West Kirkby, Wirral. Three little islands, one no more than a few rocks. The largest one, Hilbre island, attracts a lot of visitors who walk the estuary during low tide to get to the island. But then some people get in trouble, when the tide comes in as they are trying to cross from the islands the estuary back to the mainland.
The website Hilbre Tides tells you if it’s safe to cross
In order to prevent this, a group of developers have created a website that answers the question ‘is it safe to cross?’ And as of 21 September 2026, more than 20,000 people have already used HilbreTides, the free website helping visitors understand when conditions are suitable for crossing the sands from West Kirby to Hilbre Island, since it launched in April.
The Wirral-based developers behind HilbreTides have now confirmed that a mobile app is also in development, adding GPS route guidance, what3words integration and alerts to the information already available on the website.
The walk from West Kirby to Hilbre Island is a popular local attraction, but the incoming tide can cut off parts of the route surprisingly quickly. HilbreTides was created to make the tide information easier to understand before people set off.
The site answers a simple question:
Are conditions currently suitable for crossing, and if not, when is the next recommended crossing window?
20,000 people and 190,000 page views
Since launching in April, HilbreTides has seen:
- More than 20,000 people use the site
- More than 190,000 page views recorded
- 129,000 views of the main West Kirby and Hilbre tide-times page
- 21,000 views of the dedicated safe-crossing-times page
The busiest single day so far was Sunday 24 May, when over 500 people checked the site to assess that day’s crossing. Usage also peaked again during the August bank holiday period.
Turning tide tables into a simple answer
HilbreTides combines tide predictions from the UK Hydrographic Office’s Admiralty tidal service with live Open-Meteo weather data, using its own AI-optimised algorithms to factor in wind, visibility and other conditions that affect the crossing.
Visitors can see the recommended latest time to set off from West Kirby, when they should aim to be back off the island, and a seven-day forecast of crossing windows to help plan a visit in advance.
The methodology behind the crossing-window calculation is published on the site so visitors can see how the times are produced.
HilbreTides now also provides tide information for Hoylake, New Brighton, Leasowe Bay, Thurstaston and Parkgate, as well as live Environment Agency flood alerts for the Parkgate shore.
More than 40 local guides cover subjects including the walking route, seal watching, what to expect on Hilbre Island and what to do if you are caught by the tide.
“We kept seeing the same problem”
The developers said:
We kept seeing the same thing every summer, people caught out by the tide at Hilbre. The tide tables aren’t wrong, they’re just hard to make sense of. What you actually want to know is whether it’s safe to walk out.
The tide comes in faster than people expect. So we wanted one simple answer on your phone: can I go now? And if not, when?
The site was initially launched as a soft launch while the team tested the calculations and gathered feedback from people familiar with the crossing.
App in development
The team is now actively developing a dedicated HilbreTides mobile app for iOS and Android.
The app is intended to add features that are particularly useful once visitors have left the beach, including:
- GPS guidance along the recommended route, including the footpath across Middle Eye rather than the more hazardous rocky route around it
- what3words integration, allowing anyone who needs assistance to communicate their location using a three-word address
- Alerts when the recommended crossing window is approaching its limit
- Offline tide information for areas where mobile phone signal on the sands can be unreliable
The developers said:
The website gives people the information they need before they set off. The app will add route guidance and location information while they’re out there.
As ever, the advice stays the same: check the tide, check the weather, and if in doubt, don’t cross.
About HilbreTides
HilbreTides (hilbretides.co.uk) is a free, independent website providing live tide times and recommended crossing windows for Hilbre Island, Wirral, alongside tide information for the wider Wirral coast.
It was built by a small group of Wirral-based developers who saw a need for clearer, local and mobile-first information about the crossing.
HilbreTides is not affiliated with the RNLI, HM Coastguard or Wirral Council. Tide and weather information is indicative, and visitors should always assess conditions for themselves before crossing.
After a press release by Hilbretides.co.uk
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