14th May 2026 : Mersey Circular and Beatles Tour (mod+)

After a 70+ miler to Sandbach on Tuesday, we three, aka Ivan, Chris and myself, discussed a ride from Ness consisting of a reprise of the “Beatles Tour of Liverpool” coupled with a “Mersey Estuary” circular ride. I offered to cobble a route together based on some original gpx files and some of Ivan’s routes.

These routes have featured in CER ancient history. July 2012 was the Original Macca's Beatles Fab Four Tour following on from our President's Mersey Circular in April 2010. I then led a Beatles Reprise tour in Sept 2019. You can read the blogs by clicking on the orange highlighting. Ivan and I road all three.

I was the first to arrive at Ness but the numbers swelled to eight riders consisting of Trevor, Jim, Ray, Mike, Ivan, Chris, Toby and myself. All of us had enjoyed the brief shower including the micro hailstones and cold rain. Trevor and Jim were doing their own ride back to Chester, whilst Ray and Mike were off somewhere around the Wirral. 

We set off behind Ray and Mike but catch them up on their way to Raby and as we power on towards Clatterbridge. I’d deliberately designed the route to get to Birkenhead Central station by the most direct route via Kings Road. Popping up in James Street, we head for the promenade which was not too busy. The obligatory photo is take of the Fab Four CER rides with the Fab Four in support.

CER's Fab Four outclassed by the Real Fab Four

We follow the promenade southwards towards the end of Brunswick Dock thence heading inland and uphill on our way to Ringo’s birth home at 9 Madryn Street. This area of early Victorian two up two down back-to-back housing has been beautifully restored for modern living. There is a small sign on No.9’s door evidencing that this was his birth home. The family moved just around the corner for the rest of his childhood.

Ringo's birth home

The pleasant run to George’s home is through Princes and Sefton parks, and runs up Penny Lane and skirts Greenbank Halls of Residence for Liverpool University and Wavertree Playground, another large green parkland. We arrive at 12 Arnold Grove where there is a Blue Plaque celebrating his life from 1943-2001. The area is pretty tatty really now as we leave for the long run down to John’s home. 

George's boyhood home

Approaching the Strawberry Fields gate stop, there is the inevitable Beatles Tour coach party admiring the now replica gates. The original gate is now within the Salvation army building which occupies “Strawberry Fields” for ever. John’s Auntie Mimi’s house “Mendips” is just around the corner with its own Blue plaque celebrating his life from 1940-80 as he lived here from 1945-1963. 

Strawberry Fields Gate ( modern copy) 

John's boyhood home

Onwards to Paul’s house, which like John’s is part of the National Trust (link here). We meet up with the same Beatles Tour coach party from Strawberry Fields and now at Forthlin Road. 

Paul's House in Forthlin  Road

 

Time to move onto the Mersey Circular part of the route as we cycle passing Allerton Cemetery on the way via a massive traffic queue, to skirt John Lennon airport. There is longish section of road to Hale where we briefly stop to visit the “Childe of Hale” statute and his grave in the nearby church yard. He was reputed to be 9ft tall and was presented to James 1’s court.

It’s getting a bit late for lunch now but I can’t resist getting to the Runcorn bridge along the Mersey riverside path. It’s an easy ride except for the long staircase section where there is no choice but to carry the bikes up the side of the bank. We are soon on and over the bridge and into the ’Spoons Ferryboat pub in lower Runcorn at about 1400

The stairway to Runcorn -from the top!

Young Chris's Hair comparison with the Childe of Hale

As ever ‘Spoons doesn’t disappoint as pizzas and other “highly nutritious” food is ravenously devoured along with a decent cold pint. Setting off again, the plan is to take the cycleways around Runcorn to Chester Road near Sutton Weaver. This we do, but not on the intended route - but we got away with it.

The final part back to Chester was the usual up and down 10 mile drag through Frodsham and Helsby. The return route uses the Greenway at Mickle Trafford to speed you onto Ness, but we all just dropped off  home in Chester area.

So 60 miles all round for us Chester lads, and a cracking day remembering the Fab Four. Paul and Ringo have new solo albums out soon I believe. A well-worth homage ride  by the CER Fab Four to the undeniably world-class talent of the real Fab Four.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

Photos ID