28th May 2026: Little Neston

 I had spent the previous week cycling the Wales End-to-End so I was determined to get out with the Easy Riders this week, despite the forecast of 27 degree heat, just so I could check if my legs were still working. Actually, considering the temperatures we had been experiencing in the early part of the week, 27 degrees was relatively cool but still too hot to be doing a ride with a lot of climbing. So I devised a route which was fairly flat, would get us to Net's Cafe for lunch and was flexible enough to be anywhere from 30 to 45 miles.

Armed with this idea I made my way to Meadow Lea where I found a number of members (mostly of the faster variety) sitting outside enjoying the sunshine. When I went inside I found Dave H, poring over his maps, trying to find a route with the same criteria that I had used. Needless to say, as soon as I mentioned my idea his maps disappeared and my route was adopted.

Mike D arrived soon after. We haven't seen him for a long time. He has been off travelling the world and is just back for a few weeks before he jets off again. Dave P also arrived but he doesn't like cycling up the Wirral and declined to join us. So it looked like just three of us for the trip up to Net's. By the time we had finished our coffees the faster group had departed, but leaving Elwyn and Fiona behind. They had ridden in from home and since the fast group were heading out along the same roads that they had ridden in on they decided to do their own thing. 'Their own thing' turned out to be a cycle up to Net's and so three became five.

We turned right out of Meadow Lea, passing through Mickle Trafford and on towards Picton. Turning right after crossing the motorway we cycled past the rear of the zoo up towards Backford and across the A41 towards Mollington. Before reaching there we turned north to find the cycle path alongside the railway which would take us to the southern end of the Wirral. Then it was along familiar lanes through Capenhurst and Ledsham before accessing the 'missing link' near Inglewood Manor. Our first stint on the Wirral Way took us to Hadlow Road Station where we turned north again passing through Willaston and Raby to reach Thornton Hough. We were now as far up the Wirral as we were going to get as we turned towards the coast. All the height that we had gained getting this far was soon lost as we sped down towards Parkgate where we enjoyed the delightful cycle along the front.

At the far end of Parkgate we stopped for a short comfort break and took the opportunity for a photo before a second stint on the Wirral Way, this time a short blast to the outskirts of Neston. From there the cycle route takes a twisting tour of a local housing estate to get us down to the estuary and a short distance along the edge of the marshes gets us to our lunch stop.

The breeze coming off the marshes kept the temperature cool enough to dine alfresco without roasting in the sunshine. A thin blanket of cloud helped too. I explained the choice return routes back to Meadow Lea. Going via Kinnerton and Eccleston was rejected as being too far while returning along the river was not popular with the majority of riders because of the headwind, although this seemed to be Elwyn's favoured choice. However majority prevailed and the Greenway route won the day.

All three routes required us to cross the marshes. Most of it is on tarmacked footpath but there is a short section of boardwalk across the worst of the marsh. We lamented the state of it as we rattled across. Patched in several places with many more boards showing signs of rot, it will not last very much longer without major repairs. After so many people campaigned for so long to get installed in the first place it would be a great shame to lose it.

After crossing the marsh and passing through the industrial estate Elwyn made one last-ditch attempt to coax Fiona onto the river path. However, she was having none of it and we all followed the Greenway back towards Meadow Lea. Elwyn and Fiona left us at Blacon to find their own home while the rest of us carried to complete just over 34 miles.

TC

See route map and/or gpx file download

26th September 2019 : Beatles Tour of Liverpool Reprised (brisk)

A few weeks ago, Ivan had mentioned that it would be good to re-ride the Beatles Tour of Liverpool. Brian Mac had expertly constructed a route around the Fab Four's birthplaces and other significant sites.  See this link for the original blog.

This ride was in July 2012, and unfortunately the gpx file was lost when BikeRouteToaster abruptly ceased to be available and all our previously stored routes were lost. So I spent some time reconstructing the route from my live recording of the route and adapting it to start from Ness Gardens rather than Chester Station.

The Fab Six brisk riders were John M, John W, Ivan, Nick, Ray and myself. Ken, Dave M, Andy B, Andy W and Dave P were just out for coffee today so missed a memorable ride! We set off via Raby and Clatterbridge to mosey passed Port Sunlight village and thence onto the Wirral Circular cycle path.

At Lower Tranmere, we stop at Cammell Laird's shipyard as there are myriads of people funnelling into the yard to see the naming ceremony by the Duchess of Cambridge of the "Sir David Attenborough" polar exploration vessel in the presence of the Duke of Cambridge and Sir David himself. We could just catch a glimpse of the ship painted in a day-glo Post Office red. Onwards via Birkenhead Priory, we wend our way to Hamilton Square Metro station for the single stop sub-Mersey transfer to James Street station.

Safely on the river front, we cycle through crowds of tourists to exit north and surprisingly uphill, to Toxteth and the Dingle area to arrive at Madryn Sweet. This is where Ringo Starr was born but today he wouldn't recognise it as we couldn't as it has had a marvellous make-over. We could actually get up Madryn Street as it was closed off and for builders only. So we cycle up the next road which had had the refurbishment. We have an informative chat with a local tenant who tells us that the two-up two-down original layout has been transformed in the three or even four bedroomed properties. 

The streets around here all have Welsh names and the reason why can be found here. We also ride to the Empress pub where his mum worked next to where the Starr's had moved from Madryn Street.

Voelas Street -original and recent  (ex Wikipedia)

We also ride to the Empress pub where his mum worked.

Empress Pub - note the number of cyclists (ex Wikipedia)

We press on now via Sefton Park and Penny Lane to Picton and its clock to find George's house in Arnold Grove. Quite a sad area really. Next comes a long run to Woolton to St Peter's Church and its hall where Paul was introduced to John in July 1957 -  Yes, 62 years ago! There were Beatles tour taxis here discharging sightseers as well.

Retracing part of the route, we stop briefly at John's house (now a NT property) before moving on to Paul's  house in Allerton also NT. It's here that I realise I have cycled passed Strawberry Fields -  but is that thunder I hear or empty stomachs? So we head off for the Greenhills pub for a carvery or pizza lunch. 

The real Macca's boyhood home

Outside John's boyhood home

During lunch, there is a scene reminiscent of the meerkat TV videos as periodically one concerned cyclist after another stands up to look out of the window to check that the bikes are still outside! 

We decide to go back a mile to Strawberry Fields and stand outside the gates for the obligatory photo also noticing there is a rather modern building now in the grounds owned by the Salvation Army.

At Strawberry Fields Forever

It is now a straight run downhill to Aigburth via West Allerton to the Merseyside cycle path. I hear a "rifle shot" sound emanating from behind me and wonder if the natives are restless and don't like non-Scousers, but we did had two of them riding with us. It was Ivan's high quality rear tyre, which had sustained an explosive decompression. The side wall of the tyre was split as was the tube. John W and Nick offer to go and find a suitable replacement from a bike shop about 1.5 miles away. This they do and a suitable replacement is fitted and we are on our way again.

The plan now was to circle back into the Georgian Quarter to marvel at the Victorian Gents in the Philharmonia Rooms pub (and have an obligatory swift half), but we had lost about 45 mins with the puncture, so we headed for James Street station. Safely back via Hamilton Square, we head uphill via Victoria and Egerton parks to Storeton. It's now a short hop via Raby to get Nick, Ivan and John W back to Ness Gardens.  Ray, John M and myself head back via the back lanes of Capenhurst to Mollington.

So a fabulous day out with some very patient cyclists cycling through our musical heritage all  thanks to the Fab Four and other Liverpudlian artists. Who can forget hearing "Please Please Me" for the first time! And No - no-one was heard singing "Ferry Across the Mersey"

The weather was kind in that we seemed to miss the showers and find some sunshine in our 47 miles jaunt.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

Photos; JW, JM and ℅ Wikipedia

13th May 2010: Little Neston

This should have been advertised as the "Easy Lunches - Not", but more on that later.  Ten of us set off from the Roodee, including George for the first time, plus Liz D, Dave & Liz, Clive, Ray, Ray(zor), Mike, Ivan and all led away by Brian Mac.  The ride was advertised as an easy one, finishing by 4pm, as some of us were off later to see Mark Beaumont, the lad who raced round the world, give a talk at Rhyl.
The route along the canalised Dee to Sealand was taken at a gentle pace, to break George in.  I hope we didn't give him a false sense of security, as the wind was behind us.  Turning inland towards The Eureka area, we were on a newish path alongside the widened A550, which a number had not seen before.  Capenhurst quickly arrived, only for Ray(zor) and Ivan to drop off the back.  North through Ledsham and back down to the Dee Estuary, passing through the quaint village of Burton.  (It’s hard to believe now, but on the 1801 Census, it was the 2nd biggest settlement on The Wirral.)  Along the dry marsh track, we arrived on schedule at The Harp, located alongside the old mining port of Little Neston.
Even though I had been in the night before to confirm numbers for lunch, the sole girl serving was completely unprepared for us "walkers".  When the Timothy Taylors finally arrived, all was forgiven.  Unforced extended lunches seem to becoming a habit, so leaving one and a half hours later left us no time for the promised Time Trial at Denhall.  This will be run at Ness Gardens when the weather is kinder.
A faster return took us via Willaston Mill, Hooton and Ledsham down to Sealand.  Here those going to the lecture later on, took the quick way along the Millennium Way back to the start, while four others went off to Connahs Quay, with George still smiling.  An enjoyable, if shorter, ride of 36 miles.
BMac