This is a walk of about 8 miles (13 km) along most of the north coast of the Wirral and taking in the Wirral Coastal Park. It is an extremely straightforward route, best taken at an exhilarating pace. Unless you prefer the sight of endless sand stretching into the blue (or grey) yonder, try and do it around high tide, when the sight and sound of the waves lapping at your side lend a pleasant hynotic ambience. The route can equally well be cycled. Non-masochist cyclists will want to keep to the sealed path running closest to the water, with only a few patches of soft sand necessitating a dismount. For walkers, there is the option in many places to take to grassy paths on slightly higher ground with somewhat broader views. The route starts at New Brighton Station and ends at Hoylake Station, from where you can catch the train back (changing at Birkenhead North). The length of the walk means paying some attention to what you wear on your feet.

The relevant Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer map is No. 266. For further information on the locations visited, click on the images.

	Detailed mapping and satellite photography for this walk courtesy of Bing Maps
	Printer friendly page for this walk (no photos)

Start at New Brighton station [1] (toilets available) and head down Atherton Street towards the coast. Cross careftully over King's Parade and then make your way across open ground to the waterfront. Take a quick diversion to the right past the Marine Lake [2] to have a look at Fort Perch Rock [3] and the lighthouse [4]. Head back along the massive sea wall. New Brighton itself is not very pretty from this angle, so gaze out over the water (if it's there) and take the sea air.

At the end of the sea wall, you leave the built-up area and there is a nice clean little beach [5], where you will notice Leasowe lighthouse ahead. On the left of the path there is a little hill [6] 75 ft (23 m) above sea level. Make for this and you get a good view of the coast ahead.

Further along you come to another decent beach [7] at Leasowe. You then pass Leasowe lighthouse [8] and eventually join the built-up area again in Meols, where Bennet's Lane joins Meols Parade [9]. Have a well-deserved rest on a bench here overlooking the sea. Straight ahead over the sea is the skyline of Blackpool and you can see the entire north Wirral coast from New Brighton's hill on the right to Hilbre Point on the left.

Keep along the sea front and you pass Hoylake lifeboat station [10], where you can go in a take a look over the boat. At the end of North Parade, the coastal route terminates. If you look ahead over the sands here, you can see Hilbre Island on the horizon, with Little Hilbre to the left and the low-lying strip of Red Rocks in front. Go up The King's Gap (ooooh, matron!) and, if you like, take a short detour along Valentia road to have a look at the Hoylake Lighthouse [11]. Cross Market Street/Meols Drive to reach Hoylake station [12] for the return journey.