New Sefton and West Lancashire Trans Pennine Trail Leaflet

26 July 2017

The UK’s first multi-user route is pleased to announce a new local leaflet available for Sefton and West Lancashire.

The Trans Pennine Trail, or TPT as it is more usually called, was created as an imaginative project back in 1989 through the unique partnership and enterprise of 27 northern local authorities. Starting at its most westerly terminus in Southport the Trail travels via Liverpool over 370 miles across the north of England until it reaches its most easterly points of Hull and Hornsea, including spurs to Leeds, York, Chesterfield and Kirkburton.

This well signposted route is open throughout the year and entry is entirely free to all users. Thoughtful route design means that the Trail connects with many local railway stations and bus stops permitting public transport to be used at the beginning and end of your day out on the Trail. Car parking (including horse box parking) is provided at several places where the Trail intersects roads.

The TPT Seamark feature stands proudly on the Southport promenade to entice users to start their journey eastwards or welcome those who have completed their journey westwards from Hornsea.  From here the Trail into West Lancashire provides 14 ½ miles of route that welcomes all walkers and cyclists, meandering along the coastal path onto the former railway section, Cheshire Lines.

Trail users can take advantage of some wonderful facilities along the route. You are surrounded by nature in its magnificence on the trail, from the wonderful welcoming coastline to the award winning Southport Eco Visitor Centre (which also includes a cycle hire centre). There is also the Ainsdale Nature Reserve and beach, where you can join forces with the wind to enjoy a spot of kite surfing before you head off to the Cheshire Lines section in West Lancashire.

The Cheshire Lines was home to the Cheshire Lines Railway Company until 1952 and bought by West Lancashire Borough Council in 1988.  This disused railway line now provides a further 5 miles of route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike.

TPT Chairman, Gillian Ivey, notes “We want to broaden the experience for visitors to the Trail and increase visitor-numbers, so a great way to do this is by providing local leaflets to encourage as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the Trail.  We are very grateful to the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail for funding this project.”

Pam Ashton, Chair of the Friends of the TPT said, “The main idea behind the local leaflet project was to get people to enjoy the Trail, many of whom  don’t realise that this fantastic free resource is right on their doorstep.  We need greater recognition of the Trail as a national recreational and sustainable transport facility and what better way is there than getting local community support.”

The Sefton & West Lancashire leaflet can be downloaded here or contact us for a copy.

This route also forms part of the National Cycle Network, NCN 62.