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 our thoughts on this walking route.
Willaston and windmills circular walk
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Length: 6.8km
- Difficulty: Easy (mostly flat, some gentle inclines)
- Start/end point: Hadlow Road Station, Willaston
- Parking: Free car park at Hadlow Road Station
- Toilets: At the Station Master’s House Café
- Is it dog-friendly? Yes (on-lead in farmland areas)
- Best time to go: Spring to autumn; it can get muddy in winter
- Navigation: AllTrails (or OS Maps recommended)
- Refreshments: Café at Hadlow Road Railway Station (takeaway too)
An easy circular walk
This circular route is 6.8 km and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. It is generally considered an easy path and is accessible year-round, though I can imagine it becomes quite muddy in winter.
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 is a village situated on the Wirral Peninsula, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire, England. Willaston was once an agricultural community, but it has since transformed into a primarily commuter village.
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.
Hadlow Rd, Willaston, Neston CH64 2UQ
Street parking in Willaston Village: Free parking is 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 start of the route.
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 increase property values in the area and led people to relocate 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 area and experience the nostalgia of the past. Occasionally, they host events.
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 grabbing 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. 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 walk’s name, 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. We had anticipated a higher number of people!
The most crowded spots on the entire route are Hadlow Road Station and the café at the start.
Overall, the walk was very peaceful, and we will be back to complete it again!
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 a navigation app if you go off route, and keep an eye out for footpath signs to help you stay oriented.
A longer loop can turn your 1.5-hour stroll into a 2.5 to 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.
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