3. Hilbre Island, Dee Estuary, The Wirral

For a tidal island, Hilbre is an impressively long way from the shore. Marooned in a huge expanse of golden sand, it’s a two-mile low-tide hike along the Dee Estuary from West Kirby. Do keep to the prescribed route, which is displayed on a noticeboard at the slipway and avoids areas of dangerously deep mud. It also takes walkers past two other even smaller islands – Little Eye and Middle Eye – on the way.

The Dee is one of Europe’s most important estuaries for overwintering wildfowl and waders, and teems with birdlife all year round. Depending on when you visit, you might see oystercatchers, sandwich terns, dunlin, whimbrel, curlew among many others.

Following the isle’s single track you’ll first encounter the Hilbre Island Bird Observatory, a former navvy’s hut transported here from the Manchester Ship Canal. Other venerable buildings include Telegraph House (once home to the telegraph keeper), the remains of the once prosperous Seagull Inn, the Buoymaster’s House and a Victorian Telegraph Station. Eventually you’ll arrive at a disused lifeboat station housing a 19th-century tide gauge. Surprisingly, its recordings are still essential reading for every large ship that enters Liverpool. Check tide times at hilbre-island.co.uk/tide-times/