The Anxious Book Worm

Location Details

Site Name: Wirral Country Park Club Campsite
Location: Station Road, Thurstaston, Merseyside, CH61 0HN

Overview

⭐ Overall Rating: 9/10

As first trips go, this was a brilliant choice.

Not only was it our very first night in the campervan, but it was also the site we chose for our “let’s just wing it and see what happens” adventure after collecting the van.

Spoiler alert: nobody got divorced, nobody got lost, and the van survived the experience.

A successful first trip all round.

First Impressions

The first thing we noticed when we arrived was how peaceful the site felt.

Everything was clean, tidy and well maintained, and there was plenty of space between pitches so you didn’t feel like you were camping in your neighbour’s pocket.

It felt organised without being stuffy.

Exactly the kind of place that makes newbie campers breathe a sigh of relief.

Well… eventually.

Once we’d worked out what we were actually doing.

Pitch & Setup

Now, because we were complete beginners, we arrived with absolutely no confidence whatsoever.

We were also one of the last people to arrive.

You know that feeling when everyone else looks like they’ve been doing something for twenty years and you’ve forgotten how to function as a human?

That was us.

Every other camper seemed to glide effortlessly onto their pitch.

Chairs out.

Awnings up.

Kettle on.

Meanwhile me and Ben were stood there looking like contestants on a low-budget camping game show.

Thankfully the pitch itself was spacious and easy enough to get onto, which definitely helped take some of the stress away.

Facilities

The facilities were spotlessly clean throughout our stay.

As someone who is fairly fussy when it comes to bathrooms and showers, cleanliness is a big thing for me, and I genuinely couldn’t fault that side of things.

That said, the facilities are perhaps a little dated compared to some of the newer sites out there. They were perfectly functional and very well maintained, but if you’re expecting ultra-modern luxury shower blocks then this probably isn’t that kind of site.

Now, I would be doing Ben a disservice if I didn’t include his official shower review.

For context, Ben judges places almost entirely on the quality of their showers.

Not the pitches.

Not the location.

Not the scenery.

The showers.

His main complaint was that the shower head felt quite close to the wall and he spent most of his shower convinced he was about to headbutt the wall.

Thankfully he survived the experience and remains willing to return.

Location & Things To Do

The location is fantastic.

Whether you enjoy walking, cycling, exploring the coast or simply finding a nice spot for a coffee, there’s loads within easy reach.

The surrounding area feels relaxed and gives you that “weekend escape” feeling without needing to travel for hours.

There is also a clubhouse nearby which happened to be hosting a lovely little Sunday craft fayre during our stay. It was a nice surprise and added to the friendly community feel of the site.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you’re free to come and go as you please. When you check in, you’re given a fob for the barrier which makes access really straightforward and means you’re not tied to specific entry times.

Perfect for a short break.

Food & Coffee Nearby

Anyone who knows me knows I judge most places on two things:

1. The quality of the coffee.
2. The availability of banana bread.

I’m pleased to report that even though they had sold out of banana bread, the bakewell blondie made up for it …

A successful trip by my standards.

Flissy’s Coffee Shop

Within walking distance of the campsite is Flissy’s Coffee Shop, which is well worth a visit.

The coffee is great, but the real star of the show is the ice cream. If the weather is on your side, it’s the perfect excuse for a little wander from the site.

Wylde Coffee, Heswall

If you’re happy to jump in the van or head out on the bikes, then Wylde Coffee in Heswall is an absolute must.

The food is beautiful, the atmosphere is lovely and, dare I say it, the coffee was probably some of the best we’ve had in a long time.

This will definitely be one of those places we return to whenever we’re in the area.

What We Loved

• A great location for exploring the Wirral
• Spacious pitches
• Spotlessly clean facilities
• Friendly atmosphere
• Easy site for campervan beginners
• Peaceful surroundings
• Plenty of walking and cycling opportunities nearby

Now we visited this as we had a wedding party nearby in Neston, but we can see why people would come here, felt like somewhere we could genuinely relax.

What We’d Change

Not much about the site, most of the things we’d change were actually about how we travel.

After our first trip we’ve already decided we need:

• A dedicated tea and coffee box
• Better storage solutions
• A drive-away awning
• More confidence pretending we know what we’re doing

The site passed the test.

The campers need a little more practice.

Would We Stay Again?

Absolutely.

In fact, if somebody asked me for a campsite recommendation for their very first campervan trip, this would be right near the top of my list.

It’s clean, peaceful, well maintained and easy to navigate, which removes a lot of the stress when you’re learning the ropes.

Final Thoughts

Every campervan adventure has to start somewhere.

For us, it started here.

This site will always have a special place in our hearts because it was where we spent our very first night as campervan owners.

Where we learned what we’d forgotten to pack.

Where we realised organisation inside a campervan is very different to organisation inside a house.

And where we discovered that sometimes the best way to learn is simply to get out there and do it.

Would we recommend it?

100%.

Now excuse me while I go and buy seventeen storage boxes before our next trip.