Walk Leader: Steve Martin

Number on walk:  12

Distance: 10.5 miles

Weather: Sunny spells

Ample parking at Aintree train Station or across the road at the Toby Carvery pub where all you can eat Breakfast costs £5.49 drinks are extra. Served from 8am. This is where some of the 11 attendees started.

The railway line was built by the Cheshire Lines Committee extending their Manchester to Liverpool train line to the docks north of Liverpool and also onto Southport between 1879 and 1884.  The line finally closed in 1964. In 1986 plans were drawn up for its conversion to a walking and cycling route. Construction began in 1988, and the final section to Aintree opened in 2000 forming part of the Trans Pennine Trail, European Walking Route E8 and National Cycle Network Route 62.

The Liverpool Loop Line is a linear walk and we walked a stretch from Aintree train station to Hunts Cross train station; 10.5 miles following the old railway line around the eastern side of Liverpool. The old railway path provides a flat, well surfaced green corridor through the urban environment of east Liverpool and forms part of the award-winning Trans Pennine Trail.

The route is managed like a linear woodland park. It runs through rocky cuttings and high on embankments with wide views across the city. Passing through Fazakerley, over the East Lancs Road, (great views of Anfield stadium), Walton, Old West Derby train station, Knotty Ash, (Alderhey Childrens Hospital), Broad Green, under the M62 at the Rocket interchange, Childwall, where we stopped for lunch at Lyndene Park, Gateacre and finally onto Hunts Cross.  Here we caught the Southport train (every 15 mins) changing at Sandhills for the Ormskirk train (every 15 mins).  Total train time 41 mins. A Day Saver ticket costing £4.20 (Sept 2022)

A really nice easy path shared with dog walkers, joggers and cyclist. A hidden gem through the suburbs of Liverpool. 

Photos can be seen 'here'