Good rides around Liverpool

[Stig-OT-Dump]

I am taking the bike down to Liverpool and am looking for some route suggestions.
I will be heading out from Bootle or West Derby. I had been thinking about heading for Southport - but when I ran the first part of teh route, it turned to a mud trail at Aintree - don't really want to do that on my road bike.
Anyhow, any route recommendations would be welcome.
Cheers
Stig

 

[Sharky]

Not too familiar with the roads out of Liverpool but you could try this
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Kirkby_Rainford_Round_Trip-Cycle-Route-1900.html
And if you can branch out via Crank to the top of Billinge Hill, you can give your self a few KOM points.

Prescot was my home town and my avatar photo I think was at the finish of a 50 near Lydiate, but the traffic was a little less in 1967.

 

[gmw492]

Some decent rides towards Melling ,Maghull and through to Aughton ,then a59 and you can go across to Rufford,Croston,Eccleston,Charnock,Wiggo territory that ,quite a few nice country roads there,not much elevation round there so if you don't like hills even better,

 

[mythste]

I am taking the bike down to Liverpool and am looking for some route suggestions.
I will be heading out from Bootle or West Derby. I had been thinking about heading for Southport - but when I ran the first part of teh route, it turned to a mud trail at Aintree - don't really want to do that on my road bike.
Anyhow, any route recommendations would be welcome.
Cheers
Stig

North Liverpool is a bit difficult, You're right that the main cycle route through goes to pot though I have tackled it on a CX!

South Liverpool and beyond, however, I know quite well. How many miles are you wanting to squeeze in?

 

[Dave7]

Jump the ferry to Seacombe/Wallasey. You can cycle traffic free around the coast for 30 miles (60 return).You can use a road or off road bike. It is beautiful but its obviously "on the coast" so you will get wind...........possibly strong at this time of year.
You will enjoy the whole experience.
And as a bonus there are good chip shops at New Brighton & Parkgate.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

Thanks for the responses.
@mythste - probably up to around 50 as the nights get lighter. I may push for a longer ride near the summer solstice - I've done a late one before and thoroughly enjoyed it, although that was Aberdeen and closer to the "neverdark".

 

[Ajax Bay]

Jump the ferry to Seacombe/Wallasey.

But doesn't the ferry cost silly money (eg £10)? I looked at using this last autumn but it seemed one had to take the cruise as well, or at least pay for it.
http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

 

[mythste]

But doesn't the ferry cost silly money (eg £10)? I looked at using this last autumn but it seemed one had to take the cruise as well, or at least pay for it.
http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

I made that mistake originally. The ferry you want is actually part of merseytravel not Mersey ferries and you can get a savaway ticket for about £5 that will get you from bootle to James street, then get the ferry over, enjoy the Wirral which has some lovely routes, then back again.

The only reason I suggest getting the train first is the tickets annoyingly can't be bought from the ferry terminal. You have to have the savaway ticket from a merseyrail station and then they issue you with a ticket at the terminal. Annoying, I know! But it's the way it is.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Or just get the train across to Birkenhead Central? It's not the "Ferry, 'cross the Mersey" but it gets you there, and cheaply.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

On Wednesday I did a 50 miler up through Formby, on to Southport, back to Maghull and then took the road for Setting and Litherland.
The Cheshire Lines started as tarmac but changed to farm tracks.
I ended up in a housing scheme where Lycra looked very out of place. I'd have shagged my rims rather than stop to fix a puncture.
If anyone has a recommended route to get from Maghull to West Derby I'd be grateful.
Today's taxi driver warned me off the railway line to Aintree, he said it was home of drug deals and hidden shotguns. Then again, someone got shot in the head by an air rifle in the pub round the corner the other week.
Planning on visiting the Wirral soon.
Lovely weather for it.

 

[si_c]

Run the transpennine trail to halewood then through Runcorn to frodsham and back to Birkenhead for the train to Liverpool should be about 50 nice easy miles