Southport & the Wirral club sites
good evening,
I am just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for the above sites, would like to visit that part of the country next year but we are undecided as to which to stay on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated(2 adults 1 teenager and 2 dogs)
thank you
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Not used the Wirral so can't comment on it.
We used Southport earlier this year. Site is over the road from the dunes, so easy walking for dogs. It's also next door to a park, which you can walk through to the town or giving the dogs a run.
It's situated approximately in between the railway stations of Southport and Birkdale, 0-15 minute walk. Frequent cheap travel right out to Chester and ?Preston, £5.10 all day and a further 10p will add on bus use. Slowish journey so can see the scenery 😉 and able to alight for Formby and the red squirrels etc, Anthony Gormley's Another Place off at one stop and back on another if you want to, station names escape me at the moment. Port Sunlight and Liverpool to name a few places of interest, some requiring more than a day to explore! Southport is like lots of seaside places these days a little sad and run down but ample shopping should you wish to indulge. And the lawn mower museum. Plenty to occupy yourselves without using you vehicle should you wish, i n clouding a walk through the park to Morrisons which has a cafe.
Whichever you choose enjoy.
Ps don't choose a service pitch on the new part of ghetto site possibly pitch numbers 108 and 109. A new opening to give pedestrian access to the facility block means they have to walk in between pitches. Really poor design in the first place and a cheap I'll thought out fix sadly. There is a video on a thread on CT somewhere!
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I have not stayed at Wirral site for 25 years or more. However there are some lovely walks on Wirral Way and nearby. I only live a short distance away and meet with friends in the area. Very busy at weekends.
I have stayed at Southport for 2 weeks over Christmas for the last 7 years, Not sure what length of stay you are contemplating. Usually we tour staying 5 nights on a site and moving but Southport is just to chill and keep active in December.
Mersey Rail do some good offers in my opinion. https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/daily-travel/day-saver.aspx
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What are you planning to do while you're in the area? That will probably make the most difference to your choice.
With a teenager I'd probably go for the Wirral site. It's usually got a reasonable population of young people staying there, there's a brilliant cycle way next door and the beach is handy.
The other one to consider is Chester Fairoaks which isn't in Chester but is very near Cheshire Oaks and the Coliseum with bowling and a cinema, crazy golf and many other teen friendly activities. If they are old enough to entertain themselves you could get a few hours to yourselves
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The Wirral site is in a great location, I live close to the Wirral site. Right at the entrance you have the Wirral Way which is a disused railway line, brilliant for dog walking. Plus traffic free cycling. A very short walk takes you onto the beach (the beach is pebbles and not suitable for swimming), there are no dog restrictions at any time of the year on the beach. Thurstaston Hill/Royden Park is a 5 minute drive away again good walking and dog walking. There is a great dog friendly cafe run by volunteers at Royden Park, bacon butties on a Sunday morning!
Places to visit include Chester, Liverpool. The Mersey Ferries (dog friendly) is a good way to get over Liverpool plus nearby is the U Boat story. A shoppers heaven is Cheshire Oaks Outlet (great for wet day as shops mostly under cover) this is about 20 miles away. Ness Gardens is always worth considering for a visit
Nearby shopping includes Irby village, includes 2 pubs Anchor and Shippons and a great Indian restaurant plus some small shops. Heswall similar distance away has a Tesco Aldi variety of shops and loads of restaurants pubs and cafes. West Kirby is much like Heswall but has a Morrisons.
There isn't a pub within walking distance of the site. Nearest is the Cottage Loaf. There is a cafe within walking distance at Wirral Country Park.
If your teenager is into water sports or would like a go there is a marine lake with sailing school (sailing, canoeing, windsurfing) at West Kirby. You can also walk over to Hilbre Island from here, but please check the tides. There is a sports centre in West Kirby, pool etc. The Dee Sailing Club is next to the site.
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Thanks for replying we just want to go somewhere where we have t been before will probably do some sight seeing but would like to chill on the beach, going for 2 weeks so will need to keep our daughter and the dogs entertained,. Would also like to visit Liverpool whilst we are there, just don't want to drive 150 miles and have our daughter moaning she is bored lol
thanks again
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Been to both sites in the last 12 months, both are excellent sites, but I would say that the Southport site has more on hand. If we go there for a weekend once we are pitched then the car doesn't move, everything is within walking distance. Actually that's not quite true we went to see the Gormley sculptures at Formby. Wirral great place for walking the dogs, riding bikes etc, the Wirral way which is adjacent to the site, is an old railway track bed so fairly flat. If you are going for 14 days why not do a week at each. Chester fairoaks I thought the road noise was intrusive, but close to cheshire oaks and the zoo. I grew up in the Port, so I might be biased against it.
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Of the two we have only been to the Southport site which we liked a lot. We used to to visit Liverpool. I don't know the Wirral Country Park site, we have not been because I understand it's a bit more remote if you don't want to take your unit off site (motorhome) There are some pictures of the Southport site here
David
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Have been to both, preferred the Wirral due it's setting, nice and green and it was easy to go over to Liverpool and Crosby (for Anthony Gormley) but you can do both from either site. Just liked being on the Wirral more than the Southport area, liked looking over to Wales, sheltered walks in the country park, good bike rides. Missed walking over to Hilbre Island and also Port Sunlight and the Ness Botanic gardens. So plenty more to see if we return.
Agree with David, Southport is a bit easier with a motorhome if you need transport.
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We have been to both many times and even ran rallies on Southport in Winter when it used to close. If you prefer to be in easy walking distance of town then Southport is best and probably has more for a teenager in terms of having a bowling and laser quest and a cinema within walking distance. Pleasureland is also only about 200m from the caravan site with rides and amusements. Obviously there are all the other amenities already mentioned.
However we now prefer Wirral for its location and access to great walks along the Wirral Way from the site. In addition to those amenities already mentioned New Brighton is also easily accessed and also has a bowling alley and laser quest as well as great walks along the Mersey. If you do this walk have a look at the Black Pearl( look up on internet for Black Pearl, New Brighton).
But why not do both they are about 30 miles apart if you go through either tunnel which we have done a few times.
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I'm going to throw a spanner into the works. How about Blackpool South Site. Actually situated in the borough of Fylde not Blackpool. The area has so much more for a teenager and dogs. Blackpool itself has lots going on. I'm local living in Blackpool. Stayed at the Southport site in may this year and I'm sorry but yes it's handy to be able to walk into Southport but it's very run down on lord street. Blackpool has a fantastic park. Stanley's park great for dog walks. The Zoo is close by to. We have lovely beaches one is a blue flag beach. St. Annes has a lovely beach too. There's Cleveleys and Fleetwood both worth a visit. An hour and a half away is the lake district.
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A lot would depend on what your teenage daughter likes doing, that is if she will tell you😂
Both sites have lots to offer and have been well described above, even though we prefer The Wirral.
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