Paul Fawkesley
Paul Fawkesley

Calderstones Park, The Mersey Forest

A view of the lake in Calderstones Park through some rrees

Today we visited Calderstones Park, part of the Mersey Forest.

Here are some notes and photos as part of our wider exploration of the whole forest.

We took the 75 bus from the city centre towards Halewood. It leaves every 20 minutes and takes about half an hour.

It stopped at the wonderfully named Druids Cross Lane,, just across from the entrance to the park.

A line of trees along the entrance path to Calderstones Park A line of trees along the entrance path to Calderstones Park

It’s a park with lots and lots of trees. It doesn’t feel like a forest exactly but there are plenty of patches of thick trees.

Trees in Calderstones Park Trees in Calderstones Park Trees in Calderstones Park

There’s a mansion in the middle of the park. Thankfully it’s now owned and run by a literature charity, The Reader.

Here the sweet little bookshop in an outbuilding. To the left you can just see the Mansion Garden where they hold free garden parties and private events.

A brick outbuilding with a sign saying 'The Reader shop'

The mansion has a nice cafe, reading rooms toilets and displays the Calder Stones themselves, remains of a Neolithic burial chamber.

The Calder Stones

The highlight for us were the spectacular walled gardens. It was a grey February day but they lifted our spirits.

Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park Plants and flowers in the walled gardens in Calderstones Park

We had the Japanese Garden to ourselves thanks to the enormous puddle.

A red brick wall with an entrance signed 'Japanese Garden' In the Japanese Garden in Calderstones Park In the Japanese Garden in Calderstones Park A woman and girl standing in front of steppings stones looking at a tree

A leafy path leading from the cafe garden towards the lake.

A path surrounded by trees

We had a nice muddy stomp around the lake. There are lots of woodland paths leading off in different directions.

A view of the lake in Calderstones Park through some rrees Trees in Calderstones Park Trees in Calderstones Park Trees in Calderstones Park

After a bit of exploring, we found the 1,000 year old Allerton Oak. It’s hard to believe it’s so old as it’s not so big. It’s going to look fantastic in the summer.

Allerton oak propped up by steelwork Allerton oak propped up by steelwork

Calderstones Park was great for the soul. The trees, flowers, plants and leafy paths were gorgeous even in February. We’ll definitely come back, especially on sunny weekdays.

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