From Liverbirds across the water to the Peninsular - The whole route and a great Ride!

Our cycle ride today is slightly different from the “normal” BREEZE rides. There will be 2 start points – one at the Pier Head in Liverpool and the other from New Brighton Station. For those of you joining at New Brighton I will be there to meet and greet you at 9.45am and after our bike check we will cycle along to Seacombe Ferry to meet the ladies coming from Liverpool. Please note if you are coming by Ferry, Fran and Sally will meet you at the Pier Head for 9.45 and you can purchase a saveaway ticket for £4.80 (please note you do need a boarding card but I am sure Fran and Sally will remind you) The 2 groups will meet at Seacombe ferry from the 10am ferry from Liverpool at 10.30am. If you wish to join us at Seacombe Ferry there is plenty of free parking available there. There will also be 4 pickup places along the route as follows: Seacombe Ferry Terminal (outside the ferry office CH44 6QY) Port Sunlight (outside the train station CH62 4XB) Eastham Ferry (at the rangers office near main car park CH62 OBH) Hooten station (outside the station CH66 7NL) The idea of today’s ride is for people to come along and join in and leave at any of the above meeting places. From Seacombe Ferry we continue along to Port Sunlight and meet the next group of ladies who wish to join us there. At that point you might want to leave (which is absolutely fine) – there are regular train services back to Liverpool, Birkenhead and New Brighton, however, we hope you want to carry on, along the cycle path to Eastham Country Park.  This lovely park is situated on the Wirral bank of the River Mersey and provides superb views across the estuary with its abundant birdlife. The 100 acres of broadleaf woodland offers opportunities for peaceful walks, birdwatching and orienteering. A Visitor Information Centre, Rangers office and toilets are situated in the courtyard so we can stop here for a short break. We can use this as our 3rd pick up place so if you do want to join the ride here that is fine! (the postcode for sat nav is CH62 0BH) From  Eastham Ferry our route will take us up to Eastham Village, dropping down to Bromborough Rake station and onto Hooten station for our 3rd  pick up place. Regular trains come to Hooten from Chester, Ellesemere Port, Liverpool and the Wirral. Our pick up time from Hooten will be about 12.45/1pm.  From here we will pick up the Wirral Circular path, down to Neston, passing Parkgate (famous for its ice cream!), along to Heswall  and at that point afternoon tea will be calling us at the Thurstaston Country Park!!  Wirral Country Park is a place of contrasts. Badgers and Foxes hunt the quieter parts, birds nest in the dense hedges or feed on the berries in winter the whole route to the park has great views across the River Dee and to North Wales. After our  afternoon tea stop we continue along the path to West Kirby. At this point if people want to leave the ride that is fine – again, regular trains leave the station here to Liverpool, Birkenhead and Chester (with a change). From West Kirby we continue along the coastal path to Hoylake passing the famous Liverpool Golf Club and continue onto Leasowe on the coastal path (on a clear day great views to Llandudno) to New Brighton (finish point for the people who have left their cars there) and continue along to Seacombe Ferry for a return ferry home. Newcomers to Breeze rides are very welcome, don't worry if you don't know anyone, we're a friendly bunch.  Please dress appropriately for the weather: in cool weather it's good to wear lots of thin layers, so you can add/remove them as needed; a rain jacket is a good idea too. A couple of days before the ride I will email you with the forecast, let’s hope it’s a nice sunny day. If you are staying for the whole ride you will need lights for your bike as our ETA back at New Brighton will probably be about 4.30 to 5 pm when it will be dark then. If you need to ask any questions please call me on 07729 114055 or email me at [email protected] Wearing a helmet is advisable; if you don’t have one please do not to worry you can still take part.  If you enjoy the bike ride and would like to come again perhaps you could look to buy one then. Look forward to seeing you there! Don’t forget…. Breeze  are on a mission to spread the word about their rides, and need your help. If you introduce one friend who goes on to take part in a Breeze ride, you’ll receive a Breeze water bottle, introduce a second friend, you’ll be the proud owner of one of their swish Breeze Buffs, and introduce a third friend and Breeze will send you £15 of Love2Shop vouchers. Read the article on the homepage for more information.