Ride Guide: Merseyside and Wirral
Posted: 18 April 2008
Merseyside is a region with a strong cycling history, with some of the UK's oldest cycling clubs and a string of successful competitive riders to its name. Taking Merseyside and Wirral as a whole there is a huge range of riding on offer on roads, trails, towpaths and waterfront promenades.
Above: The Mersey ferry and the Liver Buildings - two icons of a region steeped in cycling history and with some varied and fascinating riding on offer.
This is even more surprising given that the area is highly urbanised, with Liverpool practically merging into the outlying towns of St Helens, Widnes and Bootle on the north of the Mersey, while Birkenhead sprawls toward the various towns and villages to the south of the Mersey on the Wirral, that wedge of land between the two estuaries of the Dee and the Mersey. Indeed, rivers and other waterways characterise much of the riding to be had in the region. Whilst the region isn't blessed with hills of any note, other historical and geographical quirks make it an interesting cycling area.
Above: Hoylake promenade, part of around 20 miles of traffic free riding with a maritime theme
For example, families visiting the region on warm summer day could take in the Liverpool Promenade, a 7 mile-traffic free stretch along the Mersey estuary from Cressington to Liverpool Docklands, taking in the many attractions of Albert Dock, Beatle City and the new Liverpool Echo arena, not forgetting the Three Graces, Liverpool's iconic architectural marvels, the Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the grand offices of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. After coffee and cakes at one of Albert Dock's many cafes you could either call it a day or catch that other Liverpool icon, immortalised in song, the Mersey ferry, across to Wirral and continue to exploit the miles of riverfront riding to be had, stretching from the Seacombe Ferry Terminal, with its many attractions, all around the tip of the peninsula past New Brighton to Hoylake and West Kirkby.
However it's inland on the Wirral peninsula where the best riding is to be had. 'The Lanes' have always been a magnet for Liverpool roadies, a maze of quiet country lanes toward the inland end of the peninsula and merging into some great road riding in Cheshire and North Wales. The area around Willaston and Raby is particularly rich in narrow lanes, thatched houses, great pub stops and cafes. The most famous of all Wirral's cake stops and perhaps the most famous cyclist's café in the country is Eureka Café at Two Mills (known locally simply as 'the Mills'). This has been a dedicated cyclist's café for over half a century and is a honeypot for all the area's dedicated roadies. Eureka can be a destination in itself or more often than not a staging post for more extensive day rides into Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales, being only a few miles away from Queensferry and the Welsh border. Eureka's huge mugs of tea, cheese on toast, homemade cakes and sub-cultural nexus are unmissable.
Above and below - the Eureka Cafe at Two Mills, always a nexus for cyclists
For leisure cyclists, the Wirral Way is the perfect way to see rural Wirral without touching a road. Stretching from Hooton and running west to West Kirkby at the tip of the peninsula, the Wirral Way passes through nature reserves, a period 1950s railway station and affords great views across the Dee estuary to the Welsh coast. At the end of the ride you can dip your feet in the sea at West Kirkby and go seal spotting on Hilbre Island.
Back across the river, the city of Liverpool has much to offer the leisure cyclist, even though it is far more urbanised that it's semi rural counterpart 'cross the Mersey. Aside from the Liverpool Promenade, there's another 13 miles of traffic free path in the form of Liverpool Loopline, which runs from Walton in the north to Halewood in the south and uses the route of a former loopline which closed down in the Beeching era. The Loopline is part of the Transpennine Trail (NCN 62) and can be followed all the way through the duneland to Southport heading west. To the east the trail crosses through Speke into historic thatched roofed Hale village before following the Mersey estuary through Pickering's Pasture toward the landmark of the Runcorn Bridge and beyond.
Above: Liverpool Loopline, near West Derby, looking east, on a fine winter morning
Linking with the Loopline toward its northern end is the Leeds Liverpool Canal, which offers some interesting towpath riding. You can head west into Liverpool City Centre via Litherland and Seaforth where the canal terminates with a stunning series of 6 locks, where it drops down to the Mersey at Stanley Dock. Or you can head east and follow the canal out on its rambling journey over the Pennines.
Above: The locks at the Liverpool terminus of the canal
Within the city itself, Liverpool's many parks offer some great leisure riding. Calderstones and Sefton Park have some great paths and ornamental gardens, while further out into the suburbs and by far the largest park in the city, Croxteth Country Park has miles of paths and woodland trails, plus a stately home, rare breeds farm and kids playground to explore.
Above: the cut and thrust of urban cycling - Liverpool's 500 acre Croxteth Park
Although Liverpool doesn't yet have an established cycling culture in the way that York, Oxford, Bath or Cambridge has, there is a growing cycle network emerging to serve the needs of the cycle commuter, including plans for a cycling hub with showers and secure parking in the new city centre Liverpool One development.
Further to the north, there's some great road riding to be had, emanating from Maghull and exploring the Fylde coast inland of Southport. The riding here has a Flandrian quality about it with narrow muddy lanes and wide open vistas. It's possible to escape the city from the north and reach the moors above Rivington Pike without hitting major roads and traffic.
Like all areas, a little local knowledge and a good map goes a long way in Merseyside and the Wirral. The region's established clubs offer a friendly way to get to know the riding on offer in the region. Travelwise, an agency of the local transport authority also offer led rides throughout the year suitable for beginners. There are also regular rides and events offered by Liverpool Primary Care Trust and Wheels for All, using the region's traffic free routes.
Links:
Ride Guide: Merseyside and Wirral
Merseyside and Wirral Ride Guide showcasing the varied riding on offer in and around Liverpool
Location:
Liverpool
Difficulty:
Beginner
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