Route Description
This is a fairly short basic run (5.5 km) with the option to top-up to 8k (5 miles) with a trot around the lake at the finish. Our route takes us along the beach to Red Rocks, back via the Royal Liverpool golf course. It's mixed terrain - (not-too-sandy beach, grass, tarmac and a bit of trail), but it’s basically flat. If you’re not used to running off-road, it’s a great one to start with.
Getting there
Meet outside the Wirral Watersports Centre (in front of Morrisons) at 10am.
What Three Words: stood.inch.prospered, post code CH48 0QG.
Parking / Travel
Plenty of space but paid in the car park, or free along the prom (for now, at least). 5-minute walk from West Kirby station / bus stops.
Route difficulty assessment:
Overall difficulty level - Easy
Recommended shoes - Road or trail
Hills rating - Easy
Mud risk - Low
Buggies - Not suitable (some uneven surfaces and a few kissing gates)
Dogs - Suitable (but keep your pooch on a lead please)
Distance (km) - 5.5
Distance (miles) - 3.4
Option to bail out? - Not really
Coffee shop - Yes
Toilets - Morrisons
Parking – Paid or on-road
TORTOISE SOCIAL – FAQs
What is Tortoise?
Tortoise is a group for the runners who enjoy the view and aren’t in a hurry. Whether you’re just starting out or you are a perennial plodder, you’re welcome with us. If you want to win races or smash your PBs then there are plenty of other groups and clubs for you. We’ve nothing against people improving their performance, we just like to support those who can’t or don’t really want to, and who like having a chat along the way.
What is Tortoise Social?
Initially, it’s an adaptation of our normal sessions, but on a Sunday morning. Our group has really enjoyed the light nights and being able to do off-road running, so the purpose of Tortoise Social is to allow us to do that through the Autumn / Winter when it’s too dark at night to stray off the path.
For those who are familiar with Wirral Social Runs, we’re proposing to run the sessions in much the same way, with a few changes:
- The pace will be gentler
- We start half an hour earlier
- Where we have the resources, we’ll offer a shorter route (about 5k) for anyone who wants it
I’ve been to Wirral Social Runs, will Tortoise Social work for me?
Being honest, if you run at the front at WSR then it probably won’t work for you. Our mentors will not be supporting super-quick runners. You’re welcome to attend, but if you want to run at a naturally quicker pace then you’ll need to look after yourself. If you run nearer the middle / back at WSR then we should be right up your street. The routes and overall setup will be the same as WSR, just a bit slower.
What do I need to know about off-road running?
For the most part, you shouldn’t need any specialist gear. There are routes where trail shoes would be preferred but road shoes will be fine. There will be routes where there are trip hazards to look out for and hills to climb, but mostly there will be great views and great company. If you’ve been injured recently or are prone to recurring problems, you may want to build up your strength and confidence with some runs on the road before you join us.
What about insurance / first aid etc?
This is a group of mates going for a run together. Whilst we do all we can to make sure there are no accidents, we can’t give any guarantees and if you are not fit to run due to underlying health issues then please stay away. We will, of course, do everything we can to help if and when there is an accident or incident.
What will the environment be like?
Our past experience, via Wirral Social Runs, is that our local running community is friendly and welcoming to all, and we’re sure you will feel at home with us. We do all we can to make our runs inclusive and welcoming to all. We won’t tolerate discrimination on any grounds and would ask you to let us know of you encounter any problems.
Do you have a policy on photos?
We know that runners love a good action pic, and we’ll try to get some shots when we’re out running. You are welcome to do so too, but please don’t take pictures of people you don’t know without their consent. For various reasons, some of our runners prefer to stay off social media so please respect that. If you don’t want your photo taken then please let us know at the time.
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Wallasey, Sports events in Wallasey, Workshops in Wallasey.
