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Parkgate

by Alec and Val Scaresbrook

A seafront town that's lost its sea, the open views across the marshy estuary are still popular with visitors and there are plenty of cafes, chip shops, restaurants, pubs and serious ice-cream outlets to keep everyone refreshed.

Parkgate benefited from the River Dee silting up Chester's port, with Parkgate becoming the new terminal for the Irish ferries in the 18th century (Handel was here, not that you'd know it), and in 1800, a bathing spa (when local Lady Hamilton was here, not that you'd know it), but silting up continued until even the fishing boats, common in living memory, could no longer access the quay.

Now only some winter high tides bring the sea up to the wall, and birdwatchers from far and wide to see close up the huge variety of waders and seabirds along with many predators.

If you've time, explore the Wirral Way up to West Kirby. See the map below