Last Updated: June 20, 2023
Going for walks in the countryside is a great family activity that all ages can enjoy. And studies have shown that going for a walk in nature can improve mental health, which has never been more important than during recent times.
With Liverpool being our home when we’re not travelling. We’ve hunted out many walks over the years. With some great green spaces in the city itself and some beautiful walks a little further afield.
So if you’re after a walk within the city of Liverpool itself, or you are looking for one out of the city boundaries we’ve got some of our favourites below.
These walks are great for a hot sunny day or a fresh cold one. So whether it be spring, summer, autumn or winter why not get out there with the family and enjoy some of these gorgeous walks.
Walks under an hour drive from Liverpool
If you’ve got transport, there are some amazing walks within an hours drive of Liverpool. So you really don’t have to go far to get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
Tatton Park
Tatton Park is a huge area made up of a few attractions. There are gardens, a mansion, a farm and over 1,000 acres of parkland. You can check the Tatton Park Website for further information on when each section is open.
In our opinion, the parklands are the best bit.
And the reason we love it so much are the wild deer!
If you look hard enough you should be able to spot these glorious creatures roaming freely in the parklands. See if you can spot the two types of the Fallow and the Red Deer.
If you are quiet enough you can usually get quite close and just sit amongst them as they go about their day.
Our eldest could have stayed all day just sitting and being in the presence of these beautiful animals.
The male Red Deer in particular are extremely impressive. If you go during rutting season (October/November) you might get a glimpse of some younger male deer head clashing as we did once.
It is just outside of Knutsford, just off the M6 and M56 so very easy to get too.
It is free to enter the parkland if walking or cycling, however it is around £7 for parking.
If you can park somewhere near by then you could then walk or cycle in for free. But the roads around the park make this a bit tricky unless your willing to park far away.
The other attractions usually have an additional entrance charge, although they offer combo tickets usually for parking and attractions.
It is a National Trust site so they often come with discounts for members. But the car park seems to be ran separately from the National Trust so this still costs the £7 if you are heading to the parklands.
Fairy Glen
The Fairy Glen is just off the M6 north of Wigan along the A5209 (Hall Lane). There is a layby yards from the entrance where you can park for free and then just walk over.
Park up and cross the road and you will see the fairy glen sign and walking entrance.
Once you enter you can see where the name comes from.
It really feels like it is a fairy’s home with lush green woods and trickling streams. And a particularly interesting feature are the trees with coins inserted in them, our kids had a theory on this…
Kids Quote: “This is the money to pay to the fairies for coming into their home, quick pay daddy or the ferries might shout at us!”
Aden, Age 4
There is a bit of a loop, but you can basically just amble around and you are able to venture into the fields surrounding as well if you choose.
If you walk quick you can probably do the loop in under an hour, but with the kids exploring and climbing and even going for a dip in the stream, it can easily fill a morning or afternoon.
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest is huge woodland with walking and cycle paths.
Kids will especially love the Gruffalo Trail where you can follow clues and spot some of the characters from the much loved children’s book. Concluding with the Gruffalo himself at the trail’s finale!
Delamere Forest is about half way between Chester and Northwich and easily accessible from the M56.
Entrance on foot or bike is free. Parking is usually around £6 for all day.
This area is a Forestry England site, so parking is free for members, you can find more information on the Forestry England website.
You can park a little bit outside of the actual site itself for free if you prefer and are not a member and can explore the outer forest. But the Gruffalo trail is quite central, so if you are looking to do that, it’s best to use the official car park.
If you want to cycle rather than walk, bikes can usually be hired once there. Or you can take your own to use on the many cycle tracks it offers.
Moel Famau
Staying in Liverpool means we can easily venture into beautiful North Wales. And Moel Famau is a regular haunt of ours.
Moel Famau is a hill of around 555m in height and is great to walk up as a family. The paths are all beginner to intermediate and easily accessible from the various car parks. Which are usually only £2 for the day.
The intermediate trail is shorter as it cuts straight up the hill and thus takes around half the time theoretically. But it is steeper so the time saving might not actually apply with kids with all the potential breaks for the tired legs.
Our 4 year old walked all the way unaided and it took around 4 hours to complete the intermediate route, with lots of breaks and snack stops!
There is also an adventure playground at the car park if the kids (and you!) still have some energy left at the end of the walk.
Formby
Formby has a bit of everything with woodland, grassland and a beach.
The kids can enjoy trying to spot the rare Red Squirrels in the woodland trail before heading out onto the sand dunes.
Formby is just north of Liverpool so within easy reach and parking is usually around £7.50 for the day with all the various walks free to enter.
Another National Trust site and this time the parking is free for members. Check the National Trust website for more info.
There is also free roadside parking nearby for non-members just off lifeguard road if you prefer not to use the carpark. This is also nearer to a quieter, wilder part of the forest.
When you get to the end of this part of the forest you will see the sand dunes and if you follow the path on the left you will hit a boardwalk that is buggy friendly, eventually leading to the beach.
Walks Within Liverpool
If you don’t have the means of venturing out of the city (or you simply don’t want too!) there are still some absolute beauties within Liverpool itself.
So, depending on where you are situated, you should still be able to reach some of our firm favourites by foot or public transport if you don’t have your own transport.
Sefton Park
We’ve spent a lot of time at Sefton Park over the years, but it still hasn’t lost it’s charm.
One of the biggest parks in Liverpool it has pretty much everything you would want; woods, open fields, a lake to walk round and feed the ducks, a café, a huge palm house and a playground for the kids.
It’s usually the home to the many festivals Liverpool hosts. Such as the Afirca Oye festival.
Otterspool Promenade
Another one of our regular haunts is the Otterspool Promenade and again with a range of attractions.
You can stroll, cycle or scoot down by the River Mersey. Walk though the woodlands. And the kids can blow off some steam on the skate park or playground.
There is also an adventure centre. It has various entrance fees, so for more information visit the Adventure Centre website.
There’s also probably no better place to fly a kite than Otterspool with an almost constant breeze flowing in off the Mersey.
And the ‘Big Red Bull’ is always a fun stop on one of our walks.
Wavertree Botanical Gardens
Wavertree Botanical Gardens is smaller than the other parks mentioned, but is a really nice green space. With some nice walled gardens and a playground.
And the view across the fields lead your eyes to old Littlewoods building. An iconic building that was engulfed in flames a few years ago, but still has an impressive stature as you gaze at it.
There is also many blackberry bushes in the park. Our kids love picking these in the summer before turning them into some delicious blackberry jam!
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral – St James’ Mount and Gardens
This one is less of a walk and more a place to hang out, but we really love this green space. And is one of the stops from our Walking Tour of Liverpool that you can read if you want an idea of a more urban walk.
The Anglican Cathedral is hoisted high up on St James Mount, surrounded by the gardens. And with the high elevation it makes the already impressive structure even more dominating.
The gardens around the cathedral contain an old grave yard, no longer in use, that you can stroll around whist in the shadow of the impressive cathedral.
Within the Gardens is Liverpool’s only natural spring that is shrouded in mystery and magic. Some believe it to have healing properties (although, we’re not suggesting you drink from it). Other’s believe the water is actually haunted by sprits and, if you boil it, it will turn black!
Newsham Park
Newsham park is another large green space covering 121 acres, with this park being situated in the northern part of Liverpool.
With a playground, fields and lakes popular with fishing enthusiasts, Newsham Park is another great place to get out and about in Liverpool.
It also seems to have some particularly friendly Grey Squirrels. So grab some nuts and head down there to give them a treat!
Childwall Woods
This lovely woodland areas on the eastern edge of Liverpool is such a nice spot to head too. It can be especially appealing on a very hot day where the abundance of trees can give some cool shade.
It’s home to lots of wildlife with Squirrels, Voles, Bats and even Fox’s being ever present here and you will see and hear numerous birds chirping in the trees.
Keep an eye out for some of the rope swings hanging from the trees to add a little more fun for the kids.