WalkWirralNorthWestMap (Q7)*:WalkWirralNorthWestMap 3/30/15 11:59 AM Page 2 Information WALK 1 Irby & Thurstaston WALK 2 Royden Park to Frankby via former RAF Camp This Walk and Cycle leaflet for Wirral covers This is a circular walk around the outskirts of 2 Follow the fenced in path to the nursery into Starting and finishing at Royden Park, this walk 6 Follow the path and then right over the bridge. Keep 15 Follow the track round to the north western quarter and is one of a series Thingwall Road and turn left. Continue through Irby will take you away from it all, along paths to the left edge of the field. the left, then almost immediately Irby and the edge of Thurstaston Common, with right through to the footpath of four leaflets each consisting of three walks Village, where there are numerous refreshment facilities. 7 Pass through the kissing gate and the path leads an option to take in part of Arrowe Country Park. through the agricultural land of north Wirral crossroads in the young woods. and one cycle route. diagonally right across the field. Aim just to the left of The more energetic of you can complete the route 3 At the end of Thingwall Road, cross over and take and through the former RAF camp. (The path to the right is footpath the house, out into China Farm Lane. Information for wheelchair users in about two hours while the more sedate may the footpath next to The Anchor pub. Keep close to the 9 which is the path from the short hedge on the right to the far right corner of the field. Start: Royden Park Car Park, off Hillbark Road, 8 cut mentioned in paragraph 9 ). Wheelchair users and people with access difficulties prefer a gentle all day amble. Turn right and take care walking at the side of the should note that most of the Country Parks listed This leads out into Dawlish Road, then left up the track, Frankby. road past China Plate Farm to the T-junction with This is the former RAF camp, below have suitable paths and facilities. The routes Distance: 4 miles. 2-4 hours. which was built for use during the Start: Thingwall Road, lay-by between Limbo Lane and follow the path round the stables, across the field Saughall Massie Road. on this leaflet are primarily rural paths and access keeping the pond on your left. Irby Mill pub Parking: Royden Park car park. Second World War. It was used as Whaley Lane, Irby, CH61. 9 Turn right along the road, walk past Newton Hall can be difficult in places, albeit some ‘Access for all’ Buses and Trains: Buses stop at the entrance to Royden a training camp for new conscripts Distance: 3.5 miles with an option to extend the route routes are currently being planned. 4 The path leads between the barn on the left and the 9 For a shorter walk take this path next to the house Park. Upton Railway Station is just over 2 miles away. Farm and then footpath 9 on the right is a short cut to who spent their first six weeks here. RAF West Kirby for a further 2 miles. Allow 2-6 hours. houses on your right through the kissing gate. Cross on the right which is known as Limbo Lane. This the former RAF site. If you take this short cut it will The buildings were demolished and Memorial These routes make use of the Wirral Public Rights Of Parking: Parking is available on the service road which over and turn right along Thurstaston Road. The pleasant track takes you back to Thingwall Road and 1 Start from the main building complex by the car take you to the footpath crossroads (mentioned in trees planted in 1986. Some of the Way (PROW) network. The newly updated Definitive runs parallel to Thingwall Road and is across the road Cottage Loaf pub is across the grassed area opposite. to your start/finish point. park. With the Wardens Office, the café and toilets paragraph 1 5 below) and turn right. former RAF camp roads still exist. Map and Statement is now available on the Council from Harrock Wood. behind you, set off to the crossroads about 75 metres 5 Having continued along Thurstaston Road there is 10 Alternatively, if you would like a longer walk (a 10 Continue along the road a short distance and turn left 16 Continue straight on, through two field gates. When website. Buses and Trains: Bus stops are close to the start in away and look for the signpost and follow the path a bridlepath which runs alongside the road. further 2 miles), continue along the grass verge of onto the track and follow it along the right hand edge of the track splits look for the waymarker post and take the There are also plans to produce a Public Access Routes Thingwall Road. Upton Railway Station is 2.5 miles away. marked to Montgomery Hill and Frankby Mere. the field around the right bend keeping to the right hand path on the left which cuts through the trees. This path map which will give information of all PROW’s 6 Pass the Daisy and Jake nursery on your left and take Arrowe Brook Lane past the Limbo Lane path. When 1 edge of the field. leads to a bridge over a wide ditch. Please put dogs on Permission Routes and off road cycle tracks. From the lay-by, cross Thingwall Road over to the the footpath opposite you at the end of School Lane. you reach the public footpath on your right take this 2 Follow the path along the edge of the woods to the path into Harrock Wood, an area owned by the National path and the right hand edge of the field. At the road. A short detour off the path halfway along will take you 11 Stay on the path that leads straight across the middle leads at this point. This next section can be extremely When using multi purpose routes, please give Follow the path, keeping the stream on your right until Trust. Follow the path through the wood. At the gate at boundary with Arrowe Park. to Frankby Mere. A stone dam and an island are all that of the field, which could be planted with crops. boggy after heavy rainfall. consideration to all users. Please be considerate to the wooden bridge and the wooded area on your left the end of the wood, turn right down the steps, cross the remain of this Victorian mere built in the 1840s. 17 Keep to the left hand edge of the field past a pond. others and read the Countryside Code and Cycle (this is part of Thurstaston Common). Cross over the 11 Enter the woods, keeping right, and walk on the 12 Still within the same field that you have walked across, stream and up the sandstone steps. Head straight on At the end of the field go through the kissing gate and Safety information on this leaflet. bridge through the kissing gate into Sandy Lane. main path which runs along the western edge of Arrowe 3 At the road, turn right and walk for about 50 metres just before the gateway to the next field, turn left, keeping towards Irby with the hedge on your right. follow the stony track to Manor House Farm. and turn left into Birch Heys, then immediately right On behalf of Wirral Council may I wish you a 7 Turn left along the Sandy Lane bridleway. This land Country Park and continue to Thingwall Road. Turn the hedge on your right. Walk a few metres until you 18 As you approach the farm and stables, follow the pleasant and enjoyable time walking and cycling is thought to be an ancient highway and the stones laid half- right to return to your start/finish point. onto the permissive bridleway. On your right is Frankby reach some boards that lead you across the ditch. Cross public path signs behind the breezeblock stable building. the Wirral Countryside. Why not walk or cycle the way up are thought to have been laid by Monks. cemetery and Frankby Hall which was the 19th century family the ditch into the next field. home of Sir Thomas Royden. When you reach the highest point There is no right of access through the farmyard. Follow Wirral Circular Trail visit www.visitwirral.com for 13 Walk along the left hand edge of the field. At the 8 At Mill Hill Road turn left and head up to the on this path, look ahead and you should on a clear day be able the path between the historic stones to the road. more details. next kissing gate turn right and walk along the field roundabout by the Irby Mill pub. Turn right into to see the sea of Liverpool Bay. 19 Turn right onto Frankby Green by crossing the road Robin Tutchings, Public Rights of Way Officer Arrowe Brook Lane, initially on the grass verge on your edge until you come to Oldfield Lane. Oldfield Manor Amanda Keenan, Transportation Planning Officer at the bus stop and then walk along the road for about left (approximately for 5 minutes taking care on the 4 Cross over the road into Frankby Stiles and follow farm is on your left. March 2015. 50 metres and then turn left into Hill Bark Road, narrow grass verge), then cross the road about 100 yds the track signposted to Newton.