Date walked: 27th January 2016
Map used: OS Explorer 275 – Liverpool
Distance: about 8 miles
*****
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: 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.
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.
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.
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
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
In World War I ships were “disguised” by being painted in a similar colour scheme.
The Beatles are everywhere in Liverpool; I wasn’t bothered.
It’s free and well worth a visit
Port of Liverpool Building – one of the Three Graces
Superlambanana; there are loads of these in different colours. Rubbish art IMNSHO.
Done the world over!
Albert Dock
Signs eh!
View to the Anglican Cathedral
The watersports centre; bit too windy for everyone today
“The rod and line, true symbol of the foolishness of hope”. From The Prelude, William Wordsworth
More Beatles references
It wouldn’t be a beach without some rubbish
Chinese restaurant
Well disguised
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.
I popped in for a shufty.
Gabions were very cutting edge back then
The best Heron pic I’ve ever managed
Yawn
The path then left the waterfront and passed through St Michael’s Hamlet.
It is a designated Conservation Area
Lark Lane was delightful.
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.
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.
Princes Park was just across the road from here; it seems odd to have two quite separate parks in such close proximity.
An unintended diversion took me by the warm red sandstone Toxteth Unitarian Chapel.
Toxteth was only previously known to me through hearing about the 1981 riots. Today its rather shabby streets were practically deserted.
At the north side of Toxteth stands the very imposing but hardly beautiful Anglican cathedral.
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.
By Tracey Emin, poor deluded soul
Calvary by Craigie Aitchison – not that wild about this, either
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.
Liverpool’s Chinatown is just below the cathedral, making for an interesting half a mile back towards the city centre.
Here’s a couple of selfies.
Ok, this one is very subtle
Less so
But to finish, another couple of pics of my ship.
And, nearly home, a sunset. Time for a tea-cake.
Looks more interesting than I imagined. The Cathedral looks wonderful (but then I’m a sucker for them).
The reference to the wonderful Hernandez Brothers made up, slightly, for lack of Fab Four mentions.
🙂
Nice. Just surprised you didn’t ask the trick question “How many selfies are there in this post?” as you’ve done in the past. And how many photos of those urinals did you take? (83-72=11)
Hmm. Could be taxing on the numerically challenged. Umm half a dozen?
Smashing set of images. What time did you photograph these? Dawn? as there were few people. I remember a time when you couldn’t see the waterfront for huge ships from exotic places and Trans Atlantic liners. Looks forlorn now. The rubbish on the beach should have been dug up whole and put up for the Turner Prize.
I enjoyed this walk of yours.
Thanks Valerie! Nope. Only do the best light pics when camping. Though the end of the day comes early at that time of the year. Nice memories? Or if not the Turner Prize, the Tate!
Forgive me Charles, this is slightly off-topic… Grace has posted on her blog a couple entries about our visit to Veddw last year, and you and Anne really need to check them out! We miss you guys!
Hey Kevin (or Charles), any chance of a link to Grace’s blog? Always good to read others’ opinions of gardens.
Hi John, I better let Charles either post the link or give me the “go-ahead”…. I don’t want to post links on someone else’s website without approval…. you could click on my name and it will take you to MY blog, and I have a link to Grace’s website there…
Hiya, Kevin you are so considerate! I am more than happy for you to post up the link here to Grace’s blog.
Thanks Charles! Grace’s website is found at http://graceuncensored.com/WordPress/
all sorts of stuff there BTW… Glad you and the towel have bonded!!
Fab, thanks. Now I must read some of yours, too. Nice to think you are out there tapping away to me.
Hey, that’s great! (well I hope it is – rapidly opens another browser page to find it). Miss you too, but am treasuring the towel.