SPEKE HALL, LIVERPOOL

Spot migrant birds on the sandy Mersey coastline and discover the history of this special place on this autumnal walk.

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 1 hour / 1.8 miles

1 Start at Home Farm courtyard. Follow the signs to the Bund and Coastal Reserve, which runs between the maze and play area.

2 Take the path on to the Coastal Reserve and follow it around, through the metal gate and on to the old airport taxiway. You can get your first glimpse of the Mersey estuary and views across to the Wirral peninsula and North Wales.

3 Look out for the red line on the taxiway – this will lead you to a path along the Mersey shore. Keep following it around the back of the Yacht Club building. 4 Head to your right and walk towards the Speke Hall fenceline. Go through the gap on to a meadow. 5 Follow the stone path around the left-hand side of the meadow then turn right. The path will lead you between two hedges. 6 Turn left at the end of the path. Follow the route to the metal gates that lead on to the main drive.

7 Turn left and walk up past the avenue of lime trees.

8 At the top of the drive, cross and go into Stockton’s Wood.

9 Walk down the woodland path. At the end, turn left and cross a small bridge over a ditch. Take the next right and follow the route back to the car park.

Details and map at nationaltrust. org.uk