Via Little Eye. Never direct.
About 2 miles each way. Allow 45–60 minutes.
Watch the walk
15 seconds · watch before you set out
- Line: the route to follow
- Dashed areas: Hoylake gutter and Dee channel, deep and fast-filling. Do not enter.
- Dots and labels: Dee Lane slipway, Little Eye, Middle Eye and the rocks below Hilbre
On the sand
- Route to follow
- Direct line: never walk it
- No-go channels
- Islands
Schematic, not to scale. Indicative route based on Friends of Hilbre crossing guidance. Not surveyed or ranger-approved. Don't rely on GPS to avoid channels.
- 1Start at Dee Lane slipway
Read the crossing board before you step onto the sand.
- 2Walk out to Little Eye
Head for the smallest, southernmost island. Do not aim for Hilbre.
- 3Turn right, pass Middle Eye
Keep Middle Eye on your left as you walk north.
- 4Cross the rocks to Hilbre
Weed and barnacles: go slowly. Come back the same way.
Signal can drop on the sands. See Friends of Hilbre crossing guidance and the board at Dee Lane.