No, there are no longer any cute otters to see, sadly, in “Otterspool Park”:https://liverpool.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-events/parks-and-greenspaces/otterspool-park/, however this is a lovely walk along the River Mersey just south of the docks in Liverpool. It may be difficult to believe but fishing used to be very popular on the river until the mid-19th century. Not surprising that there were otters then living in the area in freshwater pools and a tidal creek where a stream used to join the river.
We went on a very sultry Bank Holiday Monday in May and took my aunt and uncle’s dogs along for the walk. We arrived via car from the north and parked on Riverside Drive just before “The Britannia Inn”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review?id=202527 pub. We stopped in the pub for coffees and toast before heading south towards Otterspool.
The tide was out as it was mid-morning and we could see the muddy floor at the edge of the river though the sun was glinting off the water and the heat was hanging over the river in a haze. At certain spots we could see sandbanks protruding above the water level. When we reached our destination the dogs had a good run on the grass and lots of water to drink. There is a sizeable green up on the hill above the riverside walk for the dogs to run free and for folks to picnic along with a kiddies’ playground. We were going to have lunch at the pub there but the queue was so long we decided to fortify ourselves with loaded 99s then head back to the Britannia Inn for a late lunch. On our walk back we diverted from the riverside pathway and walked through the woods and the Festival Gardens.
We walked the route but there were many cyclers, runners, skaters, etc. If you want to bike but don’t have yours with you there are city bike rentals along the route identified on maps along the way.
If you have children with you there is an Adventure Play Centre at the south end of Otterspool Park and it also has a cafe.
There is plenty of parking around Otterspool Park but we parked further way and made walking to and from the park part of our walk for the day. If you arrive by train, Aigburth is the nearest station to the south end of the park; St. Michael’s station is further north and closer to the The Britannia Inn and Festival Gardens.
