Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire | Merseyside | North Wales
There is evidence of human occupation on the Wirral dating back at least as far as 7,000 BC. When the Mersey Railway tunnel connecting Wirral to Liverpool was opened in 1886 the suburbs, such as those at Wallasey , Hoylake and West Kirby, expanded rapidly. Such was the rate of growth that Wallasey's population passed 53,000 by 1901. As the age of the car dawned, in 1934, the Queensway Tunnel was opened for road traffic. The Kingsway Tunnel, once again for the now completely dominant motorcar, opened in 1971. It links with the M53 motorway to form a trunk route straight through the Wirral.
Today, most of the population of the Wirral is concentrated on the eastern side. A large conurbation has been formed by Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead and all the towns and villages around and in between, all of which once existed independently along the Wirral.
Britain’s first ever country park can be found on the peninsula. The Wirral Country Park is built on the former location of disused railway lines. Within the park is the Wirral Way, an extremely popular leisure destination in the north west. It is 12 miles long and follows the old railway that ran from West Kirby to Hooton in mid-Wirral. A beautiful beach is just another part of the park’s attraction. You can reach the beach from the bottom of Station Road or via the Tinkers Dell Steps. The Wirral Country Park's facilities include the visitor centre, a bird hide, toilets, picnic areas, a café and the Green Shop.
Perhaps not quite as tranquil as the country park, but just as popular, is the annual Wirral Show . This is a spectacular two day festival with a variety of main attractions, side shows and displays. Visitors on previous years have been thrilled by truck-jumping motorcycles, Royal Marines Commando display teams, parachute stunts and falconry displays. There was even by a flypast of the Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial aircraft, at the 2008 Wirral Show.
Accommodation available in Wirral includes many fine hotels, comfortable bed and breakfasts and self catering properties.
More British Natural features?
Other Cheshire Naturals
River Mersey
The River Dee
Cheshire Plain
Alderley Edge
The Bridestones
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