One of my all time favourite Wirral photo-shoot Locations!
And if you choose Royden Park and Thurstaston Common for your session it'll be your favourite too.
Royden Park is stunning in every season.
Autumn - Deep orange Ferns shimmy in the wind against deep red sandstone rocks which stand high overlooking Caldy and give way to stunning views over the Dee Estuary out to Welsh Hills. Rows of purple Rhododendron line the Meres in Springtime and Summer gives us strong vibrant purple Heathers, deep green Woodland Meadows and Winter sessions provide atmospheric Conifer Woodlands or maybe you would prefer a landscape by Roodee Mere fishing lake, a portrait standing proud and tall at Thor's Rock or maybe a close up head shot amongst the beautiful summer flowers in the walled garden.
How to get there
Bus routes that service Royden are 643 655 674 685 437 Nearest Train station is West Kirby. By road B5140 or A540.
Car Parks
Paid Parking accessed via entrance at Hill Bark Road. £1 up to an hour £2 up to 2 hours £3 3 hours £4 4 hours £5 all day. Annual permit £100
Below is a small gallery featuring some of my favourite images captured at Royden Park and Thurstaton. These include my own private collection of images of my dogs Tom Kel and Shankly (who has now sadly passed away). I hope I've included a good variety for you to imagine your own session here. Click the arrow to scroll through.
The area
Suitable for Young and Old Dogs. Whilst there is plenty of rocks to climb, there is enough flat land and pathways for senior dogs to amble and the length of walk is really depending on how much energy you have. The park is divided into fenced sections allowing seasonal grazing for the cattle, so you will need to check each section of the park before entering gates or styles with an off leash dog. Gates are usually well sign posted.
With 26 Hectares there is plenty of different trails - most of which are circular. Alltrails.com has a comprehensive map system giving ratings on difficulty and images of the route.
The area has woodlands, streams, fishing mere, and a wetland mere which gets really boggy during wet seasons so if you dog is a water lover there is plenty to entertain him/her. The Roodee Mere is stocked with carp for permit holding fishing, there is a picnic area as you enter the park from the car park, so I would advise caution before letting your dog off lead especially if they don't have good recall around food distractions. There is two cafes in the park, a very cute and very picturesque stream, a walled garden and public toilets.
There is only one downside that I think is worth mentioning. Within the park there is no bins which means waste has to be carried. However, there is Bins located at each of the parks entrances.
History of …...
Named after local land owner Sir Ernest Royden the park is now jointly owned by National Trust and Wirral Borough Council. The area was traditionally farmland but by mid 1800's most of the architecture and landscape that we see today was cultured. The park was acquired by the local council in 1961 and given over as public space.
Within the grounds is a mock tudor House known as Hillbark. The house was originally built at Bidston HIll and was later re-erected, brick by brick, to where it is situated today.
The house contains some historic features including a 16th century fireplace which was originally part of a house belonging to Sir Walter Raleigh and a set of William Morris stained glass windows to name just two.
If you have any questions or would like to add more information about Royden Park please leave them in the comments below.