Safety on the sands

The sands have no paths or signs. The map shows your phone's reported position as a moving position dot. GPS can be inaccurate on the sands.

1. Open the map — it's on the home page, the forecast and the tracker.
2. Tap "Show where I am" and allow location access when your phone asks.
3. Watch your dot — a "Live GPS tracking" badge confirms it's working.
4. Read the line under the map — green when you're near the drawn route, red when you stray off it.

• "You're near the indicative line" — check your surroundings before continuing.
• "You're about 85 m from the indicative line" — check your position and surroundings; do not follow the line blindly.

Your location is only used to draw your dot on your own screen. It isn't sent to us or stored, and it stops the moment you close the page. See the privacy policy.

The drawn route is based on Friends of Hilbre crossing guidance, but has not been surveyed or checked by local rangers. Walking straight to Hilbre looks shortest on a map. It isn't: the direct line crosses soft sand, gullies and the Dee channel. The map draws the way to go — and the water to avoid.

• Green line — indicative route based on Friends of Hilbre crossing guidance. Not surveyed or ranger-approved. Walk to Little Eye keeping it on your right, turn right, pass Middle Eye on your left, then cross the rocks to Hilbre. Check the Council route advice and local conditions.
• Hatched red — deep water: the Hoylake gutter and the main Dee channel. Never cross these, on the way out or back.
• Red dashes — the direct line. Soft sand and gullies that will slow you down and soak you. Don't take it.

Layer on the rain radar (animated) and live wind arrows from the map menu, and you can read the weather over the sands before you set foot on them.

Tides, two forecasts, spring tides and onshore gusts are a lot to weigh up. Choose a planned departure time. The app calculates crossing status and tide times from its rules. AI only identifies a weather concern from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecasts; it never sets the status or times.

• A rules-based planning status. Whether your chosen time falls within the calculated window — not a guarantee of safety.
• The times that matter. When to set off, when you must leave Hilbre by, and when high water closes the route.
• The risks. The app flags gusts and poor visibility; AI identifies one weather concern. Check both forecasts yourself.

Each browser gets 3 free briefings a day, counted in your browser's own storage (no ID or IP tracking). It's a decision aid, not a replacement for checking the official tide table and weather forecast yourself — always do both before you cross.

The tools help you decide — these rules keep you alive. Check the crossing windows before you leave, and start a session on the tracker when you set off so your leave-by time is always on screen.