No holiday or day trip to the North West of England would be complete without a visit to the seaside. Many places may spring to mind that are obvious seaside resorts, but we would like to present you with five options for a day out that are a little different and interesting. These destinations are an easy drive within the North West, and only require a beach blanket and a sense of adventure.
FORMBY BEACH
Formby Beach is truly breathtaking, especially when you approach it from the woodland at the edge of town. Black poplar trees give way to a flat, open meadow, which then rises in peaks to the ‘alien planet’ dunes.
As a National Trust nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is very well-kept and is home to red squirrels, sand lizards, and natterjack toads. This could be the place to visit to inspire the next generation of David Attenboroughs!
AINSDALE BEACH
Ainsdale Beach is a brilliant place to visit for families and was home to a famous holiday resort company until recently. This company, which rhymes with Fontins, recognised the potential of endless rolling dunes and golden sand as a boon for families who wanted a wholesome day out without the expense of ever-money-hungry arcades or fairgrounds.
Ainsdale Beach is a day trip in which a picnic blanket, flasks of hot drinks and sandwiches NEVER go out of fashion.
CROSBY BEACH
Where else can you find one hundred cast iron men staring out to sea? This Anthony Gormley (famous for the Angel of the North statue) installation is a wonder to behold, and photos don’t do it justice due to how far apart the statues are. It is truly eerie, but in line with local wit, often a few of the closer to shore statues are kitted out with Everton or Liverpool scarves – it is VERY close to Liverpool, after all.
The statues, each weighing 650 pounds, are made with casts of Anthony Gormley’s body. They make excellent co-models for Instagram shots as they never complain about you catching their best side!
ST. ANNES BEACH
A beautiful Victorian coastal town with a pristine beach is the stuff of childhood dreams. Sandcastles, ice cream and a game of beach cricket are all within the remit of a day trip to St. Annes Beach.
Parents with young children in prams and those with accessibility needs can stroll or roll along the railed promenade and imagine themselves as Victorian gentlemen or ladies. Many talk about the British seaside holiday going out of fashion; I would suggest that these kinds of holidays are timeless and remind us of our mutual, happy youthful days.
CROSBY BLITZ BEACH
Full disclosure: I am not recommending this as a sunbathing beach (to do so of any beach in the North West would be a folly due to the weather), but rather as a quirk of humanity. This beach is a sobering reminder that nature can be affected by the turmoil of men.
Crosby Blitz Beach is named after the fact that two miles of coastline are made up of the bricks and stonework of civic buildings that were damaged during the blitz of Liverpool from German bombers in the Second World War.
The rubble has been rounded off, and it has been smoothed by the constant visitations of the Irish Sea, but it is still a place that gives pause for thought and makes you want to be grateful that we live in a better time.
North West Day Trips 