Choose from nearly 200 walks in May: there’s something for everyone! Wirral Walking Festival 2018 Wirral Walking ACCESS POLICY Festival 2018 Many of the walks in this the walk at the times shown, brochure are accessible to again please contact the Coordinated by Wirral Council’s Parks and Countryside Service, the people with limited mobility. walk leader who will be Wirral Walking Festival highlights the variety of walks that take place However it is recommended able to advise of alternative on the peninsula in May each year from short strolls around private that you check with the meeting points for you to gardens to long distance treks passing through Wirral’s parks, coast walk organiser for each join the walk at a different and countryside areas. Many of the walks are just part of an annual event if you have specific location later on. programme like the Buggy Park Fitness sessions or Walking for Health requirements including Dogs are welcome on all Walks and both Wirral Ramblers and Wirral Footpaths and Open wheelchair access or are walks unless shown. The Spaces Preservation Society offer a full calendar of walks that take unable to step over stiles. responsibility for the dog In many cases the walk lies with the dog owner who place throughout the year. route can be adapted to must ensure that their dog provide access for all. Also, remains under close control For those who want an opportunity to go just a little bit faster we’ve included our Run in Wirral programme of events, aimed at if you are unable to attend at all times. beginners. We’ve also highlighted walks within Wirral Country Park as 2018 marks the park’s 50th anniversary as the first designated Country Park in Britain. Look out for the park logo next Disabled Holiday Information is an to walks that include sections of the Wirral Way as well as the Dungeon, Thurstaston foreshore awareness-led charity founded by and Dee Cliffs. Frank and Sue Napper in 2001. As well as providing free information on fully accessible leisure time pursuits on their Whether you’re joining a friends group for a walk around their local park, taking part in a website and in guides and fact sheets, health walk (or even a run) or taking a packed lunch on a walk crossing from one side of the their volunteers engage in a variety of peninsula to the other, we hope that you enjoy the 2018 Wirral Walking Festival and will take a related activities to assess opportunities couple of minutes to complete the on-line event feedback survey at www.visitwirral.com so for people with disabilities including those that we can continue to improve the festival and the range of walks on offer. who might not normally participate fully in community life. The resultant data is accessible in a visually stimulating format that will hopefully encourage other Information about access in parks and people with similar needs to expand open spaces facilities as well as and enhance their life experience thus information on where to stay and Many thanks to the Hoylake Photographic Society who have improving their health and wellbeing. activities can be found at provided some of the photographs used in this brochure, www.disabledholidayinfo.org.uk including the front cover photograph. 1 Flaybrick Memorial Gardens Bidston The History of Bromborough Pool - and Arboretum Tuesday 1st May, 7.30pm - 9.15pm Little Neston A Garden Village Tuesday 1st May, 11am - 1pm Cost: FREE and Ness Friday 4th May, Cost: FREE Walk length: 4 miles Wednesday 2nd May, 10am - 12noon Walk Length: 1- 2 miles 10.30am - 1.30pm Cost: FREE This circular walk takes us Cost: FREE Walk length: 2 Miles from the pub car park to Come and find out about Walk length: 5 miles Booking essential Bidston Village and Bidston Hall. We pass the fascinating history of Booking essential Bidston Windmill, before returning to the From Prices Candle Works to the present Birkenhead and stories of the personalities Wirral Hundred. Sorry, registered assistance A pleasant, easy walk mainly on footpaths day this guided walk will look at features of that helped to make it the way it is. This walk dogs only. with plenty of local history and including interest and will also delve into the further is over uneven ground and flat shoes are a stretch of the Dee Estuary. Bring a picnic past with a visit to the old courthouse site recommended. All children under the age of Event Postcode: CH43 9JF lunch if the weather is good! which may be muddy - other paths are 16 years old must be accompanied by an Contact: 0151 605 0591 paved. The work of Autism Together and the adult. Sorry, registered assistance dogs only. Email: [email protected] Event Grid Reference: SJ306 775 Land Trust will also feature on this walk. Meet at: Wirral Hundred Car Park, Contact: 0151 677 4594 Event Postcode: CH43 7PD Townfield Lane Email: [email protected] Event Postcode: CH62 4TT Contact: 07803 166 221 Meet at: Lees Lane Car Park (Wirral Way), Contact: 07587 550 060 Meet at: Tam O’Shanter Cottage, Bidston Little Neston [email protected] Meet at: Bromborough Pool Garden Centre, Wildflowers in the Woodland The Green Bluebells Galore! Wednesday 2nd May, 10am - 12noon Cost: FREE Tuesday 1st May, 2pm - 4pm Parkgate Walk Length: Less than 2 miles Cost: FREE (donations welcome) Wednesday 2nd May, Walk length: 2 kilometres Join the Rangers for a walk around 7pm - 8.30pm Brimstage Eastham Country Park at this special time Cost: FREE A walk along footpaths Friday 4th May, 7.30pm - 9.15pm of year when wildflowers, and especially Walk length: 3 miles to enjoy the Bluebells, Cost: FREE the native Bluebells, begin to bloom on the Celandines, Wood A flat, easy walk following Walk length: 4 Miles woodland floor. Anemones, and other roads, paths and part of A pleasant flat circular walk takes flowers of the ancient Event Grid Reference: SJ326 818 the Wirral Way. us via a bridleway and then paths across woodland within Contact: 0151 327 1007 Sorry, registered assistance dogs only. fields to Thornton Hough. A brief section on Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve and Email: [email protected] Event Postcode: CH64 6SA Thornton Common Road is then followed admire its sights, sounds and smells. Meet at: The Rangers Office, Contact: 07818 076793 by a walk across more fields towards Eastham Country Park Event Grid Reference: SJ342 819 Email: [email protected] Clatterbridge before turning north back Contact: 0151 327 5923 Meet at: The Donkey Stand, to Brimstage. Sorry, registered assistance Below: Extract of ‘Bluebells’ E-mail: [email protected] near the Ship Hotel, Parkgate dogs only. an oil on canvas by Hazel Thomson Meet at: Outside Bromborough Rake Station www.hazelthomsonart.com Event Grid Reference: SJ304 827 Contact: 0151 605 0591 Email: [email protected] Meet at: Brimstage Craft Centre Car Park “Excellent history guide, informative, funny and interesting. Perfect” Wirral Walking Festival Feedback 2017 2 3 SOUTH WIRRAL Bats of The River Park Oxton History Walk (West) Caldy, Wirral Way RAMBLERS The History of Shotwick Park Friday 4th May, Saturday 5th May, 11am - 12.45pm and Dungeons Tuesday 8th May, 8.15pm - 9.45pm Cost: FREE Sunday 6th May, 10.30am - 1.30pm Cost: £3 per person Walk Length: 1.5 miles 10am - 3pm Cost: FREE Walk length: 2 miles Booking essential Cost: FREE Walk Length: 4.5 miles Booking Essential Walk length: 8 Miles Booking essential Join members of the Oxton This is an easy walk stopping Society History Group for a walk around A lovely circular walk A pretty walk around one of the most historic to listen to and see the variety of bats using Oxton Village exploring its development from with members of the parts of Wirral, but many residents know bat detectors. There is a gentle slope on early agricultural origins to the place it is South Wirral Rambling Club taking in the little or nothing about it. There’s plenty to good paths from the car park to the lake. today and the characters and events which Wirral Way, Dungeons, Thurstaston Common see, including views of the Dee Estuary and Children aged 8 and over are welcome but helped to shape it. This walk covers Village and Caldy. Please bring lunch and plenty of the remains of Shotwick Castle and your must be accompanied. Dress warmly. Road, Bidston Road and Wellington Road. fluids, suitable footwear and clothing. walk leader will explain particular points of historic interest. Can be muddy. Event Grid Postcode: CH62 4TQ Event Postcode: CH43 5SF Event Postcode: CH61 0HN Contact: 07587 550 060 Contact: 0151 652 0202 Contact: 07939 487686 Event Postcode: CH1 6BJ [email protected] Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Contact: 0151 677 4594 Meet at: Port Sunlight River Park Meet at: The post box next to Home Café, Meet at: Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre Email: [email protected] Oxton Village Centre Car Park, Thurstaston Meet at: Outside the Greyhound Inn, Seahill Road, Saughall Kirby Park Station Wirral Country Park - Saturday 5th May, The Surprising Secrets of ‘A Park of Great Worth’ Bidston Hill 10am - 12noon Ness Botanic Gardens Monday 7th May, Tuesday 8th May, Saturday 5th May, 2pm - 4pm Cost: FREE 10am – 12noon 11am – 1pm Cost: £7.50 Walk length: 3 Miles Cost: FREE Cost: FREE Walk Length: 3 miles Booking essential Walk length: 3 miles Walk length: 3 - 4 miles Booking essential Booking Essential On the 5th May 1954 the last From St George’s Way to Thermopylae Pass A fascinating tour around the famous passenger train ran over the Hooton On the 7th May 1962 the last goods train ran (and the original site of Bidston Court) gardens taking in buildings and parts of to West Kirby Branch Line and Kirby Park over the Hooton to West Kirby Branch Line.