Runcorn Widnes Bridges

The Silver Jubilee Bridge from Wigg Island

Yesterday I was supposed to go to Newcastle for a couple of nights. The trip was cancelled due to issues in Marsden (Joe) and my 97-year-old mother falling down the stairs last Friday. She tried to get past the cat by ascending two steps at once, slipped and fell down nine. She should have pushed the cat out the way! At A and E, she had a body scan from head to thigh, no broken bones. Remarkable for someone who is 97. She has a big bruise on her bum and was badly shaken.

So, today I came to Liverpool to see her and have some bevvies with my sister and John.

I usually try to come by train, but the weather was bright and sunny so I decided to drive, so that I could take some photos at difficult to get to places (by public transport) on the banks of the Mersey River. Places I tried to get to last September on a disastrous drive along the Mersey. This time I did a bit more research and was able to visit the places I failed to visit back then.

Liverpool Airport Runway

This time, using Google Street View and Google Earth and I found the eastern end of the runway easily. There is no longer a viewing platform here, and the fence is tight mesh, so no photographs of aircraft taking off and landing are possible. The road on the explorer map is no longer there; it’s been turned into a bridal way.

The bridal way leads to a foot path along the River Mersey. Going west, it goes to Speke Hall and Garston. Going east, it goes to Hale Lighthouse and Hale. It might be possible to get some decent shots of planes from it when walking towards Speke Hall (note, the hall is National Trust and it costs £13 to visit the grounds). The walk from Hale to Garston looks very interesting, but its way beyond my capabilities now.

There are several houses right at the end of the runway, not a good place to live!

Hale Lighthouse

Managed to get there last September, did not wish to repeat that walk.

Widnes to Runcorn Railway Bridge

At Pickering Pasture there are good views of the River Mersey. There’s ample parking and it’s a short walk down to the riverbank. The photos below show the railway bridge, and behind it the Silver Jubilee Bridge. They’re a long way away, to get a good photo you need a decent zoom lens.

There’s a footpath along the river towards Widnes; some closer photos of the two bridges should be possible from it. It’s only a mile or so to Widnes. The bus between Widnes and Liverpool runs close to Pickering Pasture.

It’s part of the TransPennine Trail, the same footpath that goes past Liverpool Airport towards Hale.

On the opposite bank of the river is the Runcorn ICI chemical works. At night its brightly lit up (or it was several years ago) and would make an interesting photo or two.

Manchester Ship Canal Swing Bridge

Another place I failed to find last September was the Old Quay Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal. I tried a bit harder this time. Using my OS explorer map and Google Street View, it’s very easy. You just head to the Wigg Island Nature Reserve, which is sign-posted from the Runcorn Express Way.

The three photos below show the bridge.

It’s still active, one day it would be nice to see it swing open to allow a boat to pass. Mersey Ferries have a cruise along the canal (though they may be cancelled this year), it should be easy to see the Mersey Ferry pass the bridge. And with a car, maybe at other locations along the canal.

After all the photography I drove to my sisters and parked the car. We then went to the Augustus John at the university for several bevvies with John.