Dee Lane Slipway

Begin at Dee Lane slipway and follow the recognised route via Little Eye and Middle Eye. Read the noticeboard and check the calculated crossing window before leaving the promenade. Wirral Council describes the route as the only recommended crossing to the islands. Do not set out from Hoylake or Red Rocks, and do not cut straight across the sands, because deep tidal channels lie on the east side of Hilbre and Middle Eye.

A large three-sided noticeboard stands at the entrance to the beach at Dee Lane. It carries information on Hilbre, daily high tides and guidance on working out crossing times. Treat it as the local reference and check it every time, even if you have walked the route before. WalkHilbre’s calculated window is an estimate based on the published rule: it opens three hours after predicted high water and closes 3.5 hours before the next, which WalkHilbre treats as the latest time to be back at Dee Lane. It is not permission to cross, so judge the weather and conditions on the day.

Dee Lane is about a quarter of a mile from West Kirby town centre, and buses and trains serve West Kirby. There is a pay-and-display car park on Dee Lane. The council’s plan says there is a small charge, and free parking on the main road. Please park only where it is allowed and keep slipways and emergency routes clear, because blocked access can delay a lifeboat launch. The Friends of Hilbre list public toilets at the Dee Lane slipway, open 10am to 6pm in summer, and the council’s plan mentions a toilet block at the Wirral Sailing Centre on the promenade. Opening times can change.

The council puts the distance at about 1 km to Little Eye and a further 1.5 km to the main island. The Friends of Hilbre give the walk as about two miles and around an hour at a gentle pace to the Telegraph Station. Wirral Council says 45 minutes to an hour. Wear footwear for wet sand and rock, because the Friends warn of sharp objects under the sand and on the rocks, and barefoot walking is not recommended. Do not run, and do not swim in the sea. The Friends also warn that strong winds and low air pressure can cut off the recommended route quickly and unexpectedly.

Start point

Dee Lane, West Kirby

Outward walk

Usually 45–60 minutes

Route

Little Eye → Middle Eye → Hilbre

Distance

About 1 km to Little Eye, a further 1.5 km to Hilbre

Emergency

Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

Work out your return before you set out. Be back at Dee Lane within the calculated window, start back from Hilbre no later than the calculated leave-by time, and allow extra time. Staying on the islands over high water is not recommended and can lead to emergency call-outs. If in doubt, do not cross.