Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these 6 romantic walks in and around Liverpool

You can say Happy Valentine’s Day in so many ways, from a candlelit dinner for two, a surprise night away, or just a simple box of chocs you know they’ll love.

But there’s no better way to say ‘I love you’ than by giving your time, so how about one of these romantic walks from Liverpool Ramblers to share with your other half?

1. Love Locks walk

From the centre of Liverpool head for the Royal Albert Dock and first take a stroll around it. Take your own little padlock if you wish and head for the riverside walk behind the Tate Gallery Liverpool. There you will find a long chain with numerous lovers’ locks attached.

Walk along by it and read some of the messages, and maybe even add your own. Then continue your walk by the river. Head across the Pier Head and towards the Princes Dock (your walk here has the river on one side and the dock on the other). 

Afterwards, wander on to the modern white bridge and admire the view – and hopefully, depending on the time and the weather, enjoy a romantic sunset. Then walk back across the Pier Head and into the city centre.

* A 2-3 mile stroll depending on you.

2. Visit the Iron Men at low tide

Another lovely romantic walk for Valentine’s Day. Take the train to Hall Road and head for the river. Go down on to the sand and wander between Antony Gormley’s 100 statues – they are spread out over two miles. Admire the great views back to Liverpool and, in the other direction, out to the west and the sea. 

There are often wonderful sunsets here, especially in the summer, but you might be lucky in the middle of February too. Stroll back eastwards towards the docks to reach Waterloo. Pass close by the lovely Georgian terraces here and try to find the one where the captain of the Titanic lived. 

Head on up South Road to Waterloo station or perhaps stop for a drink or a bite to eat at one of the many bars.

* A walk of approximately 3 miles.

3.  Bright-eyed and bushy tailed – spot the red squirrels

Take the train to Freshfield and walk down to the pine woods. Here follow any of the winding footpaths – some are romantically deserted – and keep a look out for red squirrels up in the trees, or on the tree trunks. Sit on a log and watch quietly for a while. (In the spring there are wonderful stretches of blue bells here). 

Wander as far as you like: you might get as far as the sand hills where a strenuous but short climb will give you great views of the wide beach beyond.

Go down to the beach for a while and maybe enjoy a picnic – but remember where to come back up again. Head back to Freshfield station – there are plenty of signposts.

* 4 miles or more, depending on you.

4. Beauty and the Beach

A walk from West Kirby taking in Grange Hill and Caldy Hill which is perfect for pairs!  There are spectacular views of Liverpool Bay, across to the Pennines and over to North Wales before you drop down into Caldy village, onto the Wirral Way and around the Marine Lake.

Start at West Kirby Station, and turn right along Grange Road, passing Wirral Country park on your right. Continue up the hill and go left on the public footpath signed to the War Memorial. Going on, take a left along Grange Old Road and to the main Column Road. Cross over the start of Blackhorse Hill, continue on Column Road and go right immediately before the end of a wall onto a paved footpath that goes parallel with it and leads straight up to the Mariners’ Column (built to replace an old windmill).

Follow the public footpath straight on along the length of Caldy Hill. Where it opens out onto managed heathland there are some great views and seats from which to admire them. Continue on, heading for the public bridleway, locally known as Fleck Lane, and go down the hill into Caldy Village. From here you can walk to Wirral Country Park, along the Wirral Way and over to West Kirby Marine Lake. 

* Just over 4 miles.

5. Walk along the banks of the Mersey

Credit: wirral.gov.uk

You don’t have to ferry across it to appreciate the place we all love. Walk from Bromborough village down to Eastham Country Park on the banks of the Mersey, from where you can enjoy outstanding views across the estuary towards Liverpool and, on your way back, find St Patrick’s Well in beautiful woodland…

From the centre of Bromborough Village, pass Bromborough Cross and turn right along Bromborough Village Road, heading towards Eastham Country Park. Facing the river with the ranger’s office behind you, turn left and follow the river on your right past the riverside car parks. At the far end take the Wirral Circular Trail footpath and cycleway along the river. Keep the green railings on your right, then turn right along Riverwood Road, left up Commercial Road and then right at Stadium Road (the views across the estuary are at their best here).

At the end of Stadium Road, fork slightly right to join the cycleway, and follow it across the bridge and clockwise down to an old railway track bed and back under the bridge. Go along for about 550 metres, under the A41, then after crossing a brook there’s a road to your left. When the road comes to the same level as you turn left through a gap onto it, and along Bromborough Road, then Spital Road towards Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve. Follow the path keeping the River Dibbin on your right, and fork left to St. Patrick’s Well. Return to the main path, turn left over the bridge and continue straight on with the river on your right. Pass over another bridge over the main river, then bear left and follow the path with the river to your left.

Walk through Otters Tunnel and continue through the woods with the river now back on your right. Cross the river again at the next bridge on the right and follow the path around to the left away from the river. The path crosses the meadow here with seats and mown paths up to your right (another ideal place for a picnic). Follow the path to the left again and you’ll reach a footbridge. Head straight on, up a flight of steep steps and across the railway bridge to the station.

* Around 5.5 miles.

6. Lighthouse at sunset?

Starting at Leasowe Railway Station this is a great circular walk following the banks of the River Birket to Leasowe Lighthouse, then along the sea wall and over sand dunes on the North Wirral Coast.

From the station go to the main road and turn left to cross the level crossing, continue along Reeds Lane, heading towards the coast. After 200 metres the road crosses a concrete bridge over a river, the Birket. Turn left through metal barriers and follow a cycle path and walkway along the river bank.

Just before reaching the next road bridge, the path goes right a short distance and then left onto Pasture Road. Cross straight over and go left. Immediately before reaching the river bridge go right on a path where the sign on the gate welcomes you to North Wirral Country Park, follow the path to a road and turn left a short distance to the lighthouse. 

From the Lighthouse go through the car park on the right and up onto the embankment and sea wall, turning right along the North Wirral Coastline, with all the spectacular views on offer. Continue along the embankment past Leasowe Castle Hotel, and take the path shortly after the Golf Club House where a sign at the start of wooden steps says: ‘No vehicles, horses or cycles’ onto the sand dunes. Continue down the log steps and bear right across the short boardwalk, heading to the picnic site and car park.

Turn left along Green Lane, then right into Telegraph Lane, following the signs for the Wirral Circular Trail. At the main Leasowe Road, the route continues across the road to the right of the garage. Enter the playing fields area and follow the surfaced path with a fence and houses on your left and, when the fence ends, continue straight across the playing fields towards houses on the far side.

Before the houses, turn left across the field (with the houses on the right) until you get to the raised embankment. Turn right onto the raised embankment with a river, a tributary of the Birket, on the left (houses again on right). Go past the access path to the Golf Club on the left, and the path turns right to run alongside the main River Birket (on your left). Continue to the metal bridge and turn left and immediately right to Reeds Lane. Turn left to retrace your steps back to the station.

* 5.4 miles.

For all these routes and more, click here.