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West Kirby Coastal Walk

9.94 miles (16 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This coastal walk on the Wirral Peninsula takes you from the town of West Kirby to Wirral Country Park and Thurstaston Common.  The popular Merseyside town is located on the north-west corner of the Wirral Peninsula at the mouth of the River Dee. As well as the nice coastal paths there's also parks, woodland and hill climbs to try in the area.
The walk starts from West Kirby train station where you can pick up the Wirral Way waymarked trail.  The trail follows the trackbed of the former Birkenhead Railway branch line from Hooton and starts in the town. Follow the trail south through Ashton Park where there's a nice Model boating lake. You continue past the golf course to Wirral Country Park. The park is the first designated country park in Britain, opening in 1973. You can climb the 60 feet high, boulder-clay cliffs where there are splendid views of the Dee Estuary.
The path then heads away from the coast to the 'The Dungeon', which includes a wooded ravine with a small waterfall. Turn north west here and it will take you up to Thurstaston Common and Thurstaston Hill. There's pretty heather, woodland trails and more lovely views over the Dee Estuary, the city of Liverpool and the Welsh coast from here.
After exploring the common the route then descends back to the coastal path which you can follow back to the town.
To continue your walking around West Kirby try the popular walk out to Hilbre Island. The three tidal islands lying at the mouth of the Dee Estuary - Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre are designated as the Hilbre Islands Nature Reserve. You can access the islands by foot from West Kirby at low tide. Our Hoylake to West Kirby Walk takes you along the coast with views to the island from the pretty Hilbre Point.

West Kirby OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

West Kirby Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near West Kirby

  • Caldy Hill - Explore 250 acres of woodland and heathland on this lovely walk on the Wirral Peninsula
  • Thurstaston Common and Coast - This walk explores Thurstaston Common before heading to Wirral Country Park on the coast
  • Wirral Country Park - Enjoy fabulous views of the Wirral Peninsula in this delightful coastal country park
  • Wirral Way - This is a terrific walk or cycle ride that runs along a pleasant traffic free path through the Wirral Countryside and along the coastal estuary of the River Dee
  • Hilbre Island - Visit this beautiful island and nature reserve off the coast of West Kirby and enjoy some fabulous coastal scenery
  • Wirral Circular Trail - Explore the beautiful Wirral Peninsula on this circular cycling and walking trail
  • Hoylake to West Kirby Walk - This walk takes you along a lovely stretch of coast between Hoylake and West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula
  • Heswall Dales - This town on the Wirral is a great place for walkers with fine coastal trails and a lovely local nature reserve.
  • Parkgate Circular Walk - This fine circular walk explores the village of Parkgate on the River Dee estuary
  • Neston - This Wirral based town is a great place for riverside walks and wildlife

Photos

West Kirby (12)

West Kirby

Ashton Park, West Kirby (12)

Ashton Park

Wirral Country Park, Lees Lane 3

Wirral Country Park, Lees Lane. Pond between the visitor area and the Wirral Way. 

Thors Stone, Thurstaston Common (geograph 2990423)

Thors Stone, Thurstaston Common

View from Thurstaston Hill - geograph.org.uk - 42223

View from Thurstaston Hill

Wirral Country Park, Lees Lane 2

Wirral Country Park. Picnic area near the entrance to the visitor area

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

West Kirby.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

West Kirby.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)