The Wirral Summer Brewery Sqwalk 27th-29th June
(See maps at bottom of notes)
Up for it were:
Yupmeister, JayCee, Anytime Tone, 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon, Granpop Bill, Jacko, BrollyWolly Bagman of Talke Talke, Young whippersnapper - Where's Brolly, Darkside, Stubbee, Tim Mothy, Spike, Malc Jay, Matt Jay, Rob Sparklet, Kevan Spinks; and Steve Eyton-Jones who many will remember headed up the King’s Arms team and narrowly beat the Squarry Club in a Crown Green Bowling Competition many years ago.
Nic Harding, a very experienced and knowledgeable Wirral Council Park Ranger, also came along to up the numbers to 18 on the actual day of the walk.
Sadly, Mark Stefan couldn’t make it due to a sudden close family illness.
A hot and formidable weather forecast of full sun and 25deg awaited us in Liverpool.
Maybe longer refreshment stops would be needed!!!!!!!!!!
Rob, Kev, Steve and Nic left early to get back home whilst the rest were left with the dilemma of remaining a while longer, or leaving and including a brief detour to the Peerless Brewery.
Jaycee took control of a straw poll of Remainers or Leavers. The Leavers won by just one vote, so we sped off to the local station without delay. If only the Brexit vote had been so simple to process.
Not being familiar with the area, Jaycee asked whippersnapper Matt where we were, who took one look out of the window and replied, ‘Morgan Sindall’. Turned out Morgan Sindall was the name of a construction company and not a station!!
We alighted at Conway Park and pushing for time, raced along several ‘rough’ streets to the Peerless brewery. Peerlessbrewing.co.uk
There was a great selection of ales from Triple Blond to Oatmeal Stout at just £2.50 a pint. It was the penultimate opportunity to visit the brewery on a Friday for one of these sessions. They were to be stopped as it had proved too successful. It had therefore been a good majority decision to visit it today. An anorak sat alone consumed in smelling and tasting each ale whilst videoing himself. Thank goodness we haven’t stooped so low. Yet.
Our first stop was at Lower Heswall where some opted for teas at Porcelli’s café, whilst the rest slid into the Black Horse pub without a second thought. Whilst the real ale drinkers were not too impressed by the beers on offer, it was a welcome refreshment stop in the heat.
Nic described the local geology and strata, some of which was older than Jaycee,,, just.
A couple of nice ladies took a group photo of us before we left the main pathway and headed up to see the Dungeon cave.
Shortly, we passed Bartholomew's Church is in the village of Thurstaston, where Commonwealth war graves were of interest.
Thursday
Most of us caught the train to Lime Street, Liverpool and then took a steady stroll down through the town centre towards the Albert Dock. Jaycee almost attempted a ‘pull-up’ on a ‘free for all’ piece of equipment positioned for passing pedestrians to try, but gave up at just the thought.
Having checked in, the receptionist gave Jaycee and Yup the keys for a room overlooking the dock as requested, but strangely ended up on the opposite side, overlooking the big wheel. They couldn’t be bothered to change. Stubbee meanwhile hadn’t got a room booked according to the computer but eventually it was resolved.
Next was the Cottage Loaf at Thurstaston, a Greene King offering.
Brolly asked to change his order of chips to mash, but regretted it after seeing the portion size. Sadly, it was too late to change again…..
It was a much-welcomed refreshment stop though as the temperature had risen indicated by ‘whippersnapper Matt Where’s Brolly’s’ calves which had started to turn pink.
Our very own young whippersnapper, ‘Where’s Brolly’, was spotted drawing money out!! ‘Well that’s a first’, cried BrollyWolly. 'Let me get a photo'.
Return tickets were bought at James Street Stn. for the metro to Birkenhead where we jumped off and walked to the Glen Affric brewery (https://glenaffricbrewery.com); slipping in and taking seats before it should have opened.
Sparklet arrived a few minutes later but the proprietor had locked the door behind us..heehee.
On the edge of an industrial site the brewery and taproom sold an immense range of ales. A mindboggling number of around 30 oddly named brews were displayed on the board. From sour beers to coffee beers.
Darkside was in heaven with a good choice of dark ales at his disposal.
After a couple of drinks, or several halves for some, we headed back towards the station at Hamilton Square and slipped into the rear garden of Gallaghers. Hair cuts were available but as most of the group were now bald there were no takers.
Bargain priced 10-inch pizzas at just £7 were ordered. The extra black pepper request from Yuppy was somehow ignored, as was a pizza for Darkside who ended up with a burger and black pepper.
Back at St James St Station in Liverpool, ‘return’ train tickets were bought for the following day to save time. The front runners headed straight across the road into Wethers, so it was rude not to join them. It appeared that there was a reasonable choice of ales available until we started to place an order, as each one ran out in turn. An earlyish night followed.
Friday
An early breakfast in a near empty restaurant was taken. We were in time to take a slightly earlier metro from Lime St to Bidston than originally planned but then had around a half an hour wait at Bidston before catching the mainline train to Neston. Spike joined us having spent the night in his campavan.
At Neston the eager beavers jumped off the train and quickly set off in the wrong direction, not waiting to meet up with Sparklet who was going to meet us at the station car park and lead us along the Wirral path. After recalling everyone, Yup contacted Sparklet, who was by this time in the churchyard at the opposite end of the town with Steve and Nic. Ten minutes later the groups met up and merged into one and Sparklet, who had organised today’s walk, could take the lead. The sun was getting hot on our backs as we made our way along the River Dee estuary with impressive views of the ever spreading marshes.
A slight detour after lunch was planned to incorporate Thurlaston Hill where we could admire the views around the peninsular.
There were a number of posh houses for sale in the sub-urban areas towards West Kirby in price categories much higher than most of us could afford, even if savings were pooled; except for Yuppy of course.
A chilled hour or so at the renovated Baltic Fleet went haywire as a couple of the food orders went astray, due to ‘printing’ problems evidently ……. They were definitely not worth the wait. BrollyWolly Bagman of Talke Talke, Young whippersnapper - Where's Brolly and Darkside caught up with us at the pub, ordered a meal and finished them before the ‘forgotten’ meals had arrived……..
Sparklet contacted us saying he could now meet us at 5ish at the Glen Affric brewery, scuppering our ferry across the Mersey which didn’t commence running until 5pm. There was always tomorrow …..
After a quick pint we sprinted to Hamilton square, racing against the clock to catch the metro back to James St.
During the transit and in the lift to street level, Nails went through the rituals of clearing his throat, emulating the Scouse accent, but to the annoyance of a local guy who took offence. Being restrained by Darkside and Whippersnapper the feud ended amicably.
Back at the hotel, showers were taken at breakneck speed. Brolly, Whippersnapper and Darkside rotated in their shower in less than 30 minutes. Well done chaps.
A fire drill at 8.30pm, arranged by Yup, ensured everyone was out of the hotel on time. Even Granpop Bill was out, but unfortunately he’d left his hearing aids in his room. I said, ‘he’d left his hearing aids in his room’….
There were a few sore feet, aching limbs and lost toe nails, but spirits were high and we were hungry. As we approached the Barton Rouge Indian, a scouse wench shouted out - Are you the gay society from Stoke? How did she know……
John Aucock became Darkside Dave as he’d been called Dave a few times during the day….. Not sure if it’ll stick.
‘Are these vanilla pods in my curry?’, asked Bill, who then realised he’d lost his hearing aids again.
The service and food were cracking from all the feedback so we’ll return again next time we’re in the area.
The promenade of West Kirby opened up in front of us and an ice cream van was spotted.
Nails thought he’d been stabbed but realised he’d just dripped red raspberry sauce on his shoes.
There was a good choice of ales at the West Kirby Tap where paddles of thirds were bought by some.
Saturday
Spike had been worried all night cus he hadn’t displayed his car park ticket on his van. But was relieved when he checked and found that he hadn’t been booked.
We had an option to have a cuppa and stroke pussies on the way back through the town to Lime Street Station. A cat café of course had opened and was purrfect for those who liked cats.
John checked his phone app and declared he’d walked less steps than anyone else. ‘That’s cus you went to the bar less than anyone else!’ someone retorted.
We left Stubbee at Lime St station as his cheaper ticket wasn’t valid until the allotted time, an hour later.
One thing we all commented on was how very helpful and friendly folk had been in the Wirral. Their response had been how rude and unpolite folk from Alsager were………. Can’t be true!!
On behalf of the group can I just express my gratitude to Rob for organising the walk and also to his companions for helping to make it such a great day out on the Wirral. Many thanks, and hope to see you all again very soon.
Cheers
Yuppers
(enjoy yer Wirrals) ps Route shown blow
