Wirral Visitor Guide

Wirral Visitor Guide
Caldy Village
Wirral is the perfect place to get your fresh air fix, whether it’s exploring the
miles of stunning coastline or discovering the charm of the quaint little
villages. This guide will ensure you make the most of your time here, giving
you the very best choice of where to play, eat and stay in Wirral.
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Contents:
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16
26
28
36
40
42
44
Coast & Countryside
Walk & Cycle
Birdwatching
Food
Golf
Spas
Watersports
Port Sunlight
46
48
52
54
56
60
62
Wirral Attractions
Suggested Itineraries
Events & Festivals
On Our Doorstep
Accommodation
Eating Out
Map
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4
New Brighton lighthouse
Coast & Countryside
Seven centuries ago the enterprising Benedictine
monks built a ferry ‘cross the Mersey’ and so opened
up the lonely headland for others who would come in
the centuries ahead. What they found was a Wirral
wonderland with coast and countryside among the
finest in Britain. The spectacular hills, shores and cliffs,
home to boisterous seabirds and a wealth of wild sights
and sounds, are still part of the natural, awesome and
free spectacular which greets every visitor.
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Thurstaston beach, Wirral Country Park
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T
IME FOR A WALK on the
wildside? Or just drive along the
quiet country roads and explore the
charm of the little villages.
The 25 miles of coastline, with some of the cleanest
bathing waters in Europe, encloses the award-winning
Wirral Country Park, the peninsula’s top tourist attraction
for more than three decades. Traces of the old railway that
ran between West Kirby and Hooton still remain. But now
this is the Wirral Way, a 12-mile trail where birds nest in
the thick hedgerows, badgers and foxes hunt in the quiet
places and the birds share the sky with ten kinds of butterflies
in the summer.
The trail traces the River Dee along the shores and cliffs,
following the scent and feel of sea breezes, the ever-changing
lights of the estuary, looking out to the Welsh shores a few
miles away, and beyond, the majestic mountains.
Wirral Country Park is one of several on Wirral to receive
the coveted Green Flag Award. Thurstaston - the name has
Viking connections - is at the centre and is set in 250 acres of
parkland, woodland and heath, a site of Special Scientific
Interest and a Local Nature Reserve. Thor’s Rock on the hill,
a huge block of isolated sandstone, worn by the weather and the
feet of generations
of scramblers, is
the source of a
local romantic
legend. Some
believe Vikings
held religious
ceremonies here.
USEFUL INFO:
• Wirral Country
Park and The
Wirral Way
0151 648 4371 /
0151 648 3884
Visitor Centre
DID YOU KNOW?
Officially opened in
1973, Wirral Country
Park is the first
designated Country
Park in Britain.
WHAT YOU SAID:
“I found some seaweed
and different pebbles
and shells. I liked
looking across the
river. I look forward to
visiting Thurstaston
again. Thank you.”
Nicole, aged 9,
Manchester.
Photos: (top) wildlife in
the hedgerows of
Heswall; (left) cyclists on
the ‘Wirral Way’; (right)
A family day out at
Wirral County Park.
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USEFUL INFO:
• Royden Park and
Thurstaston
Common
0151 677 7594
• Hilbre Islands Local
Nature Reserve
0151 632 4455
Do not cross to the
islands unless you
have checked
crossing times
(0151 648 4371)
Day permit required
for groups of six or
more
• North Wirral
Coastal Park and
Leasowe Lighthouse
Refreshments and
toilets near
lighthouse
0151 678 5488
DID YOU KNOW?
Hilbre Islands Local
Nature Reserve is
home to a large colony
of Atlantic Grey Seals.
Photos: (top) horse-riders
on the beach at North
Wirral Coastal Park;
(middle) a seal at Hilbre
Island; (left) Leasowe
Lighthouse; (right) the
steam train, Royden Park.
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Royden Park alongside Thurstaston Common is another
huge area of woodland with meadows enriched with flowers,
meres lined with rhododendrons, a place for quiet and
recreation. The steam train is popular with children and arts
and crafts fairs are held during bank holiday weekends.
Hilbre Islands Local Nature Reserve, a mile offshore at
the mouth of the Dee, is the Wirral Peninsula’s best-known
natural attraction which was once important as a link for
shipping between Holyhead and Liverpool. Now thousands of
visitors cross to the islands for the rich and varied bird life.
The three islands, isolated from the mainland by the tides,
also bring that sense of isolation, a castaway feel, until the ebb
tide exposes the beach again for the walk
back to West Kirby and the everyday world.
Another Green Flag winner, North
Wirral Coastal Park is one of the largest
parks on the peninsula, popular among
naturalists for its diversity of habitats and
proximity to three of the cleanest bathing
beaches in Europe. Rare invertebrates can
be found within
the dunes.
Leasowe
Lighthouse, built
in 1763, is another
Wirral ‘first’; the
oldest brick built
lighthouse in
Britain.
Church Farm ‘Lavender Maze’, Thurstaston
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Bidston Hill windmill
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New Brighton was once the playground for Liverpool folk,
the seaside just across the Mersey. The days of whirly-gigs
and kiss-me-quick hats have vanished into history but now it
has a different future. A £60m redevelopment programme is
unfolding, which includes a multi-million pound theatre and
conference centre, cinemas, bars and restaurants.
Nearby, Vale Park with its bandstand, play area, rose
garden and the setting for events during the summer, is a
quiet haven for all the family.
Birkenhead Park is a fine example of what the Victorians
did for us, the creation of municipal parks and green spaces for
those living in the grime and smoke of industrial England.
This was the first publicly-funded park in the world, a place of
great trees, lakes and many listed buildings, now of national
and international importance. It remains as popular now as
when it opened in 1847, a Grade I Historic Park, now having
had an £11m facelift.
Bidston Hill, surrounded by woodland and heath with its
windmill on top, is a well-known landmark, so familiar it
might almost be a symbol for Wirral itself. Nearby, the Tam
O’Shanter Urban Farm gives children a chance to play and
learn about farm animals in an urban environment.
USEFUL INFO:
• Vale Park Café
0151 638 2666
• Birkenhead Park
Visitor Centre and
Cappuccinos in the
Park Café
0151 652 5197
• Bidston Hill and
Tam O’Shanter
Urban Farm
Refreshments and
toilets at the farm
0151 653 9332
DID YOU KNOW?
Sir Joseph Paxton’s
design for Birkenhead
Park was the inspiration
for New York’s famous
Central Park.
Photos: (left) the ‘Swiss
Bridge’ at Birkenhead
Park; (top) Tam O’Shanter
Farm; (bottom) New
Brighton.
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USEFUL INFO:
• Eastham Country
Park Visitor Centre
0151 327 1007
• Brimstage
www.brimstage
hall.com
• Port Sunlight
Museum
0151 644 6466
DID YOU KNOW?
Brimstage Hall has not
one, but two resident
ghosts! One of the
ghosts, ‘The Lady in
White’ is thought to be
Margaret, eldest
daughter of the Earl
of Shrewsbury.
DON’T MISS:
Port Sunlight Village
Festival is held every
July and includes a
fairground and vintage
car rally. See events
section (page 52).
Photos: (left) the views at
Eastham Country Park;
(top) Thornton Hough;
(right) vintage cars at
Port Sunlight Festival
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Eastham Country Park has been a
popular place to visit for 150 years, since
the site was a Victorian pleasure garden. It
brings together parkland, woodland and sea, a place for cliff
top walks, picnics and games and views across the river.
The best way home is via the B-roads and lanes to explore
the lovely villages, quaint shops and churches where the spires
pop out from the trees. These are scenes straight from a wellloved picture book of the best of rural England.
Brimstage has some of the oldest buildings in Merseyside,
a hamlet built between the 12th and 14th centuries with a
fortified tower at the centre. Why it was built is a mystery, as
is the stone carving of the cat in the chapel - a model for Lewis
Carroll’s Cheshire Cat is a popular belief. Thornton Hough
has an award-winning village green and blacksmiths, and an
‘old England’ rural village atmosphere.
Both are satellite villages to Port Sunlight, which has
more than 800 listed buildings and was created at the end of
the 19th century for Lord Leverhulme’s factory workers. It is
Britain’s best example of a purpose built ‘workers village.’
Visitors sometimes say that Port Sunlight is a fine legacy to
have made for others to enjoy. That might too be said for the
monks who laid the foundations of Wirral seven centuries ago
and opened up
the wilderness,
which now
exists as a coast
and countryside
treasure, among
the best in
Britain.
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Raby (near Thornton Hough)
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Hilbre Islands Local Nature Reserve
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Award-winning Coast and Countryside
W
ITH 25 MILES of dramatic coastline and over 1,500
hectares of countryside, it is little wonder that the
Wirral Peninsula has a large selection of Green Flag Parks
and Marine Conservation Society ‘Recommended Beaches’:
Green Flag Parks:
• Ashton Park
• Birkenhead Park (also
Heritage Award)
• Coronation Gardens
• Dibbinsdale Local
Nature Reserve
• Eastham Country Park
• Hilbre Islands Local
Nature Reserve
• North Wirral Coastal Park
• Royden Park
• Thornton Hough
• Vale Park
• Wirral Country Park
Marine Conservation Society Recommended Beaches:
Each of these beaches has seasonal lifeguards, toilets and
information displayed on water quality and tide times.
• Meols
• Moreton
• Wallasey
USEFUL INFO:
For more information
about all of our awardwinning coast and
countryside, go to
www.visitwirral.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Wherever you are in
Wirral you are less
than four miles from
the coast.
DON’T MISS:
Experience treasured
locations and routes
that will take your
breath away with West
Wirral Walks.
www.westwirral
walks.co.uk
Photos: (left) Brimstage
Maize Maze; (bottom)
Dibbinsdale Local Nature
Reserve.
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
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Thurstaston Common
Walk & Cycle
Time for a walk on the wildside? Or a bike ride along
the miles of stunning coastline? Wirral Peninsula is a
paradise for those who crave fresh air and enjoy a sense
of exploration. Use the following pages to get your
‘fresh air fix’ with step-by-step Walk & Cycle routes.
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Exploring the Heswall Dales
A
FTER A PLEASANT walk along
the coast, and through Dungeon
Wood with its waterfalls and ancient
woodland, this walk rises to one of
Wirral’s highest points, offering
magnificent views across the River Dee.
Start: Banks Road, Heswall.
Distance: 4-5 miles, 2-6 hours
Parking: Free car-park on Banks Road
1 Walk up Banks Road with the coast
behind you and turn left into Broad Lane.
Look out for wildlife in the hedgerows
and the variety of trees, wildflowers and
birds. At the end of Broad Lane (before
the driveway of the large white house), go
through the gap next to the middle gate
and walk to the end of the field.
2 Turn left and go through a kissing
gate, then a pinch gap onto Heswall
Fields. This area, owned by the National
Trust, is a great place to stop for a picnic
and enjoy the views. Listen for the calls of
the estuary birds which feed along the
shoreline, particularly the ‘peep’ call of the
Oystercatchers.
3 At the cliff top
turn right and
follow the cliff
along, keeping the
hedges on your left.
Aim for the National
Trust sign in the far
right hand corner of
the field, past the
pond and walk up the path to meet the
Wirral Way. The first track is the Horse
Ride but take the next left onto the multiuse footpath that is the Wirral Way.
4 Here you can walk up to Thurstaston
Visitor Centre, part of Wirral Country
Park, another great place to have a picnic.
Return the same way (a mile diversion in
total). To continue, take the path to
Dungeon Wood on the right, onto
footpath 72.
5 Follow the path
before crossing a
small bridge on your
left, walk up the
steep steps, then
bear right along the
edge of the dell.
Pass the waterfall on
your right, the path then crosses the
stream before meeting the path that runs
between Thurstaston and Heswall.
6 Turn right and follow the path past
Oldfield Farm to Oldfield Road. This area
has great views over the Dee to Wales and
is nearly the highest point in Wirral.
Photos: (top) Oystercatcher; (left) beach at the
end of Target Road; (middle) Dungeon Wood;
(right) boat at Sheldrakes.
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More Walk & Cycle guides can be found
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100019803. Published 2010.
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7 Walk along Oldfield Road until you
reach the entrance track to Heswall Dales
on your right.
8 Walk down the track and follow it left,
through the Heswall Dales Local Nature
Reserve. At the Rangers House, keep left
and follow this permissive bridleway along
its obvious course, turning right and then
downwards to the road known as Bushway.
Turn right along this short cul-de-sac and
at the end turn left
on to Pipers Lane.
9 Turn right into
Delavor Road, over
the bridge and
follow the road
round to the right.
This is Banks Road,
therefore follow it round to the left to the
car-park, the coast and Sheldrakes.
on our website: www.visitwirral.com
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Birkenhead’s Heritage Tour
T
HIS FASCINATING WALK visits
ten historical attractions in
Birkenhead, including Hamilton Square,
Birkenhead Priory, the U-Boat Story,
the Tramway, the Transport Museum
and Shore Road Pumping Station.
Start: Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.
Distance: About 2 miles. 2-6 hours
Parking: Parking available.
1 Hamilton Square dates from 1826 and
has the most Grade I listed buildings in
one place in England, except for Trafalgar
Square in London. Walk down Brandon
Street and at the main road turn right.
Cross the pedestrian crossing and
continue to the next set of lights before
turning left into Ivy Street. Follow the
Birkenhead Priory sign on your right.
2 This former Benedictine monastery,
dating from 1150, is the oldest building in
Merseyside. Climb St. Mary’s Tower to
enjoy views over Birkenhead and across to
Liverpool. Walk back up Priory Street,
turn right and head down Alabama Way
to the river side at Monks Ferry.
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3 Turn left and
follow the path
along the river to
Woodside Ferry
Terminal. At the
U-boat Story there
is a replica of the
‘Resurgam’, the first
steam-powered
submarine in the world (the original is
wrecked off the coast of North Wales).
From here you could interrupt your walk
by taking a cruise on the Mersey.
4 Outside Woodside Ferry Terminal,
the Birkenhead Tramway Lines lead to
Egerton Bridge. It is claimed that the
original Birkenhead tramway, which first
ran in 1860, was the first in Europe.
Egerton Bridge is a ‘Bascule’ type (French
for see-saw) because it rocks backwards
and forwards to open and close.
5 Walk across Canning Street to Taylor
Street where the Transport Museum is
housed. Here you can see old cars, buses,
trams, motorbikes and military vehicles.
6 Retrace your steps back to Pacific
Road, where you will find Pacific Road
More Walk & Cycle guides can be found
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100019803. Published 2010.
N
Arts Centre. From here, head down
towards the river to view the Mersey
Tunnel Ventilation Tower.
7 Return up Pacific Road to Shore Road
Pumping Station, which houses the
‘Giant Grasshopper’, a giant pump which
used to pump water from the Mersey
Tunnel.
8 To return to Hamilton Square turn
right out of the Pumping Station, cross
over the end of Canning Street and round
to Hamilton Square.
This walk is best followed at weekends, bank
holidays and school holidays as several of the
attractions have restricted opening times. You
can check their respective websites by visiting
www.visitwirral.com.
Photos: (top) vintage tram; (left) Birkenhead
Priory; (right) Shore Road Pumping Station.
on our website: www.visitwirral.com
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Cycling the North West Coast
O
FFERING SPECTACULAR
coastal views, this cycle route
starts at Wirral Country Park and can
be shortened to suit families.
Start: Station Road, Thurstaston
Distance: 15 miles (complete route)
5 miles (to Ashton Park and back)
1 Turn right from the car-park, down
Wirral Way towards West Kirby. You will
pass through Caldy Golf Course.
2 Cubbin’s Green is a great place to stop
and admire the spectacular views of Hilbre
Island and across to Wales.
3 Continue along to Ashton Park, which
has a duck pond and children’s play area. If
you are doing the five mile route, return
back along the same path to Thurstaston. If
not, continue to the end of the Wirral Way
(West Kirby centre). On exiting the Wirral
Way continue past the junction with
Grange Road, over to Orrysdale Road. You
will pass the Concourse leisure centre and
West Kirby Primary School, where the road
becomes Anglesey Road.
4 Ahead you will see a playing field with a
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small car-park. Enter the car-park and take
the path on the left that runs alongside the
golf course to Hoylake Station.
5 On exiting the path, make a left turn
onto Carr Lane and cross the railway line.
Continue up Station Road, where the road
will veer to the right on to North Parade.
Here there are great views of the coastline.
6 Just past the model boating lake, the
road becomes two-way at Meols Parade.
Follow it as it bends right, on to Bennetts
Lane. Continue to junction with Park Road
and turn left. At the ‘fork’, turn right onto
Carr Lane and follow to the right before
making a left into Carr House Lane.
7 Continue to the junction and turn right
onto Millhouse Lane, then go straight over
the traffic lights onto Saughall Road.
Continue to the junction with West Kirby
Road and turn left when you see the pub on
your right. Make a left turn onto Saughall
Massie Road, then a right into Girtrell Road.
8 Follow this road until it veers off to the
left but don’t head off that way. Continue
straight across, over the brook onto Wood
Lane, then turn left and follow the ‘cycle
route 56’ signs to Courtsway West.
More Walk & Cycle guides can be found
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100019803. Published 2010.
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9 When you reach the junction with
Greasby Road, go straight across onto the
Jubilee Route that will take you through to
Arrowe Brook Road. It is recommended you
cross this road using the toucan crossing.
10 When you reach the roundabout, turn
left on to Mill Lane before an almost
immediate right onto Sandy Lane North.
11 Turn right on to Thurstaston Road and
follow it to the junction with Telegraph
Road, which can be busy at times.
12 Go straight over on to Station Road,
making a right turn and then following the
road around to the left where it straightens
out and will take you on a easing,
downwards slope back to Wirral Country
Park car-park.
Photos: (left) the Wirral Way; (right) view
across to Hilbre Island.
on our website: www.visitwirral.com
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Wildlife in Wirral
W
IRRAL IS a nature lovers’ dream, with a vast assortment of species to spot
in their natural habitat. See how many you can tick off on this page during
your stay in Wirral. Please treat the environment respectfully and do not use pond
nets as they can damage the fragile wildlife habitats.
You can also download your free copy of the Wirral Nature Guide and
complete the full tick-list of weird and wonderful species featured.
West Wirral - The Dee Estuary
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Starfish
The Common
Starfish may be red,
pink or orange and
can be found in rock
pools, where it feeds
mainly on mussels.
Emperor Dragonfly
One of the largest
European dragonflies,
the male has a blue
body that is slightly
bent as it flies in
search of prey.
Atlantic Grey Seal
The local colony of
seals can often be
seen at the northern
end of Hilbre Island,
close to the old
lifeboat station.
Yellowhammer
The unmistakeable
song of this bird is
often referred to as
‘a little bit of bread
and no cheese’, with a
drawn out last note.
Orange Tip
Butterfly
One of the first
species in spring.
Only males have
orange tips, females
are white and grey.
Common Cockle
Cockles are harvested
on the Dee for food.
It is usually the
empty shell that is
found washed up on
the beach.
Shelduck
This large duck
feeds mainly on
small snails called
Hydrobia, sieving
them out of the mud
with its red bill.
Kestrel
Most likely seen over
the Dee Cliffs, the
Kestrel swoops
down on its prey,
with wings closed in
a final dive.
Download your own copy of the Wirral Nature Guide
North Wirral
Grey Heron
Herons are seen as
solitary fishermen
in winter and in
summer, nest inland.
Can you stand still
as long as they do?
6-spot Burnet Moth
The distinctive red
and black markings
on these day-flying
moths is to warn
birds that they are
poisonous.
Cinnabar Moth
Caterpillars
The caterpillars are
boldly coloured to
warn potential
predators that they
are poisonous.
Glasswort
Also known as Marsh
Samphire, this plant
is used by expensive
restaurants as a
delicacy, giving a
salty tang to dishes.
Sea Potato
The burrowing Sea
Potato or Heart
Urchin can be found
by digging down in
wet sand at the very
lowest tides.
Lapwing
This elegant bird
rests in flocks off
Leasowe Bay. Listen
for its call, which
gives it its alternative
name: ‘pee-wit’.
East Wirral - The Mersey Estuary
Sabellaria Colony
You can find these
honeycombs on
rocks next to the
lighthouse. Each
tube is the home of
a worm, Sabellaria.
Jay
A shy bird given
away by its raucous
call. It feeds on nuts
as well as small
animals such as
earthworms.
Goby
In summer, tide
pools are full of these
little fish. They are
difficult to spot
though, as they are
patterned like sand.
Anemone
Anemones catch food
with their tentacles.
At low tide, the
closed anemone
looks like a sagging
lump of jelly.
at www.visitwirral.com or phone 0151 666 3188
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Birdwatching
USEFUL INFO:
• RSPB
Dee Estuary Inner March Farm.
0151 336 7681
• Wirral Council’s
Coastal Rangers
0151 678 5488
For more info, visit:
www.deeestuary.co.uk
DID YOU KNOW?
Oystercatchers are
such a feature of both
estuaries that one is
perched on top of
Wirral’s coat of arms.
RECOMMENDED:
Among the best places
for birdwatching in
Wirral during winter
are Riverbank Road in
Heswall and North
Wirral Coastal Park.
B
IRDWATCHING IN WIRRAL is a treat at any time of
year, whether it is following the birds’ great spectacular
over the open beaches or enjoying the birds of the countryside
in their natural habitat. But it is in winter that the peninsula
really comes alive, offering visitors some of the best
birdwatching opportunities in England.
In summer, hedgerows buzz with the songs of nesting
warblers. Blackcaps rub shoulders with Willow Warblers and
Common Whitethroats, who are joined by their scarcer
cousin, the Lesser Whitethroat. Here they will raise their
young before heading south for winter.
Buzzards soar above the heaths and Barn Owls patrol the
meadows seeking food for their hungry chicks. Keen-eyed
birdwatchers might find three species of woodpecker in the
woodland, where Nuthatch also breed.
Later in the year, the Dee and Mersey estuaries are a vital
wintering ground for waders and wildfowl. The numbers are
estimated in hundreds of thousands, so many that the Dee
Estuary, at the crossroads of bird migration, is considered of
international importance and one of the ten most important
estuaries in Europe for overwintering wildfowl.
During winter, around ten per cent of the UK’s population
Photos: (left, main)
Bullfinch; (left, top)
Dunlin; (left, bottom)
Yellowhammer; (right,
top) Redshanks; (right,
bottom) Turnstone.
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Download your own copy of the Wirral
Oystercatchers at Hilbre Islands Local Nature Reserve
of waders can be spotted around the estuary, including
Oystercatchers, Pintail, Redshank, Dunlin and Knot. Huge
flocks of the latter can also be seen over the mudflats of the
Dee and north Wirral coast. This spectacle can attract one of
several Peregrine Falcons that winter here. A pair of which even
bred on the tower of Hamilton Square station in Birkenhead!
The Dee marshes are an incredible place for raptors.
Short-eared Owls share roosts with Hen Harriers, while
Merlin dash across the saltmarsh after Meadow Pipits.
Hilbre Islands Local Nature Reserve is home to a
growing number of wintering Brent Geese, joined by a small
band of Purple Sandpipers and Snow Buntings, while on the
sea you can see divers and grebes. Hilbre Island Bird
Observatory was founded in 1957 so that enthusiasts could
study bird population and migration patterns.
It is no surprise that bird lovers visit Wirral’s coast and
countryside throughout the year. With its great variety of
visiting birds from Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and the
Arctic, the show is free, spectacular and guaranteed for as long
as, well, there are birds in the skies.
Nature Guide at www.visitwirral.com
27
Food
From a Michelin star restaurant and award-winning tearooms in quaint
villages, to outstanding producers and farmshops in the country, those
involved in growing, preparing and selling food, demonstrate a pride and
passion that helps produce some of the very best food anywhere in the UK.
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Sheldrakes Restaurant, Heswall, with views across to Wales
29
30
Lawns Restaurant at Thornton Hall Hotel
L
EADING THE WAY in the
restaurant business is Fraiche,
where the modern French cuisine has
brought Merseyside’s first Michelin star. Fraiche, in Oxton
village, is not just about food but a superb dining experience,
now listed in the top 30 restaurants in the country by the
Which Good Food Guide.
Wirral has many other award winners too. Da Piero, a
small restaurant in Irby, has won the best new entry in the
2010 Which Guide and has been described as serving “food
that fills you with joy.”
Wirral also has a great selection of gastro pubs and bars.
The Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby, dating from 1611, is Wirral’s
oldest pub. The adjoining Cowshed restaurant head chef,
Emma Wombwell, Merseyside Young Chef of the Year in
2007, has also won the Wirral Chef Shine Competition in
2008 and 2009.
With fine dining flourishing in some of the region’s best
hotels, gastro pubs, a good selection of restaurants serving
international cuisine and restaurants with views ‘to die for’,
Wirral beckons you to come and sample
its food, sooner rather than later.
USEFUL INFO:
• Fraiche
0151 652 2914
• Da Piero
0151 648 7373
• The Wheatsheaf Inn
0151 336 3416
DID YOU KNOW?
The Wheatsheaf Inn is
Wirral’s oldest pub
and the adjoining
restaurant is, as its
name suggests, ‘The
Cowshed’.
WHAT YOU SAID:
“Food that fills you
with joy.”
Which Guide, 2010,
describing Da Piero.
Photos: (left) dessert at
Fraiche; (top) a chef
adding finishing touches;
(middle) Claremont’s
‘The Vegi Table’ cookery
course; (bottom) diners at
The Devon Doorway.
31
USEFUL INFO:
• Birkenhead Market
0151 666 3194
www.birkenhead
market.co.uk
• Wirral Farmers’
Market
0151 643 1393
www.wirralfarmers
market.co.uk
• Claremont Farm,
Shop and Kitchen
0151 334 1906
• Church Farm
0151 648 7838
• Edge & Sons
0151 645 3044
• Ward’s Fish
0151 666 1842
• Wirral Watercress
07779 019348
DON’T MISS:
Hone your culinary
skills on one of the
many cooking courses
at Claremont Farm.
For more details visit
www.claremont
kitchen.co.uk
Photos: (top) locally
grown produce; (bottom)
master chef Brian Mellor
on one of his cookery
workshops at Claremont
Farm.
32
The demand for great variety and fresh food has been a key
factor in the increasing popularity of the farmers’ markets and
farm shops. Wirral Farmers’ Market at New Ferry is another
award-winner, receiving Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards
for the best farmers’ market in the UK. Elsewhere in Wirral,
Birkenhead Market sells direct from the fields to the public.
Claremont Farm in Bebington, Wirral’s famous home of
asparagus, is not just a farm and shop but a food educational
experience. Claremont Kitchen hosts a series of cookery
workshops including those run by award-winning master chef,
Brian Mellor and The Vegi Table which provides an
opportunity to expand your vegetarian and healthy eating
repertoire. The unique 'Field to Fork' combines the
experience of picking your own vegetables that morning and
being shown how to cook them as part of a sumptuous lunch
by resident chef, Brian Mellor.
Church Farm at Thurstaston sells organic fruit and
vegetables and holds family fun events throughout the year.
Organic asparagus is also on sale, but remember the asparagus
season is short at just eight weeks, so take the opportunity to
select and buy when the time arrives.
The quality of the food produced in Wirral's micro-climate
helps to make its eating out offer as special
as it is. Meat can be purchased from Edge
and Sons and fish from Ward's at Birkenhead
Market, both with generations of experience.
The exploration of Wirral food is packed
with surprises too. At Wirral Watercress,
several hundred bunches of watercress are
produced every week. The growing system
is secret but the freshness is addictive.
Claremont Farm in Bebington
33
Roses Tearooms in Heswall
34
Roses Tearooms in Heswall has
been a pioneer in lifting the traditional
tearooms out of the ordinary with a
successful blending of the long-established and well-loved
British tearoom with the best of Mediterranean food and
cooking. It offers a great variety of drink and food, from the
simple to the exotic, freshly prepared to the highest quality.
With superb food across Wirral it is not surprising that
customers themselves are not just enthusiastic about food but
are also increasingly becoming connoisseurs, keen to find out
more. The numbers visiting pick-your-own farms, seeking the
advice of the experts about selection and preparation of the
produce, is perhaps one indication.
The enthusiasm and knowledge of customers is also
reflected in the increasing popularity of the Wirral Food and
Drink Festival, held at Claremont Farm. The event brings
together about 100 producers, offering a
vast range from cheeses, fish and
vegetables to more than 35 locallyproduced beers.
Wirral Christmas Gourmet Fair in
Port Sunlight has about 100 food and craft
stalls, children’s rides, choir concerts and of
course, a Santa’s Grotto.
USEFUL INFO:
• Roses Tearooms
0151 342 9912
• Wirral Food and
Drink Festival
0151 334 1906
• Christmas
Gourmet Fair
0151 644 6466
DID YOU KNOW?
Roses Tearooms won
the Taste of England’s
Northwest award in
2008, as well as the
‘Local Food Hero’
award on Sky TV
UKTV.
DON’T MISS:
Pick up the latest copy
of the Wirral Good
Food Guide by calling
0151 666 3188, or
download from
www.visitwirral.com/
foodguide
Photos: (top) Wirral
Farmers’ Market;
(middle) treat yourself to
a raspberry and almond
tart at Gorge-Us in
Bebington; (bottom) the
popular Wirral Food and
Drink Festival.
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
35
Golf
The coastal courses of Wirral Peninsula are at the southern end of probably
the finest stretch of golf territory in England.
36
Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake
T
HE REGION, with The Open Championship course of
Royal Liverpool at its heart, includes golf courses of such
status, challenge and fame it has become known around the
country and the world as part of England’s Golf Coast.
The inland courses in Wirral provide memorable days out.
Bromborough, for example, is such a fine golf challenge it was
chosen to host the Amateur Championship a few years ago.
Brackenwood and Arrowe Park, like other municipals, are
places where so many hit their first golf balls. They are always
remembered with great affection across the years, by those
who move elsewhere and graduate in the game.
But the great challenge is to be found on the Wirral coast,
including Caldy, Heswall and Wallasey, which in September
hosts the international golf championship, the Wirral Golf
Classic, an event for hundreds of top amateurs. Royal
Liverpool hosts the final.
Wallasey is famous as the home of Stableford. Here Frank
Barney Gorton Stableford, ex-Boer War surgeon, aware of the
frustrations of high handicap players after a disastrous time in
a medal competition, devised the points system of scoring.
Few have left such a valuable legacy. As Henry Longhurst,
the distinguished golf writer and historian, put it: “I doubt
whether any single man did more to increase the pleasure of
the more humble club golfer.”
Enjoy one of the greatest links courses in the north and
perhaps pause a moment to remember “Stablie” as he was
affectionately known. The second hole, a daunting par-four
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
USEFUL INFO:
• Royal Liverpool
Golf Club
0151 632 3101
• Heswall Golf Club
0151 342 2193
• Caldy Golf Club
0151 625 5660
• Wallasey Golf Club
0151 691 1024
For more information
visit www.englands
golfcoast.com
DON’T MISS:
The Wirral Golf Classic
- a 72 hole Stableford
competition - gives
amateur golfers a
chance to play on all
four of England’s Golf
Coast courses.
DID YOU KNOW?
Royal Liverpool Golf
Club is set to host the
Women’s British Open
in 2012, the Boys
Amateur Championship
in 2013 and the eagerly
awaited return of The
Open in 2014.
Photos: (left) Wallasey
Golf Club, home of
Stableford; (top) the sun
sets over another great
day of golf; (bottom)
photographers at The
Open at Hoylake in 2006.
37
WHAT THEY SAID:
Following The Open at
Hoylake in 2006, winner
Tiger Woods described
it as “one of the greatest
championships ever
staged”.
38
into the wind, particularly for the high handicap player, has a
plaque marking the hole where “Stablie” thought of the system.
Each year the Frank Stableford Open Amateur Memorial
Trophy, a 36-hole scratch tournament, is played in his memory.
Heswall, with its splendid views across the River Dee, has
also hosted many county championships, county matches and
other top events. Caldy too, with its atmosphere of cliffs, links
and parkland has also been the scene of many major events
and was a qualifying course for the European Open.
Royal Liverpool is one of the finest Open venues in
England and those who walk these fairways will follow in the
steps of some of the greatest names in golf, experience a sense
of golf ’s colourful history and perhaps think of the cheering
crowds and great golf deeds.
John Ball (1862-1940), winner of
the Amateur eight times was a local
boy and Harold Hilton (1869-1942)
from neighbouring West Kirby won
four times. In 1902, practising for the
Open, Alec ‘Sandy’ Herd was invited
to try out a new golf ball. He liked it
and used it in the Championship. So
the rubber-cored ball came in and the
“gutty” went to the golf museum.
At Hoylake in 1930 the American
Bobby Jones played The Open in a
year of a remarkable double surely
never to be repeated, winning the
Open and the Amateur on both sides
of the Atlantic.
11th hole at Royal Liverpool, named ‘Alps’ because of its towering dunes
© Wirral Globe
OTHER COURSES:
• Prenton
0151 609 3426
• Leasowe
0151 677 5852
• Bidston
0151 638 3412
• Bromborough
0151 334 2155
• Eastham Lodge
0151 327 3003
• Wirral Ladies
0151 652 1255
Municipal golf courses:
• Arrowe Park
0151 677 1527
• Brackenwood
0151 608 3093
• Hoylake
0151 632 2956
• Warren
0151 639 5730
Hoylake, remodelled to present a major challenge to the
greatest golfers in the world in the 21st century, is indeed a
huge golf test, particularly when the wind blows. “Hoylake,
blown upon by mighty winds, breeder of mighty champions” as the
distinguished golf writer Bernard Darwin wrote.
But the club amateur will also feel at home. Hoylake hosted
the first Amateur in 1885 and the first ‘Home International’
between England and Scotland in 1902. In 1921, the first
international between Great Britain and the United States, the
challenge now known as the Walker Cup, was held here.
At Hoylake, and indeed along the Wirral coast, the golf
experience is unforgettable. It presents a superb test of golf
with memorable links, the seascape of shore, sea and winds and
majestic sunsets. When the skies darken, the welcoming lights
of the clubhouse beckon at the end of the day.
Photos: (above) the
clubhouse at Royal
Liverpool Golf Club;
(middle) Bobby Jones
claims the urn at Hoylake
in 1930; (bottom) Tiger
Woods proudly holding
the trophy in 2006.
39
Spas
40
Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa
USEFUL INFO:
• Hillbark Hotel
0151 625 2400
• Leverhulme
Hotel & Spa
0151 644 6655
• Thornton Hall
Hotel & Spa
0151 336 3938
• Mersey View
07941 562879
G
REAT DAYS OUT should also include time for
relaxation, maybe a taste of self-indulgent luxury in a
busy world. A visit to one of Wirral’s top spas will provide the
ultimate experience.
Hillbark Hotel, in the lush surroundings of Royden Park,
offers a special historic experience in a truly lovely rural
setting. Its Solia Spa offers holistic and clinical treatments in a
genuine oasis of calm and relaxation within an award-winning
boutique hotel.
At the heart of Port Sunlight village, Indulgence at The
Leverhulme Hotel, is an Art Deco inspired development due
to open in late 2010. Offering guests a multitude of treatments
and a chance to relax in the heated indoor pool, hot tubs,
whirlpool spas, saunas and steam room, it is indeed the
‘Indulgence’ experience.
The award-winning spa at Thornton Hall also offers a
relaxing and memorable break for visitors, in stylish
surroundings. Immerse yourself in the pleasures of the spa,
easing away the stresses of everyday life, with a luxurious
choice of treatments. For a more intense treatment, experience
the Lodge Clinical Spa.
Mersey View Serviced Apartment also offers a chance to
relax and enjoy a ‘pamper package’ in the magnificent 5-star
East Float Dock 1 apartment, with private rooftop terrace and
full landscape views of Liverpool. The wide range of
treatments, including aromatherapy, Swedish massage and
many more, can be tailored to your individual needs.
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Thornton Hall Hotel
was runner-up in the
prestigious British
Beauty and Spa
Awards 2008 and 2009.
DON’T MISS:
The spas on this page
are located in some of
Wirral’s most beautiful
spots. Royden Park
covers 60 acres and
includes its own walled
garden, Thornton
Hough is an ‘old
England’ rural village
whilst Port Sunlight is
one of Britain’s most
unique model villages.
Photos: Indulge, relax
and rejuvenate at one of
Wirral’s luxurious spas.
41
Water Sports
USEFUL INFO:
• Wirral Sailing
School
0151 625 2510
• Wirral Sand
Yachting Club
07988 413 662
www.wsyc.org.uk
For more info on
water sports such as
windsurfing, surfing,
sand yachting, land
boarding and kite
surfing, call Wirral
Council’s Coastal
Rangers on
0151 678 5488
DID YOU KNOW?
Wirral is home to the
Wilson Trophy, one of
the biggest team
racing sailing events in
the world.
S
URROUNDED BY rivers and sea, with
some of the cleanest beaches in Western
Europe and easy-to-reach shores, the Wirral
Peninsula is gaining a growing reputation as one of the best
places in the north west for a wide range of coastal activities.
Water sports are high on the list but in addition Wirral
hosted the world kite buggy endurance record on the
Hoylake sands, which are also rated as one of the best places in
the country for sand yachting and kite buggying. The
European Sand Yachting Championships were held here in
2007 and hopes are high for a return in the near future.
The beaches of West Kirby and Wallasey are popular with
wind and kite surfers and, offshore winds against the incoming
waves, make Leasowe Bay increasingly popular with surfers.
Wirral’s five sailing clubs host race meetings and regattas,
including the international Wilson Trophy team event at
West Kirby’s Marine Lake, one of the best of its kind in the
north west and the base for the Wirral Sailing School, which
provides lessons in sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.
Personal watercraft - jet skis - launch from the Mersey
Narrows at New Brighton where a second marine lake is being
refurbished as part of a major development programme.
The area has hosted international powerboat races which
will one day
hopefully return
to Wirral as it
develops its
reputation as the
water sports
capital of the
north west.
Photos: (left) a surfer and
canoeist on West Kirby
Marine Lake; (right) the
European Sand Yachting
Championships in 2007.
42
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
West Kirby Marine Lake
43
44
‘Statue of Antinous’ at Lady Lever Art Gallery
Port Sunlight
P
ORT SUNLIGHT is more than a
Wirral village. It is an enchanting,
delightful day out and a unique experience.
A leisurely walk around reveals a variety of buildings which
add up to some of the most exciting village architecture of
19th century England. Each block of houses is the result of
the work of a different architect, with over 30 used in total.
The village was founded on the four principles of industry,
art, education and charity. It was the vision and creation of
‘Soap King’, William Hesketh Lever, to provide a special place
for workers at his local soap factory.
Not surprisingly for a place of such beauty and charm, it
has remained virtually unchanged since that time with more
than 800 Grade II listed buildings set in superb gardens.
The Port Sunlight Museum and Garden Village provides
a fascinating film show, life size models and village memorabilia
- a special insight into what it was like to live and work at Port
Sunlight during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Whilst here,
savour home-baked cakes at the Edwardian Tea Rooms.
Every visit must include the Lady Lever Art Gallery, world
famous for its collections of furniture, ceramics and great works
of art, including pre-Raphaelite masterpieces by Millais and
Rossetti and dramatic landscapes by Turner and Constable.
In a busy world
it is a place to be
thankful for - a
haven of tranquility,
not only for the
workers of years
gone by, but for all
in years to come.
USEFUL INFO:
• Port Sunlight
Museum and
Garden Village
0151 644 6466
• Lady Lever
Art Gallery
0151 478 4136
DID YOU KNOW?
William Hesketh Lever
established the Lady
Lever Art Gallery in
1922, to enrich the
cultural and educational
lives of his workforce.
DON’T MISS:
The Gladstone Theatre
was originally built in
1891 as the dining and
recreation hall for male
workers at the Lever
Brothers Soap Factory.
For details of their
performances, contact
0151 643 8757 or visit
www.gladstone.uk.com
Photos: (top) one of the
many housing styles;
(left) ‘The Dell’; (right)
the gardens in full bloom
in front of Lady Lever
Art Gallery.
For more details: www.visitwirral.com
45
Wirral Attractions
USEFUL INFO:
• Mersey Ferries /
U-boat Story
0151 330 1000
• Spaceport
0151 330 1333
• Tranmere Rovers FC
www.tranmere
rovers.co.uk
• Williamson
Art Gallery
0151 652 4177
• Floral Pavilion
0151 666 0000
• Pacific Road Theatre
0151 647 0752
• Wirral Archives
Services
0151 606 2929
• Birkenhead Priory
0151 652 4177
• Ness Gardens
0151 353 0123
• Voirrey Embroidery
0151 342 3514
DID YOU KNOW?
The Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra
is the UK’s oldest
surviving professional
symphony orchestra.
T
HE ‘FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY’
is famous in song and in reality too. A
50-minute ferry cruise is a magical way to
see the world-famous waterfront and
skyline. Whilst on board, a commentary
tells the history of the ferry and river.
Located at Seacombe ferry terminal is
Spaceport, a fascinating journey through
space and a great attraction for children.
Nearby, at Woodside ferry terminal, is the U-boat Story.
Recovered from the seabed in 1993, this World War II German
submarine, is now an exhibition showing the inside of the
U-boat, the life of the sailor and accounts of their recollections.
Enjoy match day at Tranmere Rovers FC, Wirral’s own
professional team, established in 1912, or treat yourself to
some retail therapy in the nearby Grange and Pyramids
Shopping Centre.
The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum has one of the
finest art collections in the North West, featuring paintings,
porcelain and an emphasis on Cammell Laird shipbuilders.
One of the best-loved entertainment venues on Wirral’s art
scene is the Floral Pavilion, recently transformed into an 800
seat theatre and conference centre. Pacific Road Theatre
has a varied
programme of
events too,
including regular
concerts by the
Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Photos: (left, main) Fort
Perch Rock; (top) a ferry
crossing the Mersey;
(bottom) Williamson Art
Gallery; (right, top)
Floral Pavilion; (right,
bottom) Ness Gardens.
46
For more details about Wirral
U-boat Story at Woodside Ferry Terminal
Founded in 1190 and home of the Benedictine monks,
Birkenhead Priory is the oldest building on Merseyside and a
capsule of much of the town’s history. A local history tour
should also lead to Fort Perch Rock, built during Napoleonic
times as a coastal defence battery to protect the Port of
Liverpool. It is now home to a museum with exhibitions.
More of Wirral’s past can be uncovered by visiting the
Wirral Archives Services, the home for thousands of records,
local, maritime and industrial history.
For fans of the outdoors, Ness Gardens is a ‘must’. The
collection of trees, flowers and shrubs is a garden lover’s
delight and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature’s lovely
creations, whatever the season.
For family enjoyment and a unique shopping experience,
visit Brimstage Hall Courtyard where amongst the many
shops you will find Voirrey Embroidery, a specialised
independent needlework centre. The hall itself dates from the
12th century while nearby Gregory’s Farm has friendly
animals and a play area. There is not just one maze but also
another just for children.
attractions: www.visitwirral.com
47
Suggested Itinerary:
A breath of fresh air
F
ROM THE WILD cliffs and wide
open beaches, to the parks and
heathlands, Wirral is an all year round
delight for lovers of the great outdoors.
This suggested itinerary is guaranteed
to give you your fresh air fix!
Start your day at one of Wirral’s
highest points, Thurstaston Common,
both for the stunning views across to
Wales and sense of distant history.
Local folklore says that the lightning
which follows Thor’s hammer blow struck
Thor’s Rock, an imposing castle of
sandstone. Vikings were thought to offer
sacrifices on an altar here and legend has it
that the rocks are red due to bloodstains.
Such gruesome thoughts do not deter the
local Morris dancers who perform their
Mayday dawn dance here every year.
Church Farm is nearby, with its organic
farm and food shop. Home to friendly
Photos: (top) the Wirral Way; (left) Thor’s Rock;
(middle) sunset over West Kirby Marine Lake;
(right) Ness Gardens.
48
animals and family
events, it is popular
with children. For
mid-morning
refreshments, a visit
to Munch Coffee
Shop is a must.
A short distance
away, down the road
towards the Dee Estuary, is Wirral
Country Park, a place of contrasts.
Badgers and foxes hunt the quiet parts
and birds nest and feed around the
hedgerows. The cliffs provide a different
experience - sea winds, the smell of tang
and salts and the great sea bird show. The
Welsh hills in the distance form a fitting
backdrop, so why not follow the steps
down to the beach for a leisurely stroll?
Head back to the Visitors Centre and
hop on to The Wirral Way, an old railway
line which is now a leafy 12 mile trail,
popular with walkers, cyclists and horse
riders. At just under three miles, it is a
pleasant walk from here to West Kirby,
where you will be spoilt for choice with
The views from Thurstaston Common
the range of places to eat (see page 60).
After lunch, walk along the Promenade
for great views across to Hilbre Islands
and watch the canoeists and windsurfers
on the Marine Lake. Rejoin the beach and
make your way to Red Rocks at Hoylake,
a wildlife haven that is the breeding
ground for the rare Natterjack Toad.
If you’ve had enough fresh air for one
day and are in the mood for some retail
therapy, head down the A540 to West
Kirby and Heswall where you can browse
the specialist shops and boutiques.
Alternatively, if you are still in the mood
to explore, Ness Gardens is a lovely place
to experience nature’s spectacular and is a
delight at any time of year.
The gardens are an enduring memory
to take home with you and the ideal way
to end a memorable day.
USEFUL INFO:
• Wirral Country Park/Wirral Way
0151 648 4371 / 3884
• Thurstaston Common/Thor’s Rock
0151 677 7594
• Church Farm
0151 648 7838
• Ness Gardens
0151 353 0123
49
Suggested Itinerary:
A day of culture
T
HIS VOYAGE of discovery takes
you to some of the many cultural
attractions that Wirral has to offer.
From the oldest standing building in
Merseyside, to the fascinating U-boat
story, this is guaranteed to be a day to
remember.
Woodside Ferry Terminal provides an
ideal starting point, handy for visitors
stepping ashore off the Mersey Ferry
from Liverpool and for others travelling
from further afield.
Here begins a journey to the years of
World War II and, as elsewhere on the
tour, be prepared to be both mystified and
intrigued.
The ferry terminal is the home to the
U-boat Story, home of a German U-534,
raised from the seabed decades after the
war in the hope of finding treasure on
board. Now the old submarine is a popular
tourist attraction providing interactive
and audiovisual displays, a look around
the inside, images of life aboard for the
seamen and interviews with the crew.
Birkenhead has a wealth of cultural
50
attractions (see page
20), including
Birkenhead Priory,
the oldest building
in Merseyside. St
Mary’s Tower is
dedicated to those
who died on HMS
Thetis, and visitors
can climb to the top
for great views over
Birkenhead and across to Liverpool.
Home Café, next to the U-boat, is an
ideal place to stop for refreshments before
heading to Port Sunlight, just a short
drive from Birkenhead. The lovely model
village, created by Lord Lever in the 19th
century for the workers at his soap
factory, is a must for any visitor to Wirral,
due to its stunning architecture and
world-famous art collection.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, options
include the café at Lady Lever Art Gallery
and the Edwardian Tearooms at Port
Sunlight Museum. Both offer an array of
dishes from afternoon tea to main meals.
Mersey Ferry at Woodside
Then take a trip to Brimstage Hall, at
the heart of Wirral, another place of great
charm and more mystery too. The
fortified tower seems more suited to a
place of past times of troubles rather than
the peaceful Wirral countryside.
Then there are the human bones found
in the old well, the stone carving of a cat
in the old chapel, now a craft shop, which
some imagine might be the original of
Lewis Carroll’s famous Cheshire cat. At
Gregory’s Farm there’s the Maize Maze,
sure to entertain all the family.
Time for a break before home time?
Try the Country Mouse, with its cosy
atmosphere, serving traditional
homemade food and, for when the weather
Photos: (top) St Mary’s Tower; (left) Lady
Lever Art Gallery; (middle) U-boat Story;
(right) Brimstage Hall.
makes eating out
appealing, lovely
gardens.
If the little ones
go home dreaming
of treasure, the
answer to their
question is that Wirral has many, all to be
discovered and shared - enough for the
whole family.
USEFUL INFO:
• Mersey Ferries / U-boat Story
0151 330 1000
• Birkenhead Priory
0151 652 4177
• Port Sunlight Museum
0151 644 6466
• Lady Lever Art Gallery
0151 478 4136
51
Events & Festivals
52
Wirral International Kite Festival, New Brighton
T
HE WIRRAL Summer events programme will get off to
a high-flying start with the arrival of the Kites Over the
Mersey, Wirral’s International Kite Festival. The festival, at
The Dips, New Brighton, is a great opportunity to see the art
performed by experts from around the world. Admission is free.
Wirral Historic Vehicle Rally brings together a collection
of more than 100 vintage and classic cars, a trip down memory
lane for car enthusiasts. The cavalcade of cars finish their
journey through Wirral at Port Sunlight Village Festival. The
free family extravaganza, which welcomes more than 12,000
people at the height of the summer, has live entertainment,
children's performers, stalls, a dog show and lots more.
The Wirral Food and Drink Festival is another highlight
of the year, a celebration of home-grown produce. The festival
brings together the best producers in the region and also
includes specialist cookery demonstrations and other events.
Stalls, fairground and family entertainment are features of
the Hoylake RNLI Open Day with the Red Arrows often
providing the main attraction. The Wirral Golf Classic sees
amateurs compete on some of the best links courses in the
region, with the final staged at the great Open course of Royal
Liverpool. The International Guitar Festival of Great
Britain is an event firmly pencilled in the diaries of guitar
lovers. With concerts taking place at various venues across
Wirral, it is an annual celebration of guitar music.
The events year concludes with the Christmas Gourmet
Fair in the picturesque Port Sunlight Village in December.
For a full events list: www.visitwirral.com
USEFUL INFO:
• Kites Over
the Mersey
0151 666 3188
• Wirral Historic
Vehicle Rally
0151 666 3188
• Port Sunlight
Village Festival
0151 644 6466
• Wirral Food and
Drink Festival
07877 921 276
• Hoylake RNLI
Open Day
0151 666 3188
• Wirral Golf Classic
0151 625 9994
• International
Guitar Festival
0151 666 0000
• Christmas
Gourmet Fair
0151 644 6466
DID YOU KNOW?
Wirral International
Kite Festival brings
together flyers from as
far afield as Australia
and the Far East.
Photos: (left) Port Sunlight
Village Festival; (top) the
Red Arrows at Hoylake
RNLI Open Day;
(bottom) a concert at
Wirral International
Guitar Festival.
53
On Our Doorstep
W
IRRAL IS IDEALLY placed for
visits to two of Britain’s most
famous cities, each attracting visitors from
around the world.
Liverpool has a truly fascinating past
and a legacy of breathtaking architecture.
The city has more museums, galleries and
theatres than any outside of London, plus,
a range of award-winning attractions.
Learn about ‘The Fab Four’ at the Beatles
Story or take a Ferry ‘cross the Mersey
and enjoy the World Heritage Site
waterfront. Take a city bus tour, explore
the splendid parks or soak in the
atmosphere of not one, but two great
cathedrals, for an unforgettable experience.
The ultramodern Liverpool One, is one
of the UK’s finest shopping experiences.
Across the road, Albert Dock with the
Merseyside Maritime Museum, is perfect
for families. This is also the home of the
Tate with its major works of international
artists.
Chester has roots that go back to
Roman times. Tourists of all ages from
around the world are captivated by the old
city streets, the grand Georgian houses,
quaint shops and antique dealers. But
there is also a modern feel about the city,
with its traffic free centre and shops
selling top brands. Visit the cathedral,
dress in style for the races, laze on the
river banks or enjoy a day at Chester Zoo.
The two-mile walk around the Roman city
walls provides unrivalled views of the
city’s heritage, including the unique raised
arcades known as ‘The Rows’ and the
iconic Eastgate Clock.
Runcorn and Widnes, a short drive
from Liverpool, are places of history,
scientific facts and literary connections.
Explore the meandering waterways and
acres of countryside, and trace the
footsteps of medieval Augustinian canons
at Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.
Photos: (left) the famous Roman City of Chester;
(middle) white sands at Southport beach; (right)
elephants at Knowsley Safari Park.
54
Liver Building, Liverpool
Southport, ‘England’s Classic Resort,’
is famous for its golden sands, some of the
best golf links in England and its pier, the
second longest in the UK. Shop along
stylish Lord Street, a mile long boulevard
boasting boutiques, designer names and
high street brands, or enjoy one of the
major annual festivals and events.
Knowsley offers a range of experiences
from wildflowers to wildebeest and many
other award-winning attractions.
Knowsley Safari Park is a splendid family
day out while the National Wildflower
Centre provides a chance for people to
reconnect with nature.
St. Helens is home to one of the
world’s most famous rugby league teams
and the award-winning World of Glass.
The fascinating Northwest Museum of
Road Transport is hugely popular too or
take a virtual tour of the Rainhill Trials
that launched the modern era of
passenger transport.
TOURIST INFORMATION:
• Chester - 01244 402111
www.visitchester.com
• Liverpool - 0151 233 2008
www.visitliverpool.com
• Knowsley - 0151 443 5579
www.visitknowsley.com
• St Helens: 01744 755150
www.visitsthelens.com
• Sefton (Southport): 01704 533333
www.visitsouthport.com
• Halton (Runcorn/Widnes)
0151 907 8303 www.visithalton.com
55
Accommodation
AWARD-WINNING
ACCOMMODATION:
Hillbark and Mere
Brook both have the
coveted ‘Gold’ Award
in the VisitBritain
Quality Assessment
Scheme. Properties
achieving the ‘Gold’
have exceptional levels
of quality, comfort
and cleanliness in
bedrooms and
bathrooms, and
outstanding levels of
customer care and
food. Mersey View
has a Family Friendly
rating by Visit Britain
Quality in Tourism.
DON’T MISS:
A chance to indulge in
the ‘pamper’ facilities
at Hillbark, Thornton
Hall and Leverhulme
hotels. Mersey View
also can provide
pamper packages on
request. See Spa
section, pages 40-41.
Photos: (left, main) the
modern interior at Mersey
View; (top) period features
at Mere Brook; (bottom,
right) the plush surrounds
of Thornton Hall.
56
W
HETHER YOU want the luxury of
a top-class hotel or the intimacy of
a cosy guest house, Wirral has a wide
range of accommodation to suit all tastes.
In the heart of Wirral, Hillbark provides high quality
accommodation within a Grade II listed building. Originally
built for a soap king, it was amazingly moved brick by brick to
its present site in 1928. Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa, has
spa facilities that rival anywhere in the UK. Both hotels have a
four-star rating.
Mere Brook, a carefully restored Edwardian country house
on the edge of the picturesque village of Thornton Hough,
provides a top-class bed and breakfast service. The delightful
gardens are the perfect place to relax. Caldy Warren Cottage
in West Kirby has breathtaking views across the Dee estuary,
and is a short walk from the stunning Wirral Country Park.
Herons Well, a detached barn conversion in West Kirby, is
among Wirral’s most attractive self-catering cottages and has
a 5-star rating. Mersey View at East Float Dock are two
serviced self-catering apartments within a grade II listed
building. Offering views of the waterfront, they have been
awarded 5-star and 4-star ratings.
The accommodation listings on the following pages, include
other categories
ranging from
traditional inns
to comfortable
caravan sites.
Whatever you
are looking for,
Wirral has it.
Hillbark Hotel, Royden Park
57
Accommodation Listings
HOTELS
RATED HHHH
- Hillbark Hotel,
Royden Park, Frankby,
CH48 1NP. Rooms: 19.
Tel: 0151 625 2400.
www.hillbarkhotel.co.uk
- Leverhulme Hotel & Spa,
Port Sunlight Village,
CH62 5EZ. Rooms:15.
Tel: 0151 644 6655.
www.leverhulmehotel.co.uk
- Macdonald Craxton Wood,
Parkgate Road, Ledsham,
CH66 9PB. Rooms: 72.
Tel: 0151 347 4000.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/
craxtonwood
- Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa,
Neston Road, Thornton Hough,
CH63 1JF. Rooms: 63.
Tel: 0151 336 3938.
www.thorntonhallhotel.com
RATED HHH
- Brook Meadow,
Heath Lane, Childer Thornton,
CH66 7NS. Rooms: 25.
Tel: 0871 376 9900.
www.oxfordhotelsandinns.com
- Grove House Hotel,
Grove Road, Wallasey,
CH45 3HF. Rooms: 14.
Tel: 0151 639 3947.
www.thegrovehouse.co.uk
- Holiday Inn Cheshire Oaks,
Waterways,
Lower Mersey Street,
Ellesmere Port,
CH65 2AL. Rooms: 83.
Tel: 0151 356 8111.
www.hiellesmereport.com
- Inglewood Manor,
Badgers Rake Lane, Ledsham,
CH66 8PF. Rooms: 30.
Tel: 0151 339 5105.
www.inglewoodmanor.co.uk
58
- Leasowe Castle,
Leasowe Road, Moreton,
CH46 3RF. Rooms: 46.
Tel: 0151 606 9191.
www.leasowecastle.com
- The Riverhill,
19 Talbot Road, Oxton,
CH43 2HJ. Rooms: 17.
Tel: 0151 653 3773.
www.theriverhill.co.uk
RATED H
- Central Hotel,
Clifton Crescent, Birkenhead,
CH41 2QH. Rooms: 29.
Tel: 0151 647 6347.
www.centralhotelbirkenhead.co.uk
AWAITING GRADING:
- Woodcote House Hotel,
3 Hooton Road, Hooton,
CH66 1QU. Rooms: 21.
Tel: 0151 327 1542.
www.woodcotehouse.co.uk
BUDGET HOTELS
- Premier Inn Greasby,
Greasby Road, Greasby,
CH49 2PP.
Rooms: 30.
Tel: 0151 677 5901.
www.premierinn.com
- Premier Inn Childer Thornton,
New Chester Road,
Childer Thornton, CH66 1QW.
Rooms: 31.
Tel: 0151 339 8101.
www.premierinn.com
- Premier Inn Two Mills,
Parkgate Road, Two Mills,
CH66 9PD.
Rooms: 31. Tel: 0151 339 2399.
www.premierinn.com
- Premier Inn Bromborough,
High Street, Bromborough,
CH62 7EZ. Rooms: 32.
Tel: 0151 334 2917.
www.premierinn.com
- Premier Inn Heswall,
Chester Road, Gayton,
CH60 3SD. Rooms: 37.
Tel: 0151 342 1982.
www.premierinn.com
- Travel Lodge Eastham,
1408 New Chester Road,
Eastham, CH62 9AQ.
Rooms: 30.
Tel: 0871 984 6184.
www.travelodge.co.uk
SERVICED
APARTMENTS
RATED HHHHH
- Mersey View,
East Float Dock 1, Mill 2,
Dock Rd, Birkenhead, CH41 1DP
Sleeps up to six people.
Tel: 07941 562879.
www.merseyview.com
RATED HHHH
- Mersey View,
East Float Dock 2, Mill 1,
Dock Rd, Birkenhead, CH41 1DN
Sleeps up to six people.
Tel: 07941 562879.
www.merseyview.com
SELF-CATERING
RATED HHHHH
- Herons Well,
Three Lanes End Farm,
West Kirby, CH48 1PT.
Maximum of six guests.
Tel: 0151 625 1401/07858 354389.
www.heronswell.co.uk
RATED HHHH
- AAA North Villa Apartments,
31-32 North Parade,
Hoylake, CH47 3AJ.
Seven apartments, catering for
parties of varying sizes.
Tel: 0151 632 3982.
www.northvilla.com
For more information on accommodation
- Abbey House,
108 Meols Drive,
West Kirby, CH48 5DA.
Maximum of four guests.
Tel: 0151 632 0914.
www.abbeyhousewestkirby.co.uk
- Captains View,
1 Egremont Promenade,
Wallasey, CH44 8BG.
Sleeps up to five people.
Tel: 0151 638 5057/07803 084197.
http://freespace. virgin.net/
marilyn.pantoni/
- Meols Court,
7 Meols Ct, Hoylake, CH47 4AQ.
Two apartments catering for
parties of different sizes.
Tel: 0151 632 1844.
www.hoylakerent.co.uk
- Port Sunlight Holiday
Cottages,
21 and 22 King Georges Drive,
Port Sunlight, CH62 5DX.
Two cottages - one more suited
to larger parties than the other.
Tel: 0151 644 6466.
www.portsunlighhtvillage.com.
- Redcap,
2 Redcap Close,
Wallasey, CH45 3QH.
Maximum of five guests.
Tel: 0151 513 0709.
www.wirralcoastproperties.co.uk/
redcap.php.
RATED HHH
- Barnacre Farm Cottages,
Irby Village, CH46 8TQ.
Sleeps five/seven and four/six.
Tel: 07753 807611.
www.barnacrewirral.com
- Mill Cottage,
1392b New Chester Rd, Eastham,
CH62 4RB. Sleeps four.
Tel: 0151 334 1193.
www.visitwirral.com/site/whereto-stay/mill-cottage-p172321.
GUEST ACCOM
RATED HHHHH
- Mere Brook House
Thornton Hough, CH63 0LU.
Rooms: 4: Gold 2009.
Tel: 07713 189949.
www.merebrookhouse.co.uk
- 42 Caldy Road,
West Kirby, CH48 2HQ.
Rooms: 3.
Tel: 0151 625 8740.
www.warrencott.demon.co.uk
RATED HHHH
- At Peel Hey Country Guest
House
Frankby, CH48 1PP.
Rooms: 9. Silver 2009.
Tel: 0151 677 9077.
www.peelhey.co.uk
- Cheriton,
151 Caldy Road, Caldy,
CH48 1LP. Rooms: 3.
Tel: 0151 625 5271.
www.cheritonguesthouse.co.uk
- Pendragon House,
1 Bertram Drive, Hoylake,
CH47 0LG. Rooms: 5. Silver 2009.
Tel: 0151 632 5344.
www.pendragonhouseuk.com
- 21 Park House,
21 Park Road, West Kirby,
CH48 4DN. Rooms: 8.
Tel: 07974 264694/
0151 625 4665.
www.21parkhouse.com
RATED HHH
- Sherwood Guest House,
55 Wellington Road, New
Brighton, CH45 2ND. Rooms: 5.
Tel: 0151 639 5198.
www.sherwoodguesthouse.com
- Shrewsbury Lodge,
31 Shrewsbury Road, Oxton,
CH43 2JB. Rooms: 15.
Tel: 0151 652 4029.
www.shrewsbury-hotel.com
in Wirral: www.visitwirral.com
- Villa Venezia,
14-16 Prenton Road West,
Birkenhead, CH42 9PN.
Rooms: 7. Tel: 0151 608 9212.
www.veneziapizzeria.co.uk
INN
RATED HHHH
- The Dibbinsdale,
Dibbinsdale Road, CH63 0HQ.
Rooms: 13. Tel: 0151 334 9818.
www.dibbinsdale-inn.co.uk
HOLIDAY PARK
RATED HHH
- Park Lane Holiday Homes
and Country Club,
Park Lane, Meols, CH47 8XX.
10-25 homes for hire.
Tel: 0151 632 3331.
www.parklaneholidayhomes.co.uk
CARAVAN SITE
RATED HHHH
- Wirral Country Park
Caravan Club Site,
Station Road,
Thurstaston, CH61 0HN.
Caravan Club members only.
Tel: 0151 648 4371/3884.
www.caravanclub.co.uk
Star ratings symbolise the level
of service, range of facilities and
quality of guest care that you can
expect. Accommodation is
required to meet progressively
higher standards as they move
up the scale from One to Five
Stars. Please note that quality
standards, and therefore star
ratings, differ between hotels and
guest accommodation and it is
advisable to check suitability and
accessibility with the operator
before making a booking.
59
Eating out
FRESH IDEAS
- Church Farm Organics,
Church Lane, Thurstaston,
CH61 0HW. 0151 648 7838.
www.churchfarm.org.uk
Fresh organic produce.
- Claremont Farm & Kitchen,
Old Clatterbridge Rd, Bebington,
CH63 4JB. 0151 346 1796.
www.claremontfarm.co.uk
Fresh food ideas and experiences.
- Wirral Farmers’ Market,
New Ferry Village Hall, Grove St,
CH62 5JS. 0151 643 1393.
www.wirralfarmersmarket.co.uk
Second Sat every month - 9am-1pm.
AFTERNOON TREATS
- Country Mouse,
Brimstage Hall, Brimstage,
CH63 6JA. 0151 342 5382.
www.brimstagehall.com
Homemade food in a cosy setting.
- Gorge’Us,
7 Church Road, Bebington,
CH63 7PG. 0151 644 8133.
www.gorge-us.co.uk
Delicious home baked cakes.
- Home,
Woodside Ferry, Birkenhead,
CH41 6DU. 0151 330 1000.
www.visitwirral.com/home
Great views and food to match.
- Lady Lever Dining Rooms,
Port Sunlight, CH62 5EQ.
0151 478 4136.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org
Beautiful art and fantastic food.
- Paesano (Leverhulme Hotel),
Port Sunlight, CH62 5EZ. 0151
644 6655. www.contessahotels.co.uk
- Roses Tea Rooms,
23 Milner Road, Heswall,
CH60 5RT. 0151 342 9912.
www.rosestearooms.co.uk
Award-winning, classic tearoom.
60
GASTRO PUBS
- Irby Mill,
Mill Lane, Greasby, CH49 3NT.
0151 604 0194. www.irbymill.co.uk
Wholesome food and cask ales.
- The Cottage Loaf,
Telegraph Road, Thurstaston,
CH61 0HJ. 0151 648 2837.
www.visitwirral.com/cottage
Close to Wirral Country Park.
- The Wheatsheaf Inn,
Raby Mere Road, Raby,
CH63 4JH. 0151 336 3416.
www.visitwirral.com/wheatsheaf
Dating back to 1611 and home to
an award-winning chef.
- Seven Stars,
Church Road, Thornton Hough
CH63 1JW. 0151 336 4574.
www.sevenstarswirral.co.uk
Charming, traditional pub.
- The Devon Doorway,
2 Telegraph Road, Heswall,
CH60 2SA. 0151 348 4462.
www.thedevondoorway.co.uk
Classy pub, fantastic food.
- The Fox & Hounds,
Barnston, CH61 1BW.
0151 648 7685.
www.the-fox-hounds.co.uk
Voted CAMRA Pub of the Year
2008 (Wirral branch).
- The Wro Lounge & Bar,
2 Grange Road, West Kirby,
CH48 4DY. 0151 625 2010.
www.thewro-lounge.co.uk
Sleek and sophisticated.
RESTAURANTS
CENTRAL WIRRAL
- Cromwells,
19 Thingwall Road, Irby,
CH61 3UA. 0151 648 9898.
www.cromwells-irby.co.uk
’Good, honest food - the way it
should be’.
- Da Piero,
5 Mill Hill Road, Irby,
CH61 4UB. 0151 648 7373.
www.dapiero.co.uk
Rustic Italian meals.
- Lawns Restaurant (Thornton
Hall Hotel and Spa), Thornton
Hough, CH63 1JF. 0151 336 3938.
www.thorntonhallhotel.com
Great food, beautiful setting.
- Siam Thai,
101 Arrowe Road, Greasby,
CH49 1RY. 0151 677 5719.
www.siamgreasby.com
- The Yellow Room (Hillbark),
Royden Park, Frankby,
CH48 1NP. 0151 625 2400.
www.hillbarkhotel.co.uk
Premier gourmet dining.
- The Manor Restaurant,
91 Greasby Road, Greasby,
CH49 3NF. 0151 677 7034.
www.themanorwirral.com
Great British cooking.
- Zeera,
11 Thingwall Road, Irby,
CH61 3UA. 0151 648 4471.
Tandoori restaurant.
CHESHIRE BORDER
- Inglewood Manor Restaurant,
Badgers Rake Lane, Ledsham,
CH66 8PF. 0151 339 5105.
www.inglewoodmanor.co.uk
Fine dining in fine surrounds.
- The Garden Room (Craxton
Wood Hotel),
Parkgate Road, Ledsham,
CH66 9PB. 0844 879 9038.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
Quality food, impeccable service.
- Woodcotes Restaurant,
3 Hooton Rd, Hooton, Ellesmere
Port, CH66 1QU. 0151 327 1542.
www.woodcotehouse.co.uk
Food of a very high standard.
For more information on eating out
EAST WIRRAL
- Bay Tree Restaurant,
Riverhill Hotel, 19 Albert Road,
Oxton, CH43 2HJ. 0151 653 3773.
www.theriverhill.co.uk
A’la carte and table d’hote menus.
- Capitol,
24 Argyle Street, Birkenhead,
CH41 6AE. 0151 647 9212.
www.capitol-restaurant.co.uk
Traditional Chinese cuisine.
- Fountains Restaurant
(Shrewsbury Lodge Hotel),
Oxton, CH43 2JB. 0151 652 4029.
www.shrewsbury-hotel.com
Beautiful, traditional restaurant.
- Garretts,
2c Bromborough Road,
CH63 7RE. 0151 645 7199.
www.garrettsrestaurant.com
Modern European food.
- Le Petit Bistro,
2a Bromborough Road,
CH63 7RE. 0151 645 7199.
www.le-petit-bistro.com
Simple, authentic and good value.
- Oak Tree Restaurant
(Grove House Hotel),
Grove Rd, Wallasey, CH45 3HF.
www.thegrovehouse.co.uk
Fine food, beautiful surroundings.
- Oriental Delight,
188-190 Bebington Rd, Bebington,
CH63 7NX. 0151 645 5171.
www.orientaldelight.net
Beijing & Cantonese cuisine.
- Magic Spices,
225 Seabank Road, Wallasey,
CH45 1HE. 0151 691 1919.
www.magicspices.co.uk
Listed in the Good Curry Guide.
- Peninsula Dining Rooms,
3 Grosvenor Road, New Brighton,
CH45 2LW. 0151 639 8338.
www.peninsula-dining-room.co.uk
Stunning food, reasonable prices.
- Portcullis Restaurant
(Leasowe Castle Hotel), Moreton,
CH46 3RF. 0151 606 9191.
www.leasowecastle.com
English and French cuisine.
- Rendezvous,
265-267 Wallasey Village,
CH45 3LF. 0151 630 4104.
www.rendezvous-wallasey.co.uk
Classic French and British dishes.
- Restaurant Fraiche,
11 Rose Mount, Oxton,
CH43 5SG. 0151 652 2914.
www.restaurantfraiche.com
Michelin Star cuisine.
- Rui’s Italian,
14 Upton Road, Moreton,
CH46 0PA. 0151 604 0044.
www.ruis-restaurant.com
English and Continental cuisine.
- Spice Club,
304 Hoylake Road, CH46 6DE.
07817 037476.
www.thespiceclubrestaurant.co.uk
- Wirral Tandoori
18 Bromborough Village Road,
CH62 7ES. 0151 334 0024.
WEST WIRRAL
- Dining Room,
107 Telegraph Road, Heswall,
CH60 0AF. 0151 342 3420.
www.107diningroom.co.uk
Simple, beautifully prepared food.
- Ego Mediterranean Restaurant,
166 Telegraph Road, Heswall,
CH60 0AH. 0151 342 4224.
www.egorestaurants.co.uk
- Gem Restaurant,
1 Milner Road, Heswall,
CH60 5RT. 0151 342 4811.
www.gemrestaurant.co.uk
Fine dining restaurant.
- Gusto,
146-148 Telegraph Rd, Heswall
CH60 0AH. 0151 348 4538.
www.gustorestaurants.uk.com
The true taste of Italy.
- Heswall Tandoori,
Pensby Road, Heswall,
CH60 7RE. 0151 342 8614.
www.heswalltandoori.com
- Karma Restaurant,
9 Grange Road, West Kirby,
CH48 4DY. 0151 625 5999.
Tasty Indian cuisine.
in Wirral: www.visitwirral.com
- Kuki’s,
119 Banks Road, West Kirby,
CH48 0RB. 0151 625 3100.
www.kukis.co.uk
Tapas and Mediterranean food.
- La Paz,
3 Banks Road, West Kirby,
CH48 4HD. 0151 625 7200.
www.lapazrestaurants.co.uk
Award-winning chef.
- Lino’s,
122 Market Street, Hoylake,
CH47 3BH. 0151 632 1408.
www.linosrestaurant.co.uk
High level of service and cuisine.
- Loch Fyne,
The Ring O Bells, Village Road,
West Kirby, CH48 7HE.
0151 929 6750. www.lochfyne.com
Fish restaurant.
- Royal Bengal,
150 Banks Road, West Kirby,
CH48 0QB. 0151 625 9718.
www.royalbengalwirral.co.uk
Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.
- Scogs,
34-36 Banks Road, West Kirby,
CH48 0RD. 0151 625 7579.
www.scogs.co.uk
Only the finest ingredients used.
- Sevens,
7 Station Approach, Meols,
CH47 8XA. 0151 632 0919.
www.sevens-restaurant.co.uk
Tasty British home cooked food.
- Sheldrakes,
Banks Road, Lower Heswall,
CH60 9JS. 0151 342 1556.
www.sheldrakesrestaurant.co.uk
Beautiful food, perfect location.
- The Olive Grove,
104 Telegraph Road, Heswall,
CH60 0AQ. 0151 342 9100.
www.olive-grove.co.uk
Traditional Greek food.
- The Portrait House,
6 The Quadrant, Hoylake,
CH47 2EE. 0151 632 4444.
www.theportraithouse.co.uk
Exquisite fusion of contemporary
and classic cuisine.
61
Finding your
way around
W
IRRAL IS EASILY accessible by
road, rail, sea and air. Manchester
International Airport and Liverpool John
Lennon Airport are 45 minutes by road.
The M53 motorway which runs through
Wirral connects to the M56 and M6.
Two Mersey Tunnels link Wirral to
Liverpool and Europe’s oldest ferry
continues the “Ferry ‘cross the Mersey”
service from Woodside and Seacombe.
A local rail network connects the
peninsula to the national rail network via
Liverpool Lime Street Station. Wirral also
boasts a comprehensive local bus network
for you to explore the region.
Useful Numbers:
• Tourist Information
0151 666 3188
• Traveline Merseytravel
0870 608 2608
• National Rail Services
0845 748 4950
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport
0870 750 8484
• Manchester Airport
0161 489 3000
• Norfolk Line Ferries
0870 600 4321
• Isle of Man Ferries
0870 552 3523
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the
accuracy in this publication, Wirral Council cannot
accept responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies
or omissions. The businesses and organisations
listed are not an exhaustive list, and are intended
to be indicative only.
62
533AUG09JH
Motorway
Roads
Rail route
Merseyrail Station
Mersey Tunnel
Ferry Terminals
Country Park
Suggested Viewpoint
Golf Club
Recommended
Birdwatching spot
Theatre
Art Gallery
Shopping Centre
Wirral Archive
Services
©©Crown
Crowncopyright.
copyright.All
Allrights
rightsreserved.
reserved.
Licence
Licencenumber
number100019803.
100019803.Publ.
Publ.2010.
2010.
63
Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake,
host of the Women’s British Open in 2012,
the Boys’ Amateur Championship in 2013
and The Open Championship in 2014.
For more details: www.visitwirral.com