West Kirby Tide Times
Hilbre Island Tide Times
Safe Crossing Windows for Hilbre Island
The tide at Hilbre comes in fast and catches people out every year. Check when it's safe to cross before you head out from West Kirby beach.
About Hilbre Island
Hilbre Island is the largest of three tidal islands at the mouth of the River Dee estuary, just off the coast of West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula. The island is accessible on foot during low tide — a 2-mile (3.2 km) walk across tidal sand and rock from West Kirby beach, passing Little Eye and Middle Eye along the way.
The crossing window is typically around 5–6 hours out of every twelve, and the timing shifts each day with the tides. Getting it wrong is dangerous — the tide at Hilbre comes in faster than you can walk, and every year visitors are caught out. HilbreTides exists to make the safe crossing times clear, accurate, and easy to check before you leave.