The best traffic-free bike rides in North West England

Leasowe Lighthouse built in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain and possibly the first building of its kind in the world to use cavity walls for insulation. It stands 101ft (27m) tall on Leasowe Common. It was one of four lights on the North Wirral Foreshore used to guide ships into the entrance to the Rock Channel and the Port of Liverpool. Now a site of public interest, and a Grade II Listed monument, the Lighthouse features guided tours and special events with displays about Leasowe Lighthouse, the North Wirral Coastal Park and the Wirral Coastline.

Leasowe Lighthouse Built in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, Leasowe Lighthouse is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain and possibly the first building of its kind in the world to use cavity walls for insulation. It stands 101ft (27m) tall on Leasowe Common. It was one of four lights on the North Wirral Foreshore used to guide ships into the entrance to the Rock Channel and the Port of Liverpool. Now a site of public interest, and a Grade II Listed monument, the Lighthouse features guided tours and special events with displays about Leasowe Lighthouse, the North Wirral Coastal Park and the Wirral Coastline.

Snack spot at burscough

On the pier please be aware they have the old train tracks and if you tyre fits in you end up on the floor

A walk round the city walls is a worthwhile experience, giving not only good views of the centre of town, but also a number of other sights including the river, the castle and the racecourse

"Leasowe Lighthouse was in use until 14 July 1908; by this time, the sand banks had shifted so much that Rock Channel was barely navigable, rendering the lighthouse obsolete. The lighthouse was a place of work and also a home. The last lighthouse keeper was a Mrs. Williams, the only known female lighthouse keeper in this period. Upon its closure as a lighthouse, Mrs Williams moved into a cottage but kept the lighthouse open as a tearoom during the summer months. In 1930, the lighthouse was bought by the Wallasey Corporation. Mrs Williams died in 1935 and the building was closed. The lighthouse was listed as a historic Grade II building with Historic England in 1952. A period of disrepair ensued and the lighthouse became derelict. It was then restored by a community group called "The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse". Source: Wikipedia

"An Act of Parliament passed in 1761 allowed the Liverpool Docks Trustees to build four lighthouses. Two were built at Moreton. These were the Upper Mockbeggar Light and Lower Mockbeggar Light. When lined up, these allowed for safe passage through "Rock Channel" to the Port of Liverpool. The former is now known as Leasowe Lighthouse, while the latter was built one quarter of a mile into the sea and was destroyed by a storm in 1769, with its replacement, Bidston Lighthouse, built in 1771 on Biston Hill. The other two lighthouses permitted by the Act were built at Hoylake (the name Hoylake was derived from Hoyle Lake, the name of a channel of water between Hilbre Island and Dove Point, Meols) to facilitate safe access into the Hoyle Lake anchorage. Protected by a wide sandbank known as Hoyle Bank and with a water depth of about 20 feet, it provided a safe anchorage for ships." Source: Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leasowe_Lighthouse

An image above shows the lighting system switched on, however for one reason or another, it was off as I passed through on an overcast day. Another rider oncoming without lights (like me) was barely visible in the middle of the tunnel. Mercifully, we'd already spotted one another entering. If you have an urge to read your phone/navigation device on a similarly gloomy day while the tunnel lighting system is switched off, my advice would be to do so before you enter the tunnel. You're going to need 100% attention if there's traffic ahead!