THE CHESHIRE SHEAF - Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge                                   Saturday 3rd May 2025  1300 hrs – 1600 hrs.

THE CHESHIRE SHEAF. Named after a typical barge run from yesteryear, when small river barges would load wheat from the mills in Birkenhead and transport it to the mill at Frodsham.  Birkenhead, in those days, was in Cheshire.  This name was also used for a 1968 Wirral Railway Circle Tour, taking in Chester and Helsby amongst other places, using a two car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit). Was anyone on that trip?

As there is no public access or parking at Birkenhead Vittoria Dock, we are running a Park & Ride from a car park near our destination berth in Sutton Weaver, so your car will be waiting for you at the end of the cruise. Alternativley, if you prefer to make your own way to The Danny, we can collect you from outside Hamilton Square Station to take you to the quayside, but please remember there is no transport back to Birkenhead at the end of the cruise.  Full details will be in your booking confirmation email.  Having arrived at The Danny by coach, we will start by heading up the Great Float through the East Float, past the former mills - now converted to housing - while seeing remnants of the shipping lines of yesteryear that made Birkenhead docks one of the busiest in the world at one time. We’ll pass through Duke Street bridge and into the West Float, passing the former Reas Wharf and Cavendish Quay, Gillbrook Basin and the remains of the many dry docks as we head towards Bidston.  We can no longer enter Bidston Dock as it has been filled in, so we will turn at the top of the West Float and eventually return to Alfred Lock.  We will then enter the river and depending on time, will tour the river before heading up to Eastham and entering the Manchester Ship Canal having passed many famous landmarks in the River Mersey including the world-famous Pier Head, Cammell Laird shipyard, Tranmere Oil Terminal and, hopefully, a few ships on the way. We will leave the River Mersey through the Eastham Lock system and spend a couple of hours on the Manchester Ship Canal before we turn off and join the Weaver Navigation at Marsh Lock and sail to our berth just below Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge.  You will receive complimentary tea or coffee on arrival and a bowl of our Danny Scouse for lunch – a vegetarian option is available so please advise at the time of booking.  Real Ale on draught will also be available on this cruise!