A Week in Liverpool Keeping Mum Company

Hilbre Island, West Kirby

Today my sister flew to Cyprus for a week in the sun. So, I came over to Liverpool to keep my mother company (and look after her, though she’ still pretty independent) while she’s away. Mum’s 97.

Catching the Train to Liverpool

I caught the train to Liverpool using an off-peak open return from Huddersfield to my sister’s local station, Broad Green. It’s a very useful ticket, you’re allowed to catch any off-peak train from Huddersfield to Liverpool Lime Street (two expresses an hour, an hour and ten minutes) and then a local out to Broad Green (3 or 4 an hour, 12 minutes). It cost me £27.85 with an oldies pass, £42 without.

Marsden has a station and for the same price you can get an open return from there to Broad Green, but it’s not as useful. You cannot get the train into Huddersfield to catch an express. You must catch a local to Manchester and change. They run every hour, and if one’s cancelled there’s no decent pub nearby to while away the wait for the next one. Going from Huddersfield means I must get the bus into town (free for us oldies), but it’s well worth it. For one thing, it saves a twenty-minute walk across the valley.

The other good thing about traveling from Huddersfield, is the excellent Kings Head pub. It’s in one of the station buildings and opens at 11:30. I’ve often had a pint or two there before catching a train, but not this time. It’s also a nice place to sit if the trains are delayed.

When setting up a trip, it’s a good idea to go online and research the options. I use the Northern Rail website. You need to check all the ticket types and most importantly, when and how the ticket can be used as some come with restrictions. It was looking through the list of trains between Huddersfield and Broad Green that I found out you can get an express into Liverpool and then a local out.

Breaking Your Journey

With the ticket I bought you can break your journey on the way out and on the way back as long as you keep going in the same direction. You don’t even have to go to the final station.

Coming into Lime Street I decided I fancied a pint. So, I broke my journey and went to the Vines 3 or 4 minutes away. After an excellent pint of Salopian’s Shropshire bitter that only cost me £4, I decided to catch a number 7 to the sister’s (it was 25 minutes late). I ended my journey at Lime Street rather than Broad Green.

Bevvies with John at the Ship and Mitre

After dropping my bag off and saying hello to mum I got a bus back into town and met my friend for some bevvies at one of my favourite pubs, the Ship and Mitre. I had a plate of their excellent fish, chips and mushy peas, well worth the £15.50. They also do Scouse, but it’s a bit of a letdown. The first of many sessions with him.

Photography

I’ve got lots of plans for taking photos of interesting places on the Rivers Mersey and Dee this week. But there may be a problem with the weather, according to the Met Office it’s not looking to good. I don’t like getting wet taking photos in the rain. When it’s raining, I’d rather get wet inside.

Following this post are several posts about what I got up to during the week.