Date walked: 27th January 2016

Map used: OS Explorer 275 – Liverpool

Distance: about 8 miles

*****

Circular Liverpool walk on part of the Trans-Pennine Trail, photographed by Charles Hawes

I was following the black and white line on this map to Sefton Park, then the black one back to the beginning.

Anne and I were staying in The Town House – a block of apartments (sounds so much posher than a flat) on Waterloo Quay, overlooking the River Mersey and Waterloo Dock. Were it not for the rattling windows in constant, near gale force winds we would have been perfectly content there. As it was, it was comfortable, and everything worked. It was, though, about  a 20 minute walk brisk from anything much.

Waterloo Dock, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Waterloo Dock: our block of flats is at the far end on the right

Which was fine, just what the doctor ordered. Better still, this daily outing took me past a ship that I got completely besotted with – the Vidar a jack-up heavy lift vessel. It was docked throughout our holiday.

Vidar jack-up heavy lift ship, the Vidar, photographed in Liverpool by Charles Hawes

Weird and wonderful?

I’d have difficulty explaining why I found this ship so fascinating but I did. So here’s another couple of pics of it before we move on.

Vidar jack-up heavy lift ship, the Vidar, photographer in Liverpool by Charles Hawes

Vidar jack-up heavy lift ship, the Vidar, photographer in Liverpool by Charles Hawes

My walk proper started in front of the Royal Liver Building – one of a group three buildings on the waterfront known as The Three Graces. It was opened in 1911 as home to the Royal Liver Assurance Group.

Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Thanks as ever to Lightroom for getting my verticals reasonably vertical

A board opposite the building shows that this is the start of the Trans-Pennine Trail

Board showing the trans-pennine trail route in Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

At the time we were there the comedian Jo Brand was finishing up doing the walk here for Sport Relief.

The  waterfront was, for me, the best feature of Liverpool’s built environment. And one i’ll not spoil for you by saying too much about it, so here are some captioned pics of the next couple of miles.

The Razzle Dazzle ferry, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

The Razzle Dazzle ferry

In World War I ships were “disguised” by being painted in a similar colour scheme.

Fab 4 store, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

The Beatles are everywhere in Liverpool; I wasn’t bothered.

 

Liverpool Museum, The waterfront, photgraphed by Charles Hawes

It’s free and well worth a visit

Port of Liverpool Building - one of the Three Graces, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Port of Liverpool Building – one of the Three Graces

 

Superlambanana, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

Superlambanana; there are loads of these in different colours. Rubbish art IMNSHO.

 

Love Locks, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

Done the world over!

 

Albert Dock, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Albert Dock

 

Love Lock railings, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

Signs eh!

Albert Dock Buildings, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Love Locks, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

 

Echo Arena, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Exhibition Centre, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

View to the Anglican Cathedral from the View to the Anglican Cathedral from Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

View to the Anglican Cathedral

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Watersports centre, Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

The watersports centre; bit too windy for everyone today

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

“The rod and line, true symbol of the foolishness of hope”. From The Prelude, William Wordsworth

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

More Beatles references

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

It wouldn’t be a beach without some rubbish

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

Chinese restaurant

 

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

Well disguised

Liverpool waterfront, photographed by Charles Hawes

After about three miles of being blown about on the front, the path heads inland, behind the site of the 1984 International Liverpool Gardens Festival.  The site seems to have not been used much since though plans are  in place for a major housing development there.

Liverpool International gardens festaval site, photographed by Charles Hawes

I popped in for a shufty.

Liverpool International gardens festaval site, photographed by Charles Hawes

Gabions were very cutting edge back then

 

Liverpool International gardens festaval site, photographed by Charles Hawes

The best Heron pic I’ve ever managed

 

Liverpool International gardens festaval site, photographed by Charles Hawes

Yawn

The path then left the waterfront and passed through St Michael’s Hamlet.

St Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

It is a designated Conservation Area

 

Train Station, St Michael's, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

 

St Michael's church, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Lark Lane was delightful.

Lark Lane, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Lark Lane, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Lark Lane, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

From St Michael’s it is a few hundred yards from the Grade 1 listed Sefton Park– no doubt a very fine place but it did not detain me on this blustery day.

Sefton Park, Liverpool., photographed by Charles Hawes

 

The Trans-Pennine Trail leaves it on its north-east corner, passing  the Samuel Smith Memorial obelisk with a drinking fountain that no longer was in a position to work its magic.

Sefton Park, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Princes Park was just across the road from here; it seems odd to have two quite separate parks in such close proximity.

 

Princes Park, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

An unintended diversion took me by the warm red sandstone Toxteth Unitarian Chapel.

Toxteth Unitarian Chapel, photographed by Charles Hawes

Toxteth was only previously known to me through hearing about the 1981 riots.  Today its rather shabby streets were practically deserted.

Toxteth, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Toxteth, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Toxteth, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Toxteth, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

At the north side of Toxteth stands the very imposing but hardly beautiful Anglican cathedral.

Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Building started in 1904 and it was only completed in 1978

It is very big – the longest and fifth largest cathedral in the world. A visit was required.

Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

 

Work by Tracey Emin in the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

By Tracey Emin, poor deluded soul

 

Calvary by Craigie Aitchison in the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Calvary by Craigie Aitchison – not that wild about this, either

 

Far out at Sea by Kate Bayes in the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

Far out at Sea by Kate Bayes

Far out at Sea by Kate Bayes

 

They have an excellent little cafe on a mezzanine above the transept. I stopped for a tea and a bun. And an addition to my urinals project.

Inside the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool’s Chinatown is just below the cathedral, making for an interesting half a mile back towards the city centre.

Liverpool's Chinatown, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Liverpool's Chinatown, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

Here’s a couple of selfies.

Charles Hawes in Liverpool Centre: self portrait

Ok, this one is very subtle

 

 

Charles Hawes in Liverpool Centre: self portrait

Less so

 

But to finish, another couple of pics of my ship.

Vidar jack-up heavy lift ship, the Vidar, photographed in Liverpool by Charles Hawes

 

Vidar jack-up heavy lift ship, the Vidar, photographed in Liverpool by Charles Hawes

 

And, nearly home,  a sunset. Time for a tea-cake.

Sunset over Princes Dock, photographed by Charles Hawes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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