You’ve got your bike and the drive to start a journey, but you may be wondering ‘where are the 5 best cycling routes in Liverpool?’ Cycling tracks and corridors in Liverpool can offer an exciting selection of routes ranging from easy to demanding. With a cross-section of skill levels for all bike lovers, all you need is to know where to find them.
In this article, we explore five of the best cycle routes and paths in Liverpool to help you get the most out of your journeys. Whether it’s just yourself or the whole family, Warrington Cycle Campaign helps you understand in advance what you can expect from bike routes in Liverpool.
We also look at the best places to get yourself ready for your ride. What sort of bike is the best for your skill and fitness level? Should you try a mountain bike or an electric? Can a cycling route app really help? What can you really expect from cycling routes near me? Let’s find out!
Contents
- Liverpool Loop Line (Easy)
- Liverpool-Leeds Canal And Pier Head Loop (Intermediate)
- Southport Beach And Liverpool Loop Line Combined (Intermediate)
- Pier Head to Crosby Beach Loop (Difficult)
- Pier Head To Thornton Hough Loop (Difficult)
- Cycling Shops In Liverpool
- How To Find Cycling Routes Near Me
- Discover More Cycling Routes In Liverpool
Liverpool Loop Line (Easy)
An ideal cycle route for the family, the Liverpool Loop line offers an entirely flat and most traffic-free stretch of uninterrupted path that forms part of the award-winning Trans Pennine Trail.
With easy access to several train stations such as Hunts Cross, Broad Green, Halewood, Rice Lane, and Walton, it’s perfect for those wanting a cycle route that can be easily accessed from anywhere in the city.
Essentially a stretch of woodland, this route gives the sensation of being on a country ride despite the fact that it doesn’t take you far from the city. You can coast happily along whilst enjoying the abundance of nature or the spectacle of the rocky tunnels you’ll occasionally pass through. You’ll see some really impressive city views up there, too.
At 10.8 miles (17.4km) the route takes approximately an hour, making it the perfect afternoon activity for young cyclists without being demanding. Great fun for all the family.
Liverpool-Leeds Canal And Pier Head Loop (Intermediate)
This cycle route along the Liverpool – Leeds canal requires a good degree of fitness but is suitable for all skill levels.
The starting point is accessible with public transport; the nearest train station to the beginning of the route is Aigburth Station, L17 6AQ. The route does include a three-quarter-mile stretch where you must dismount and bikes must be carried. There’s also a moveable bridge, so check ahead for seasonal opening times to avoid disruption to your ride.
At 27.5 miles, this cycle route takes just under 3 hours, but it’s worth every minute. Culminating with the stunning grandeur of Liverpool’s pier head architecture, you’re guaranteed a truly memorable ride.
Southport Beach And Liverpool Loop Line Combined (Intermediate)
Where else can you experience beaches, an abundance of wildlife, contemporary art and breathe the fresh Irish sea air all in one journey? This 35-mile renowned cycling route in Liverpool offers all this and more to riders of intermediate fitness and skill levels. Suited best to mountain bikes or hybrids, the majority of the road surface is loose gravel.
Starting out at Bootle Leisure Centre, L20 5JJ, you’ll pass the solemn Gormley statues staring out to sea. Head on through the Ainsdale sand dunes with its National Nature Reserve and savour the feeling of remote calmness. It’s alive with wildlife, so prepare to be distracted.
Continuing on this cycle route from Liverpool to Southport, you’ll eventually arrive in the seaside town itself, which offers plenty of options for refreshment. Also, there’s an art gallery, and a fantastic antique market if you’re up to cycling back with a Chippendale chair!
Pier Head to Crosby Beach Loop
Undoubtedly an expert Liverpool cycle route, this nearly 5.5-hour long ride takes in some serious mileage – almost 55.9 to be exact. There’s a moveable bridge to factor in again and half a mile where you need to dismount and push, but there’s a good chance you’ll be glad of the rest.
Sefton Park, The Liver Buildings, and Crosby beach all await and you might even see the odd red squirrel cheering you along the Altcar training camp path. Undoubtedly long and demanding, this Liverpool cycle route clings assuredly to the coastline meaning that on the right day, a sparkling expanse of sea is always visible.
The ride is very flat, so there’s plenty of opportunities to simply coast by and enjoy the view. This is cycle route is a commitment you’ll be happy you made but if it’s too much, pick up public transport to get home. The route can be easily accessed from West Allerton train station, Booker Avenue, L18 4RD.
Pier Head To Thornton Hough Loop (Difficult)
This is another route that is definitely suitable for the more experienced and expert cyclist.
Predominantly on paved surfaces with a starting point accessible by public transport again, the full tour takes 5 hours and traverses just over 52 miles.
This Liverpool cycle route includes a trip on the Ferry. So, you can get to enjoy the splendid waterfront skyline from arguably its best angle. There are also some segments where you may need to carry your bike. But with highlights such as Raby Mere and the Boathouse Pub to enjoy along the way, the time will fly by.
Also, Thornton Hough is a charming neo-Tudor hamlet that serves as a great place to prop the bike for a bit before setting off again to complete this tour of the Wirral.
Cycling Shops In Liverpool
Being ready for Liverpool cycling routes is a vital component for getting the most out of your ride. Before you set out, it’s essential that you and your bike are prepared for the road ahead. This is more than just lights, helmet and tyre pressure; you may need help ensuring everything is tip-top.
To ensure that you’ve got the right bicycle accessories for the cycling routes planned, there are plenty of retailers who are experts in this field and can really help. Whether it’s the pros and cons of a gravel bike versus a hybrid or what cycle helmet is the safest for your children, the outlets listed below really know their stuff when it comes to being ready for all the Liverpool cycle routes can throw at you.
Bike Shops
- Giant Store – 29 Parliament St, Liverpool L8 5RN (10am – 6pm, closed Sun and Mon, Sat – 9am – 5pm)
- Quinn Cycles – 379, 385 Edge Ln, Fairfield, Liverpool L7 9LQ (9 am – 5.30 pm closed Sun and Wed)
- Picton Cycles – 11-13 High St, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 8HE (9.30 am – 5.30 pm closed Sun and Mon)
- Hobson Cycles – 62 Walton Vale, Walton, Liverpool L9 2BU (11 am – 5 pm closed Sun and Wed)
- Bikeology – 319 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 0EB (Tues – Sat 10am – 5pm)
- Pure Electric Liverpool – 17-19 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DN (9am – 6pm Mon-Sat, 10am – 5pm Sun)
- Bernard Bicycles Ltd – 260 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 5AH (ring on the day)
- Ten Street Cycles – Unit 1, Make North Docks, 34 Regent St, Liverpool L3 7BN (10 am – 5 pm Mon – Fri)
- Coast Cycles – 338 St Mary’s Rd, Liverpool L19 0NQ (10 am – 5.30 pm, closed Wed and Sun)
- Bike King – 277 E Prescot Rd., Liverpool L14 2DB (9 am – 2 pm, closes at 12 noon on Sundays and all day Mon)
- B-Spoke Cycles – A Space, 9 Dunnings Bridge Rd, Liverpool, Bootle L30 6UU (8 am – 6 pm, all week, 10 am – 4 pm Sun)
You can run both your bike and your accessories through a quick check-up before setting off. Are those cycling shorts really fit for purpose? Will the bike chain or bike pedal hold up on a steady incline? Find out in advance to prevent your ride from being disrupted.
How To Find Cycling Routes Near Me
Finding Liverpool cycling routes near you is easy with the right know-how. At Warrington Cycle Campaign we simplify the process by showing you the best short-cuts to excellent cycling advice.
When searching for the best cycling routes in Liverpool, a good cycling app can be the perfect place to start. Also, with a thriving online community of cyclists who regularly update news and views about Liverpool cycle routes, you can be sure to access the most up-to-date information about the journey you plan to take that day.
Google searches can also offer a wealth of information and cycling social media groups are always happy to welcome new members. The reviews are honest, impartial and don’t sugar-coat the truth. If a Liverpool cycle route is too gruelling – they tell you so. Likewise, areas that may not be suitable or are just a bit dull also get a frank appraisal. Check out Cycling in Merseyside to start.
Discover More Cycling Routes In Liverpool
Cycling routes in Liverpool offer the adventurous riders everything they could want from their journey – an abundance of nature, scenic grandeur and surprising vistas along the way. In addition to this, they also offer a welcoming fraternity of other enthusiastic and committed cyclists at all levels of skill and experience.
Liverpool cycle routes weave across the Wirral, Cheshire, and North Wales in abundance. So why not get your bike ready, join a group and experience some of the most stunning countryside in Britain? After tackling the routes above, perhaps you feel inspired to try some others. Other cycling routes in Liverpool include:
- Loopline Bridge – Liverpool Loop from Orrell Park
- Halebank Park Loop from St Michaels
- Southport Beach – Loopline Bridge Loop from Broad Green
- Sefton boating lake – Sefton Park Loop from St Michaels
- West Bank Bridge View – Delamere Forest Loop from West Allerton
- Spike Island – West Bank Bridge View Loop from West Allerton
- Widnes– The Dream Loop from Liverpool South Parkway
- Liverpool – Childwall Abbey Loop from Broad Green
Merseyrail provides a really helpful map that you can pick up at stations. You can also get more safety tips for the best cycling experience from the government website Think! You can also access more information about cycling routes in Liverpool from the Local Authority website. Enjoy the ride!