The Mersey Estuary-A Travel Guide by Kevin Sene @RandomTTours

Welcome to my spot on the blog tour for The Mersey Estuary-A Travel Guide. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my invite onto the tour and my review copy of the book.

Stretching for around thirty miles to the coast, the Mersey Estuary is perhaps best known for Liverpool’s spectacular waterfront and the Mersey Ferry. But there are many other hidden gems along its shores, including waterside parks, sandy beaches and poignant reminders of the days of steamships and sail.

The Mersey Estuary: A Travel Guide provides suggestions for places to visit along the estuary, from its upper reaches in Warrington to where it meets the sea at New Brighton and the Sefton Coast. Along the way, the book calls in at Widnes, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port, Port Sunlight, Birkenhead, Liverpool and Formby Point, and includes an interesting mix of walks and cycling routes, ranging from a couple of hours to a full day out. Readers will also discover some less well-known sights, including lighthouses, a castle, medieval buildings, and a transporter bridge, one of only eight left in the world.

For those interested in the history, environment and wildlife of the estuary, there is also an introduction to its nature reserves, geology, canals and bird life. Other topics include the development of the Port of Liverpool, including its famous Liver Birds, and how the estuary has been cleaned up in recent decades so that even salmon have returned. There are also tips on birdwatching and photography and on where to see seals and the Mersey’s little-known tidal bore.

With stunning colour photographs, The Mersey Estuary: A Travel Guide is a must-read for travellers to the area and local residents alike.

The Mersey Estuary-A Travel Guide is a comprehensive guide that gives locals and those travelling from further afield, an in-depth look at the stretch of water known as the Mersey Estuary. I live in Cheshire, not too far away and have spent many days walking at places mentioned within the guide so I was curious to find out more as I’m always looking for new places to discover. And this guide is perfect for anyone with a love of nature with local beauty spots, wildlife attractions, walks and cycle routes.

The history of the local area is covered as well and it’s absolutely fascinating whether you actually live in the area or not. There are many different landscapes along the estuary that include the city of Liverpool and the tourist attractions there including the Maritime Museum where there is a permanent display of Titanic memorabilia to celebrate the city’s links with the White Star Line. Then there’s the National Trust attraction at Formby Beach where you can spot red squirrels running around in abundance-always a favourite of ours! And who doesn’t love a day at New Brighton with its amusement arcades, beach, crazy golf and selection of family restaurants. But it was the places I didn’t know that kept me dipping in and out of this fascinating guide-I discovered walks I didn’t realise existed and towns and villages along the coastline that need further investigation in the future!

This book also proved to be a very valuable resource at school too as Year 5 are doing their Autumn geography topic about rivers and pretty much all of the facts are in here which made it compulsory reading for my 9 year old granddaughter when she did her project recently!

An insightful and interesting guide with some wonderful photos of the area and local wildlife. A must read for local walkers and nature lovers alike.

Kevin Sene has an extensive knowledge of the maritime history, wildlife and environment of the estuary. A scientist who has worked widely overseas, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He is a regular visitor to the area, having previously lived in Warrington for many years.