkenhead park was designated a conservation area in 1977 and declared a Grade I listed landscape by English Heritage in 1995. The park influenced the design of Central Park in New York and Sefton Park in Liverpool. The park contains many listed buildings. There are many historic listed lodges of various designs within the grounds of the park. The park has a modern visitor centre, café, children's play area, woodland walks and various sporting facilities and clubs." Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_Park

I take the train from James street station, one stop to Hamilton square then past the ferry terminal and onto New Brighton it’s a great cycle to Meols stopping at the green hut for refreshments very good food.

"Leasowe Lighthouse was in use until 14 July 1908; by this time, the sand banks had shifted so much that Rock Channel was barely navigable, rendering the lighthouse obsolete. The lighthouse was a place of work and also a home. The last lighthouse keeper was a Mrs. Williams, the only known female lighthouse keeper in this period. Upon its closure as a lighthouse, Mrs Williams moved into a cottage but kept the lighthouse open as a tearoom during the summer months. In 1930, the lighthouse was bought by the Wallasey Corporation. Mrs Williams died in 1935 and the building was closed. The lighthouse was listed as a historic Grade II building with Historic England in 1952. A period of disrepair ensued and the lighthouse became derelict. It was then restored by a community group called "The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse". Source: Wikipedia

"An Act of Parliament passed in 1761 allowed the Liverpool Docks Trustees to build four lighthouses. Two were built at Moreton. These were the Upper Mockbeggar Light and Lower Mockbeggar Light. When lined up, these allowed for safe passage through "Rock Channel" to the Port of Liverpool. The former is now known as Leasowe Lighthouse, while the latter was built one quarter of a mile into the sea and was destroyed by a storm in 1769, with its replacement, Bidston Lighthouse, built in 1771 on Biston Hill. The other two lighthouses permitted by the Act were built at Hoylake (the name Hoylake was derived from Hoyle Lake, the name of a channel of water between Hilbre Island and Dove Point, Meols) to facilitate safe access into the Hoyle Lake anchorage. Protected by a wide sandbank known as Hoyle Bank and with a water depth of about 20 feet, it provided a safe anchorage for ships." Source: Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leasowe_Lighthouse

Coffee and cake kiosk

As Dave has pointed out it is absolutely necessary to check out the tide times. Rule of thumb is that you must start your return journey frim Hilbre Island at least three hours before high tide. Please check with the RNLI Life Guards before you set off. They are very helpful and have expert knowledge of the area, the route and the tides.