West Kirby bike hire scheme hailed as one of the best in UK

Cyclist using a Bike & Go bicycle on Wirral Way

A bike hire scheme, which operates from West Kirby train station, has been named one of the best rental companies in the UK by a division of travel giant TripAdvisor.

Bike & Go is included in a list of the top bicycle hire companies drawn up by rental company Holiday Lettings, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor.

The list is part of Holiday Lettings’ ‘The UK’s Best Transport Rental Companies’ report, which highlights both the various ways customers can travel to and around their holiday destination.

To celebrate the award, West Kirby Today has looked at some of the attractions you can visit by bike from West Kirby train station.

Wirral Way sign
Wirral Way sign

Wirral Way

West Kirby is the start of the 12-mile long Wirral Way, the old Hooton to West Kirby railway line that closed in 1963.
As many locals know, this is a horse, cycle and pedestrian route, which provides some wonderful views over the Dee Estuary to Wales.
To access the path from West Kirby station, turn left out of the main entrance along Grange Road, cycle past the Concourse building and the entrance to the Wirral Way is on your right, opposite the turning for Orrysdale Road.

The crew of the new Shannon Hoylake lifeboat
The crew of the new Shannon Hoylake lifeboat

West Kirby to Hoylake Lifeboat Station

Head left out of the train station onto Grange Road, go pass the Concourse building and turn left into Orrysdale Road. Cross over the junction with Bridge Road onto Anglesey Road and at the end of the road you will spot an entrance onto a public footpath known locally as the Cinder Path.
The path runs along the railway line between West Kirby and Hoylake. As you reach the end of the path, turn left onto Station Road and cross straight over the roundabout onto The King’s Gap and keep going until you reach the beach, Follow coast down North Parade. The lifeboat station is on your left, just after the pirate ship on the beach.

A bench in the walled garden at Royden Park
A bench in the walled garden at Royden Park

Royden Park

The 26 acre parkland is only a 3 mile journey from West Kirby station. Take a left out of the station onto Grange Road, which eventually becomes Column Road. Keep going until you reach a roundabout then take the first left onto Montgomery Hill. At the top of the hill you will see The Farmers Arms pub directly in front of you. Turn right and you will see the entrance to the park, along with signs for the Hillbark Hotel.