Start: Visitors Centre car park at Thurstaston
End: Hooton main line station
Distance:~20miles
Duration: ~3hrs
Weather: Warm and sunny
The Wirral Way from West Kirby to Hooton is entirely on the route of the single track Hooton to West Kirby branch of the Birkenhead Railway. The line from Hooton to Parkgate was opened in 1866 and extended to West Kirby two years later. The line was closed to passengers in 1956 due to competition from road transport. The Queen travelled along this line on a visit to Cadburys at Moreton in 1957 after the line had closed to passengers. The line continued to be used for freight and driver training until 1962. In 1964 the track were lifted and the buildings were demolished. In 1973 Wirral Country Park, which now occupies the land, was opened, the first such designated site in Britain.
About to set off
The Wirral way at Thurstaston
Bridges over the Wirral Way:
Signpost to The Dungeon a deep and narrow little wooded ravine between Thurstaston and Heswall
Heswall golf course with the River Dee and the Welsh hills in the background
A panorama of the salt marches at Parkgate
Parkgate promenade
Neston Cricket Club
View from bridge at Neston
At Hadlow road there is the only preserved station and section of track. It is preseved asit was in 1952.
Hooton main line station at the end of the disused railway
Looking across the river Dee to the Welsh hills from the top of Thurstaston Cliffs at Dee Sailing Club
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