Day 1. Wirral Short Break – The National Waterways Museum

After recently spending an enjoyable weekend in nearby Liverpool, we decided to turn our attention to the Wirral Peninsula.  This stretch of land is bordered by the River Mersey to the east, the Irish Sea and River Dee to the west and the Shropshire Union Canal to the south providing us with 25 miles of coastline to explore.

Visitor Centre & Cafe at the National Waterways Museum

We began our first day with a visit to The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.  Open daily 10.00 – 17.00 with standard admission £9.75 (ticket valid for unlimited return visits in a year).  The museum is located in the historic docks which are at the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal, Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey.  Designed by the great civil engineer Thomas Telford, it was the largest inland waterway dock complex in the United Kingdom.

Old dockside warehouses form…