10:00 Sunday October 3 2021
Current Participants: 1 space(s) available Around the Mersey Estuary, mostly on tarmac roads and good cycle paths, but with about 5 miles on reasonable compacted gravel trails (similar to the Wirral Way) and about a mile and a half over cobbles and stone slabs as we approach the Pier Head along the old docks. Click here to see the route on Komoot: Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Pierhead or here to see it on Garmin Connect Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Pierhead.
Just over 48 miles, grade B, mostly flat, but with a few steep hills at Helsby, up from Sutton Weaver, and up past Daresbury; plus a walk down about 50 wooden steps where the Ditton Brook enters the Mersey.
We will start at 10:00 am from outside Ellesmere Port Station and hope to be at the Pierhead around 16:30. Trains arrive at Ellesmere Port from Hooton at 09:17 and 09:47 on Sunday mornings and the ride leader, John Hampson, will be at the start at 09:50.
We will have a short break by the Weaver Navigation Canal just after Frodsham, and then go on to lunch at Walton Hall Gardens (at about 24 miles) where there is a cafe, plus plenty of places in the grounds for you to sit and eat your own sandwiches. Also going to have a stop at Spike Island on the return leg, so it’s a good idea to bring two snacks.
The ride will finish at the Pierhead in Liverpool between 16:00 and 16:30 and people will be able to get a train to the Wirral from James Street or use the Mersey Ferry to get over to Woodside.