There were 10 of us waiting at Penyffordd station for the 9:38 train to Bidston. Our journey involved 2 changes before we arrived at New Brighton on the northeastern point of the Wirral Peninsular
When we arrived, it was quite cool and overcast but as the day went on the sun came out. Our first stop was Fort Perch Rock for a hot drink in their café. In spite of all our research we found that the museums in Fort Perch were closed for refurbishment.
We did manage to go out of the back of the café into the central part of the Fort where we took a couple of photos including the photo of some strange men we met who made no objections about having their photos taken.
Having been fully refreshed we set off along the promenade. Some of the group had never been to New Brighton before and for others it was a trip down memory lane. Those of us who had been to New Brighton in our youth were able to point out landmarks along the promenade and also what could be seen across the river Mersey in Liverpool. We also commented on things that had changed such as the old outdoor swimming pool was now a Morrisons Supermarket!
Some of the group who didn’t wish to walk too far went up the main street to find somewhere for lunch while others took a walk along the promenade. Once past the main street we were out of the wind and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. We walked past where the old Tower Ballroom had been then past Vale Park meeting up again with the rest of the group at a café on the main street.
We did have a little chuckle at this sign on the promenade. It's all in the small print
LITTER FREE BEACH
we don't need much funding but a donation of
£1000
would be just
FINE
I had made notes of train times for the return journey where the connections would only involve short waits. We decided to walk back up the main street towards the station for the 14:53 train. We arrived back at the station in time for the previous departure. The wind was whistling up from the sea, so we decided that, as there was an enclosed shelter at Bidston, that we catch the earlier train. This worked well as the Bidston station shelter had plenty of seats and was heated.
An enjoyable day even though it didn’t quite go as planned.
