Reg and Bob on a whirlwind trip to Liverpool

I took Reg and Bob to Liverpool last weekend - a whirlwind visit and much shorter than originally planned (my husband couldn’t make it at the last moment so the extended walking trip was cancelled). My GAP year son and I shared the driving (now that’s progress) but the boys and I were returning on the train so I packed light.

The boys needed to stretch their legs by the time we arrived so we were taken on a City walk through Everton Park - not the most beautiful but it was near where my son was staying with first year student friends. However there’s a viewing point overlooking the city and Reg and Bob enjoyed sniffing out the new environment.

I’ll brush past my eldest’s student house which I banned the boys from - decaying food and dirty plates at licking height - what fun they would have had! So I checked into my hotel - the dog friendly Malmaison on the docks and close to the iconic Liver Building. Currently undergoing a restaurant refurbishment it was very comfortable and dogs were allowed in the room for £20 - no doggy treats in the room but that was a good thing.

A family get together before the youngest goes off on his travels was our main reason for the visit so it was off to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen who are happy to accommodate dogs. While we ate, the boys happily sat under the table and sometimes in the main thoroughfare for maximum impact. They were very well behaved and relished the meet and greet with staff as we were leaving -the team couldn’t have been nicer. The menu was ideal with rare-breed steaks and lighter classic dishes. The service was excellent and the both sons (rather like dogs) ate as much as they possibly could just in case they never got the chance to eat again.

The next morning I was determined to get out of Liverpool. There’s definitely lots to see in the City and the docks - Albert Docks is where it all happens but it doesn’t work with Reg and Bob in tow and it’s not their preferred experience either.

My youngest was immersing himself in the student experience (hangover) but my eldest was up to exploring - especially as more food would be on offer! So we headed off to the beach.

The town of Crosby is a 25 minute drive from the centre of Liverpool (approximately 7 miles) . The part of Crosby we drove through - isn’t particularly seaside-ish but we headed on and parked (free) at Mariners Road which is right by the beach. And what an amazing beach it is - fabulously clean endless stretches of sand - (proper soft sand), a promenade sea wall and home to Another Place sculptures by Antony Gormley. You can see Liverpool Port in the distance if you glance to the left and a wind farm out at sea but it’s no less fabulous . The dogs were in beach heaven!

The 100 cast iron Gormley sculptures are placed over a two mile stretch, modelled on Gormley’s naked body and all looking out to sea. Some are half submerged (there was some very inappropriate licking from Reg) and many will submerge with the tide. They create a real atmosphere and definitely worth seeing. Reg and Bob absolutely loved the beach - its sandy, flat and there’s enough pools to paddle in. We would have stayed longer but we had to move on - this was a whirlwind trip after all.

Next we headed off to Formby. The high street is a great combination of independent shops and restaurants. We had a recommendation for a restaurant which was excellent. Emily’s describes itself as a botanical hideaway and you can see why. We sat at the back in the conservatory filled with hanging plants. There’s an all day brunch menu which was perfect - the menu changes for the evening. The Brunch Benedict and The Nutrition Bowl were delicious and the staff super friendly and really knowledgable. Despite being dog friendly I was worried the boys were carrying much of Crosby beach with them but the staff couldn’t have been nicer about it.

We were reluctant to leave but time was pushing on so we made the short drive to the beach.

Formby beach is owned by the National Trust so unless you are a member you pay for parking. The walk to the beach takes about 15-20 minutes but it takes you through lovely pine forests and nature reserve before you catch sight of the sand dunes. The soft dunes are harder to walk across but they give access to a most beautiful beach and what looks like miles of golden sand in both directions - absolutely stunning. The boys couldn’t believe their luck - not just one but two beaches in one action packed day. Even on a grey March day this beach really delivered and definitely worth another visit on our next trip. The sand dunes are perfect for picnicking and the beach extensive enough to find a space of your own - I would imagine even in Summer too. I wasn’t sure what Formby would be like but it really was very special indeed.

And when I say whirlwind I meant it. My eldest had a pub crawl to attend and I had a train to catch back to London. The boys were exhausted after all their beach running so the train journey back home was easy .

I would love to hear about any other places to visit in and around Liverpool - we might just squeeze a full length trip in before my son graduates. My youngest will be heading off to Newcastle in October so I can’t wait to re-visit Hadrian’s Wall and discover more of Northumberland - I’m determined to maximise on student life!

Sarah BlythmanMarch 7, 20231 Comment

Reg and Bob on a whirlwind trip to Liverpool

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