A Wonderful Walk on Wirral - 15.4.23
Leader – Kate Hughes
Number on walk – 17 from both West Lancs and Merseystride plus four guests
Miles – 17
Weather – Glorious
And as it turned out, it was just that, supported by the most beautiful sunny, warm early Spring day.
Starting at Hoylake Station, we went to the West Kirby War Memorial with views across the River Dee to Snowdonia and the Great Orme. The walk continued through Ashton Park which once hosted a tennis tournament and was graced by the likes of John McEnroe. We climbed up to the Mariner’s Beacon, which when lined up with Leasowe Lighthouse provided the safe navigation line through the sandbanks in Liverpool Bay.
Walking through Caldy Wood, the next stop was Royden Park and Hilbark, a house originally built in Oxton in the 19th Century. It was sold to Sir Ernerst Royden in 1921 and ten years later, Hilbark had been moved piece by piece to Roydon Park where it is now a 5 star hotel.
We walked down through the Dungeon with a waterfall and large cave used by smugglers and wreckers to hide goods that were to be moved on to new owners. We turned back towards West Kirby initially following the Wirral Way, a former railway line which became the country’s first linear park and in 2023 celebrates 50 years of use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Continuing along the shoreline we set off for Wirral’s’ jewel in the crown, Hilbre Island, where we spent some time enjoying watching the birdlife and seals hauled out on the Hoyle Bank. Hilbre Island, dedicated to St Hildburgh is no longer inhabited but both stone age and bronze age artefacts have been found there. It once hosted a cell of Monks and later a pub with interesting opening hours. Hilbre’s lighthouse at a mere 3m tall is reported to be smallest solar powered lighthouse in the world.
On return from the island, the walk finished by crossing the fairways of Royal Liverpool Golf Couse which will host The Open later this year. Having walked past the front of the Club House, we returned to Hoylake station past St Hildeburgh’s Church, a Grade II listed building, where Kate finally found a carpet of bluebells!
