GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Liverpool Loop Line

10 miles (16 km)

This traffic free cycle ride follows National Cycle Route 62 and a disused railway line from Halewood to Aintree. The flat surfaced path is a great ride for beginners, families or anyone looking for a leisurely ride. It's also suitable for walkers in the mood for a nice easy stroll. The path is lined with attractive woodland and bluebells in the spring months.
The route starts in Halewood close to the train station. You then head through Gateacre, Knotty Ash and West Derby before finishing in Aintree near the famous racecourse. Highlights on the route include the lovely Croxteth Country Park which is well worth a small detour at West Derby.
You can extend your outing by continuing north along National Cycle Route 62 and the Trans Pennine Trail to Maghull and Southport.
Around Maghull you will pass close to the pretty Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the famous racecourse at Aintree.

Liverpool Loop Line OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Liverpool Loop Line Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The route passes very close to Childwall Woods where there are some pleasant woodland trails. The adjacent village of Childwall is also well worth a visit with its historic Childwall Abbey Hotel. The inn is thought to date back to the 11th century and is a nice place to stop for some refreshment. The tap room in the pub also hosted The Beatles in their former incarnation as The Quarrymen in the 1950s. They have a good menu and a lovely garden area for warmer days. They can be found on Abbey Road at postcode L16 5EY.
In Maghull there's The Running Horses. The friendly pub is located in a fine spot next to the canal just north of the town centre in Lydiate. They serve good food and have a nice garden area next to the Leeds Liverpool canal. You can find them at 25 Bell Lane, L31 4EN. They are dog friendly if you have your canine friend with you.
The route links up with National Cycle Route 56. The signed Sustrans route runs from the city of Chester to Liverpool, passing the famous Albert Docks and Sefton Park on the way. The route could be used to extend your ride.

Photos

Liverpool Loop Line at Well Lane, Childwall (2)

Well Lane, Childwall

National Cycle Network 62 Liverpool Loop Line 2

View of the tree lined path as it approaches a tunnel.

West Derby Station on Trans Pennine Trail - geograph.org.uk - 1293089

West Derby Station on Trans Pennine Trail. Disused rail station on the trail

Crosby Green bridge 1

Crosby Green bridge

Disused railway bridge over Utting Avenue- geograph.org.uk - 37436

"Broadway Bridge". Disused railway bridge over Utting Avenue. This iron girder bridge now carries the cycleway over the busy A580. The double roundabouts beneath it are a nightmare for the learner drivers taking their tests at the nearby driving test centre.

Halewood Doorstep Green - geograph.org.uk - 273743

Halewood Doorstep Green Halewood: Halewood Doorstep Green (formerly Dista Field). A welcome patch of open green space in a heavily built up and industrialised area. Traversed by the Trans Pennine Trail and Liverpool Loop Line cycleways, here running concurrently.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Liverpool Loop Line.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Liverpool Loop Line.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)