What is the marine lake?
West Kirby Marine Lake is a man-made saltwater lake on the Wirral coast, about 52 acres of shallow water held behind a sea wall. The wall was built in 1899 so boats could sail on the Dee even at low tide. It sprang a serious leak in 1985 and was rebuilt wider, which is the lake you see today.
The tide tops the lake up over the wall, but the water level inside stays steady. That means you can sail, paddle or swim at any state of tide, which is rare on this stretch of coast.
Why it’s good for beginners
- Flat water. The wall keeps the swell out.
- Shallow. You can stand up in much of the lake.
- Enclosed. No boat traffic and nowhere to drift off to.
- No tide to plan around. Lessons can run at any time of day.
Why experts love it too
Clean wind comes straight off the estuary, and flat water is fast water. In October 1991 Dave White set the world windsurfing production speed record on the lake, at 42.16 knots (about 48 mph). When you want more room, the Dee Estuary and Liverpool Bay are just over the wall.
Getting there
West Kirby station, at the end of the Merseyrail Wirral line from Liverpool, is a short walk away. Watersports users can park on site. See visit and contact for the map and directions.
Ready to try it? Start with the watersports on offer, or a lake membership if you have your own kit.