Thurstaston Common, The Dungeon, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More 20th May 2026

The Wirral Way heading towards The Dungeon.

Looking across the Dee estuary to Wales.

It's getting warmer - the first stop to remover a layer.

The path to the Dungeon.

The Dungeon.

The cave in The Dungeon.

Another good spot to admire the view after climbing the steps out of The Dungeon.

The view towards Wales from the seat in the previous photo.

The spire of St. Bartholomew's Church at Thursaston.

Distant views of Moel Famau as we approached St. Bartholomew's Church, Thursaston.

The remains of an earlier church on the site.

The name of the two wardens that restored the tower.

St. Bartholomew's Church, Thursaston.

Ox-eye daisy on the roadside near Thurstaston Common.

The invasive Rhododendron on Thurstaston Common.

At the toposcope on Thurstaston Hill.

Still at the toposcope.

One of the paths through woodland on Thurstaston Common.

A Canada goose on a nest on platform in Roodee Mere in Royden Country Park.

Obviously enjoying lunch in the walled garden in Royden Country Park.

Fran's photo of the Laburnum Arch in the Walled Garden i Royden Country Park.

The Laburnum Arch in the walled garden at Royden Country Park.

Emerging from the Laburnum Arch.

The path to Caldy.

The path through Stapledon Wood.

Caldy Church of the Resurrection and All Saints.

The Celtic cross at Caldy.

High tide at Caldy Beach, prevents us walking back along the beach.

The tide is still coming in at Caldy Beach.

Thurstaston Station and the Wirral Way.

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 591'.
Time: 4 hours 31 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.2 Celsius at lunch. Max – 18.0 Celsius mid-afternoon.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max – 3 an 8.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze at the top of the steps at Caldy Shore.
Group: Martyn, Mike, Nigel and Fran.
This turned out to be a good day for walking, pleasantly warm, no rain and less wind than forecast.
Conditions under foot were good, even known muddy sections were dry today.
Lunch was taken in the walled garden in Royden Country Park, where we took advantages of a couple benches in the gazebo.
After lunch, we walked through the Laburnum Arch – pretty good, but not quite ready to challenge Bodnant Garden’s supremacy!
The only disappointment today, was arriving too early at Caldy Beach to find that the tide was at its highest, and we were unable to return to Thurstaston Visitor Centre along the beach.
Instead, we had a gentle 1.5-mile stroll along the old railway line (Wirral Way).
Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, European robin, House sparrow, Black billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Blackcap, Cetti warbler, Winter wren, Common chaffinch, Canada goose, Woodpigeon and Mallard.
Overall, it was a very varied and enjoyable walk, worthy of celebrating by calling in at a local hostelry on the way home.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wheatsheaf at Raby where the beer of choice was Brimstage Brewery’s Trappers Hat, now costing over £5 a pint!