Wirral Wanderings II

Difficulty
Challenging
Distance
9.5 miles / 15.3 km
Time
4h 00m
Start
Neston Railway Station, Raby Road
Map
OS Explorer 266 Wirral & Chester
Terrain
Some steep and unsurfaced paths
Barriers
None
Accessibility
-
Toilets
Public conveniences on the Wirral Way near the Lees Lane car park and at the rear of the Town Hall,
Contact

Wirral rangers: 0151 648 4371

For over 70 years, from the height of the Victorian era onwards, a busy railway linked Hooton, on the main Chester-to-Birkenhead line, to West Kirby, 12 miles away at Wirral's tip. But in 1962 the line was closed.

For a while the track lay derelict. But in 1973, backed by money from the Countryside Commission, and after a great deal of work, the old railway line was opened as Wirral Country Park (also known as the Wirral Way). It was the first Country Park in Britain.

Today it's a must for a family day out and its facilities include picnic areas, a visitor centre, shop and café, guided tours and much more!

  1. Exit the station on to Raby Road.

  2. Turn left and go straight on at the crossroads on to Blackleys Lane.

  3. At the T-junction go straight on along the footpath.

  4. Turn right at Chester High Road.

  5. Turn left at the crossroads on to Quarry Road.

  6. Turn left on to the footpath on School Lane.

  7. Turn right at Upper Raby Road, then almost immediately on to the second track on the right, which passes Cherry Farm.

  8. Turn right on to another track immediately after the band of woodland. The track bends right then sharply left, then enters the woodland.

  9. Pass through the woodland and follow the other side almost back to Quarry Road.

  10. Just before reaching the road, turn left up a track called Bluebell Lane.

  11. Turn right at Willowbrow Road then left on Willaston Road.

  12. Take the bridleway on the right just before the road bends round to the left, and follow it as it bends round to the left then to the right, ignoring the paths on the left.

  13. Turn right at Mill Lane.

  14. Take the path on the left across the fields.

  15. Cross Elm Green and take the alley past the garages on your left through to Neston Road and the centre of Willaston.

  16. Turn left.

  17. Turn right and walk through the car park and down the side of the Memorial Hall to Buckley Lane.

  18. Turn right on Buckley Lane and follow it through to the end.

  19. Take the path from the end of the road, and follow it round to the right, away from the houses.

  20. From the end of the fenced path, near the pond, head diagonally left across the field to the Wirral Way.

  21. Turn right on the Wirral Way and follow it all the way to Neston.

  22. Cross Mellock Lane and head straight on along Station Road, under the railway.

  23. Turn left at Bridge Street.

  24. Turn right on Eldon Terrace (the second right), then right on Church Lane, which passes under the Wirral Way.

  25. After passing under the disused railway, take the path on the left immediately after the first house, which again passes under the Wirral Way.

  26. Turn left at the track.

  27. Follow the path round to the right as you reach the end of the fields at the shore.

  28. Turn right at the houses and head straight on at the road.

  29. Take the second right, Old Quay Lane.

  30. Take the path on the left after the cottages and pass under the Wirral Way for the third time. Cross Beechways Drive and continue between the gardens.

  31. Turn right at Parkgate Road.

  32. Turn left at the High Street.

  33. Turn right on to Raby Road.

  34. Turn left into the station.