This walk of about 3½ miles (5½ km) combines a tour of beautiful Sefton Park with a stroll through the leafy suburbs of Mossley Hill to look at the imposing Church of St. Michael and St. James and Sudley House with its fine art collection. It consists mainly of parkland and pleasant suburban roads, with a couple of short stretches over grass; no particular footwear requirements therefore.

The relevant Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer map is No. 275. For further information on the locations visited, click on the images. See also ...

Start in front of the Church of St. Michael and St. James [1] (often just called Mossley Hill Church). Go round the corner to the left into Mossley Hill Road. A little way along here on the right is the entrance to the grounds of Sudley House [2]. Go along the driveway up to the house. There is a good collection of paintings here, including works by Turner, Corot, Romney, Reynolds and Gainsborough and entrance is free. Go around to the left of the house and, if it is open, go through the terrace garden at the back (otherwise you can walk around it). You can sit here and enjoy the elegant location with fine views over the River Mersey. Coming out of the terrace garden, follow the path down the hill, which opens into a field. Keep to the right-hand boundary to reach a gap in the wall at the bottom where you join North Sudley Road.

Turn right onto North Sudley Road and follow it to where Elmswood Road joins from the right. Cross over at the traffic lights and head down the road to Sefton Park. Cross over Mossley Hill Drive and take the path directly opposite. Here there is a stupendous carpet of daffodils in early spring. Follow the path straight ahead until you reach the lake [3], then go to the left. Keep to the edge of the lake, following the path along its western side. There is a huge variety of superb mature trees here, wonderfully complementing the expanse of water.

Near the end of the lake you see the statue of William Rathbone [4], ship owner, merchant and opponent of slavery, peeking out at you through the trees. Cross over the stepping stones a little further on and from here on keep the water on your left. You will see the Palm House, which we will visit later, up on the right. At the end, turn left into the park's central crossing of the ways, where there is a useful caf‚ with toilets [6]. Also here is a copy of the Eros statue in London's Picadilly Circus [5] (currently removed for restoration) and so many paths meet here that the concept is not inappropriate. Follow the National Cycleway Route 56 (clearly signposted and marked on the ground) to the Samuel Smith Obelisk [7], a red granite memorial to the Liverpool MP and philanthropist, at the edge of the park. Turn right and follow the path through the trees that runs parallel to Croxteth Drive. Note the distant view of Mossley Hill Church on the skyline.

Where this path comes out onto the road at a small traffic island, look for the main path on the right that curves back into the park. A short way along, cut across the grass on the left on a faint path to reach a long narrow stretch of water. This is what is left of the Lower Brook, one of two streams that originally met where the lake now stands. Go right and then cross over to the main path on the other side. Follow this curving path until you come to the magnificent Palm House [8] on the right. Recently fully restored, this is a must-see, both inside and out.

Turn right across the grass as you leave the gates to the Palm House and pick up the path that runs downhill between some tall conifers. At the bottom of the hill is a stream, originally the Upper Brook. Go through the gate in the railings on the left before the stepping stones. Here there is a lovely little dell. As you follow the stream, the dell narrows and you come to a grotto [9] up on the left with rocks, a waterfall and a pond. Go up the steps and leave the park at Mossley Hill Drive.

Cross straight over Mossley Hill Drive into quiet Ibbotson's Lane. This turns into a footpath that emerges on North Mossley Hill Road. Go right and cross over Queens Drive at the traffic lights, keeping to leafy North Mossley Hill Road. At the top of the hill is Mossley Hill Church and your starting point.