Cheshire, as it existed before 1974, had very little coastline and, as now defined, virtually none at all. The sea can be seen along the west side of the Wirral peninsula but unless you have consulted tide tables you are likely to need powerful binoculars. Along the northern coast of the peninsular there is sea and miles of sand rather than estuary and spartina grass although the tide does go out a long way. The west and north side of the Wirral come into their own for walkers in the winter, when the fields are too muddy to traverse. Park on the promenade near Dover Point in Hoylake (SJ 231 906) and you can have a bracing walk along the sea front to New Brighton and by the side of the Mersey estuary while remaining dry shod. Alternatively, park at Thursaston Visitor Centre (SJ 238 833) and walk along the beach to Red Rocks at the NW corner of the peninsula and into Hoylake. You can return on the Wirral Country Park track along the line of the former railway. The last two photographs below show the Dee between Thursaston and West Kirkby on 4 January 2007. At about 1 pm there was the highest tide of the month and a strong westerly wind. This picture was shown by Diane Oxberry on Northwest Tonight that evening.
In the 1960s, New Brighton had become a very depressed holiday resort with cheap amusement arcades and "greasy spoon" cafes. Since then, one of the main streets has been demolished and replaced by housing. It is now largely a dormitory town with few of the trappings of old seaside resorts. Parts of the town look a little worn and it no longer pretends to cater for holiday makers. Look out for 'The Teddy Bear Cafe' which doubles as a dolls' house shop; there you can enjoy a selection of homemade cakes. It is opposite the 'Peggy Gadfly' public house in Victoria Road but appears to have been put up for sale recently.
Along Magazines Promenade, facing the Mersey are some Victorian and Edwardian villas built for Liverpool's merchants and professional classes, who could cross the river using the ferry at New Brighton, Egremont or Seacombe.
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| Lighthouse and Mersey Estuary | Perch Rock Fort | |
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| Fort Entrance | War Memorial in Vale Park | |
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| Villas overlooking the Mersey on Magazines Promenade | Villas on Magazines Promenade | |
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| Bandstand in the park | Mother Redcap Nursing home on site of smugglers' pub | |
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| The Dee with breakers at 1 pm on 4 Jan 2007 | The Dee at 3.30 pm on 4 Jan 2007 |
