Willaston and windmills circular walk, Wirral

We recently tried out the Willaston and windmills circular walk in Wirral, beginning at Hadlow Road Railway Station.

A Saturday without plans is a rarity for us, so we decided to get our steps up and head out for a walk. We really enjoyed the Willaston and windmills circular walk. There’s convenient parking, an excellent café with pretty courtyard seating right at the start, and a beautifully preserved train station. This trail takes you along sections of the Wirral Way and through the local village, fields, and woodlands. Here’s further information and what we thought of this Wirral walking route.

This circular route is 6.8 km, taking roughly an hour to an hour and a half to complete. It is generally classified as an easy path and is accessible year-round, although I can imagine it becomes quite muddy during the winter months.

This route offers a fantastic chance to explore the local landscape, winding through the Wirral Way, farmlands, open fields, and forested areas.

Where is Willaston?

Willaston lies in the middle of the Wirral Peninsula, approximately 4 miles east of the Dee Estuary and 4 miles west of the Mersey Estuary. Willaston was once an agricultural community, but it has transformed into a primarily commuter village today.

Parking for the Willaston and windmills circular walk

We parked at the Hadlow Road Railway Station, where we began the walk. It’s a small free car park directly next to the restored station.

Street parking in Willaston Village: There is free parking available on Hadlow Road, Mill Lane, and some surrounding residential streets. However, please park considerately and avoid blocking driveways or narrow access roads.

Hooton Station is roughly a 30-minute walk from the route start.

Start at Hadlow Road Railway Station in Willaston

The Birkenhead Railway, co-owned by the Great Western Railway (GWR) and the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), opened a single-track branch line from Hooton to Parkgate on October 1st, 1866.

This line included a station at Willaston, equipped with a train passing point. Originally, the railway line was created to export coal from Neston, products from the fishing industry and agricultural products from the surrounding area. It helped to increase property in the area and led to people relocating to commute to Liverpool and Chester.

An extension to West Kirby was completed 20 years later.

Following a decline in the railway, passenger services ceased on September 17th, 1956, but the line remained in use for freight transportation until May 7th, 1962.

Today, it is a Grade II listed heritage railway station and museum. It is the only one that survived demolition and has been restored to look as it did when the station was closed in 1956. It has an authentic ticket office, waiting room, and telephone box.

Cheshire West and Chester Council own the station. The Friends of Hadlow Road Station Community Group, was formed to preserve this historic station and create opportunities for community groups and schools to learn about the station and experience the nostalgia of the past. Occasionally, they host events.

Hadlow Rd, Willaston, Neston CH64 2UQ

The Station Master’s House Cafe

At the station, you will find the Station Master’s House Cafe with cosy seating areas and a beautiful courtyard. They serve freshly prepared, homemade food, cakes and hand-roasted coffee.

They also have a takeaway hatch, which was perfect for us to grab a coffee and a cake to enjoy on our walk. In addition to the outdoor seating areas, the café also features a dog-friendly section.

This raspberry blondie was amazing! And I am still dreaming about their coffee.

We used AllTrails to follow this route

We used AllTrails to follow this circular route, which worked well for us, and the route is easy to follow. It’s an ideal countryside loop for walkers of all levels. The route takes you out of the village and into open farmland and peaceful country lanes.

The trail takes you past old mill sites—hence the name of the walk—and offers glimpses of the area’s agricultural history. Expect a mix of quiet lanes, hedged field paths, and well-marked footpaths.

Turning east and then south, the walk loops around the top of Willaston, skirting the edges of fields and small wooded patches before gradually leading you back into the village.

The route is primarily flat with a few gentle inclines, and while it’s easy underfoot, it can become muddy in wetter conditions—so good footwear is recommended.

The final stretch brings you back through the heart of Willaston and beautifully preserved Hadlow Road Railway Station.

We found the trail to be pleasantly quiet, encountering only a few dog walkers and runners, despite visiting on a warm Saturday in June, when we had anticipated a higher number of people.

The most crowded spot on the entire route is the Hadlow Road Station and the café at the start.

Overall, the walk was very peaceful, and we will be back to complete it again!

Follow the route here.

How to extend the walk

If you’re looking to stretch your legs a little further, this circular walk can be easily extended:

1. Add a detour along the Wirral Way

Since the walk already touches part of the Wirral Way, you can choose to follow the path further either west towards Neston or east towards Hooton.

Both directions are flat, well-maintained, and ideal for a leisurely extra stroll through the countryside and woodland.

Heading west takes you towards coastal views near Parkgate, while heading east gives you a greener, more wooded experience.

2. Explore around Neston and Parkgate

From the Wirral Way, continue south to Neston (approx. 1.5 miles from Willaston), where you can explore Parkgate and even treat yourself to an ice cream and marshland views.

If you don’t want to walk back, buses and trains from Neston can get you close to Willaston again.

3. Link with other local footpaths

The area surrounding Willaston is crisscrossed with public footpaths. If you’re using AllTrails or OS Maps, you can head towards nearby villages like Thornton Hough or Burton. These make great additions if you’re up for a longer half-day hike.

Make sure to take a map or navigation app if you go off-route, and keep an eye out for footpath signs to help stay oriented.

A longer loop can turn your 1.5-hour stroll into a 2.5–3-hour adventure.

We were surprised at how much we enjoyed this route. It was a lovely way to spend time outdoors and enjoy the area we live in.

There’s a lot to learn along the way, making it ideal for families as well. For more Wirral walking routes, click here.