bertj
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by bertj on Apr 21, 2016 20:31:01 GMT 1
Many years ago I walked right round the airfield via Dungeon Lane, a footpath and parts of the beach and along to the 09 lighting gantry where it projects into the Mersey. I think I finally arrived somewhere by Garston Docks.I seem to remember that this route was part of a Mersey footpath. Does anyone know if it's still possible to walk this route and, if so, where does it come out north of the airport? Thanks for any comments.
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Post by viscount on Apr 21, 2016 21:57:44 GMT 1
THE MERSEY WAY FOOTPATH
Yes, in theory it is quite possible to walk from beside the Blackburne St Industrial Estate Garston (there is even a public car park!) along the the shore of the Mersey, behind the Sailing Club clubhouse, along a short piece of the former 35 runway, around the start of the link taxiway until there is an Airport gate closing off the the link. An alternative starting/ending point is a gate from/into the rear of the Speke Hall NT grounds (open when the Hall is open) below the bund bank. Opposite the Speke Hall fence gate, the Mersey Way Footpath becomes a track, reducing to a footpath as it passes under the 09 lighting gantry.
I started by stating 'in theory', as shortly after the 09 gantry the footpath is currently closed due to a landslip since Christmas removing the path right upto the Airport fence, the 5ft drop when wet a couple of weeks ago could not be safely by-passed. Once past the 09 threshold (and the current closure) the official path keeps to the field edge at the top of the river cliffs to Oglet/Dungeon Lane and way beyond to Hale Lighthouse. Alternatively it is possible (although not a marked footpath) to walk the field edge along the Airport boundary fence past the radar unit then farm vehicle wheel tracks to the Control Tower gate and the start of the metalled public road. It is also possible from opposite the Speke Hall Bund gate to go down onto the foreshore and walk on sand, mud, salt marsh and puddles under the 09 gantry and all the way to Oglet/Dungeon Lane, but it is rather wet and somewhat soggy in places even in summer, and likely near impassable during/just after a Spring High tide.
I would hope that the Airport are co-operating with the Mersey Way people and will quickly move their wooden fence (only built at the end of last summer) 2 metres back onto Airport land for a length of some 5 metres, so allowing walkers safe passage over the top of the landslip zone. I suspect that some of 'Philglt's' photos earlier today are from somewhere close to the landslip closure at the 09 threshold having just gone under the gantry.
I did appeal a couple of weeks ago for someone with PC skills to help me construct a new list of places of see/photograph movements from, but as yet I've had no volunteers. I need someone who can capture GoogleEarth images and manipulate them with arrows, letters and dotted lines added - beyond my current skill-set/programme expertise! We must be the only Airport based enthusiast group in the UK without a 'where to go' map and instructions of 'their' airport on their website/forum/facebook!
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bertj
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by bertj on Apr 22, 2016 9:59:01 GMT 1
Thank you very much for your helpful and informative reply. I'll try parking in Garston as you suggest and see how far I get. I'm afraid I can't help you with your location project as I certainly haven't got the expertise required!
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Post by viscount on Apr 22, 2016 11:08:38 GMT 1
Yes, turn off Speke Road at the traffic lights between what was once Garston Fire Station and the former Bryant & May, up Banks Road. When the road branches off right, carry straight on. At the end is a new(ish) roundabout. First turn is into the new industrial park (avoid because all the roads have camera enforced strictly no parking), second turn is into a non-tarmac car park with a (usually) closed barrier on one side that is vehicle access to the Sailing Club. The right turn leads into the old Blackburne industrial estate. There is a walking trail or the sailing club road out of the car park - either will take you in the right direction.
There is though the alternative of starting in the NT car park of Speke Hall, and walking around the grounds to get to the gate out towards the river from below the 'Bund' banking ('Bertj' look in your 'Messages'). You can trace all of this, zooming in on Google Earth Maps using the Satellite imagery. If you use FR24 you can access by zooming in on LJLA then shifting to the west of the airport having opted for the Satellite presentation option.
Brian.
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