West Kirby and Hilbre IslandAt the top left corner of the Wirral peninsula. West Kirby is a lovely little seaside town. It seems a million miles from the busy city life of Liverpool, and Birkenhead. If you venture out to Hilbre then it is like being on another planet, nothing to disturb you but the wind the seabirds and the sound of the waves, you may even be surprised by a seal looking at you from the water. A truly wonderful peaceful place. |
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West Kirby Boating Lake. The lake is held in by a wall that you can walk around except at high tide when it is covered by the sea. The walk is 2-3 miles. The lake is enjoyed by people of all boating abilities, school kids are taken here to learn the basics of sailing. It is also a favourite place for windsurfers.
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Looking Toward Red Rocks from West Kirby.I know for sure that it safe to walk from here to Red Rocks but further out you can be trapped by quicksand.
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Looking Toward Hilbre IslandIn this picture you can see the two main islands of Hilbre, the Middle isle and Hilbre Island. When the tide is out you can walk to the islands but it is not safe to walk straight there. To get there you have to walk around the smallest of the islands called Little Eye that is about a mile to the south (left) of the Middle Isle. This is because as the tide is receding, there is a very fast channel of water that runs between here and the two main islands.
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A similar view but in the evening
light.
The tide takes six hours to turn but can come or go at a terrific speed, especially if driven by the wind and can be very dangerous for the unwary.
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Looking from Middle Isle toward Hilbre Island. One day, I had arrived on the Middle Isle where I had planned to stay until the tide receded. Suddenly I was approached by a man with two teenage boys who was asking about how to get back to the mainland, I told him he was too late, the tide was already too high and the channel between here and Little eye would already be flooded. (The water rushes through there at an incredible speed) He ignored my warning and pressed on. I watched through binoculars as he approached the channel seeking a place to cross, I was sure he would turn back but he didn't. He entered the rushing water with the smallest of the boys on his shoulders, the other boy was following on his own. I watched in terror as they were being pushed down the stream toward the sea. Luckily, they managed to scramble onto the rocks to safety. There was a similar drama as he waded chest high through the water between Little Eye and West Kirby. I often wondered if his hurry was worth risking their lives. |
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Hilbre Looking to Middle Isle.In this picture you can clearly see that the islands are completely surrounded by water. You may be able to make out the Little Eye away in the distance just to the left of the Middle Isle. Little Eye is not much more than a few rocks most of which are covered at high tide. The highest rocks are grass covered which shows that they are never completely covered by the sea.
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High Tide This would have been particularly high tide with no sign of land between the two main isles. The size of the tide differs depending on the position of the moon in relation to the Earth. With a high tide like this it is possible to see seals close up as they swim close to the land. They have cute puppy like faces. One followed me all the way around the island once. Hilbre is also a haven for sea birds of many kinds as they migrate between their winter and summer nesting grounds. Curlew, Dunlin, Knot, Purple Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, to name but a few. Some travel many thousands of miles between the Artic and Africa.
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Sunset Pictures From West Kirby Boating Lake In the background you can see The Hilbre Islands You may also be able to make out people walking around the lake. The lake itself is like a huge tide pool with all kinds of sea life including Shrimps, Jellyfish, Starfish, Eels, flatfish and of course Cockles and Muscles alive alive oh.... (its an English thing)
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The Ring 'O' Bells
One of my favourite places in West Kirby :-) Another is The White Lion, an ancient pub (I'll add a pic when I find one)
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