Wirral Coastguard has issued a reminder to double-check tide times after its Coastguard Rescue Officers noticed a significant mismatch between two popular tide apps on the same day.
What happened
Comparing tide predictions for Liverpool, the team found one app showing high tide at 13:19 while another showed low tide at 13:31 — a difference of around six hours in the tidal cycle. Tide predictions for the same location and date should broadly agree, and the Coastguard says a discrepancy of that size could have serious consequences for anyone planning a coastal walk, fishing trip or beach visit.
The River Mersey has one of the largest tidal ranges in the UK, with big changes in water levels between high and low tide. With the water moving quickly across the beaches and sandbanks around Wirral, getting the timings wrong can leave someone cut off from safety before they realise it.
The Coastguard's advice
- Always double-check tide times against a second, reliable source.
- Make sure your app is set to the correct location, date and time zone.
- Remember that some areas of the Wirral coastline can be cut off by the incoming tide.
- Never rely on a single app when planning a trip to the coast.
Where we get our tide times
This is exactly the gap HilbreTides was built to close. Our tide times are pulled directly from the Admiralty UK Tidal API — the official source used by the UK Hydrographic Office — rather than a generic or estimated feed. Every prediction on the site states its source, so you can check where the numbers come from rather than taking them on trust.
It is good general advice for anyone heading out along this coastline, including for crossings to Hilbre — see our guide on getting cut off by the tide and check today's tide times before you set out, ideally cross-checking more than one source as the Coastguard suggests.
If you see anyone in difficulty at the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Sources
Published 13 October 2026. Incident details come from the sources above. HilbreTides is an independent safety and information site for visitors to Hilbre Island and the wider Wirral coast.
Quick links: today’s Hilbre crossing window · all Wirral tide times · what to do if you’re cut off · more rescue reports.