Wirral Country Park

What it’s like

Free to visit, a 12-mile trail along the Wirral Way, a beach at Thurstaston and a bird hide over the River Dee.

The main thing here is space to walk, cycle or just wander without a fixed plan. The Wirral Way runs 12 miles along the old railway line and you don't have to do all of it, even a short stretch gets you grassland, views over the Dee and a decent chance of spotting a heron if you time it with the bird hide. Thurstaston Beach is the bit kids will talk about after, sand and mud flats and room to properly stretch your legs, though the site is upfront that there's no wheelchair access down to it, so it's not one for every visitor.

It costs nothing to get in, which counts for a lot when you're trying to fill an afternoon without spending anything beyond the car park fee. Opening is 10am to 4.30pm in summer and 10am to 3.30pm from October to March, so winter visits need a bit more planning if you want time for both the walk and the beach before it closes. There's a café on site for when everyone's had enough of the fresh air, and picnics are allowed if you'd rather bring your own.

If you're coming with a picnic or thinking about a barbecue, only disposable ones are permitted in the grasslands, worth knowing before you pack the good one from the shed. There's no overnight camping either, so this is a day visit rather than anything longer. Toilets, baby change and accessible facilities are all on site, along with bike parking if you're arriving on two wheels rather than four.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Paid car parking on site

• Barbecues must be disposable ones only
• No overnight camping on site
• Winter opening hours close an hour earlier, from October to March
• The beach at Thurstaston has no wheelchair access
• Changing Places facilities are available for those who need them

Plan your visit

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