So many little spots of happiness across the Sefton coast are best explored by foot or bike - stunning scenery, rolling dunes and sunsets that have the 'wow' factor.

The Sefton coast cycle routes have been designed so you can get the very best from the nature and scenery around.

If you are visiting Southport and you don't have a bike, you can hire them at the Southport Eco Centre or Southport Train Station.

 

Asparagus Cycle Route, Formby

This circular route, from Formby Train Station passes through Formby village, the National Trust site along the picturesque Formby coast famous for its Red Squirrels and Asparagus fields.

  • Easy / moderate
  • Mostly off road
  • Distance 5 miles
  • Time 40-50 mins

 

Squirrel Cycle Route, Southport

This linear route links Southport to Formby and passes several Nature Reserves.

  • Easy / moderate
  • Mostly off road
  • Distance 7.5 miles
  • Time 50-60 minutes

 

Kestrel Cycle Route, Southport

Along this route you will enjoy the resorts varied urban landscapes and the newly developed community woodland.

  • Moderate
  • Mostly on road
  • Distance 9 miles
  • Time 70-90 mins

 

Marram Cycle Route, Southport

This short route is a relaxing cycle ride that takes in areas of outstanding natural beauty and offers great seaside views of the Southport coast.

  • Beginner/ easy
  • Mostly off road
  • Distance 3 miles
  • Time 20-30 mins

 

Curlew Cycle Route, Crosby

This circular route begins at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and will take in the sights of the Crosby Coast.

  • Easy / moderate
  • Mostly off road
  • Distance 4.5 miles
  • Time 45-55 mins

 

Swan Cycle Route, Southport

This circular route takes in the sights and sounds of Southport’s many famous landmarks.

  • Easy / moderate
  • Off road or om quiet roads
  • Distance 7 miles
  • Time 55-70 mins

 

Butterfly Cycle Route, Formby

This circular route, from Freshfield Railway Station, goes along the north of Formby and then

  • Easy / moderate
  • Off road or on quiet roads
  • Distance 7 miles
  • Time 55-70 mins

 

Mallard Cycle Route, Southport

This circular route boasts spectacular panoramic views that include North Wales and the Lake District.

You will pass the Marine Lake and Bird Reserve at Marshside, a popular nesting spot for many birds including avocets and lapwings.

  • Moderate
  • Off road or on quiet roads
  • Distance 9.5 miles
  • Time 75-95 mins

 

Natterjack Cycle Route, Southport

This ride begins on the old Cheshire Lines Railway and follows a circular route through

  • Moderate
  • Off road or on quiet roads
  • Distance 9 miles
  • Time 79-90 mins

 

Shrimp Cycle Route, Southport

This is an ideal route to enjoy some of Southport’s best landmarks and it is clearly signed in both directions.

  • Beginner / easy
  • Mostly off road
  • Distance 4 miles
  • Time 30-45 mins

Explore more cycling routes

The Sefton Coastal Path

The Sefton Coastal Path is a stimulating journey through a wonderful variety of landscapes with a rich biodiversity of wildlife and a fascinating history. Sandy beaches, coastal marshes, pine woodlands, heathery heathland and tidal estuaries with invigorating vistas across the Irish Sea to North Wales, Snowdonia and even the Lake District on a clear day. The Sefton Coastal Path can be walked throughout and parts are cycle-friendly. It can easily be completed over a weekend based in Southport, or it can be broken up into individual short walks as desired. The suggested stages are summarised…

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Asparagus Cycle Route

This circular cycle route, from Formby Train Station passes through Formby village, the National Trust site along the picturesque Formby coast famous for its red squirrels and Asparagus fields. Asparagus has been grown here possibly since the 1600’s and in its heyday, in the 1900’s, was world renowned. Today it can still be bought at Larkhill Farm. You will also pass St Lukes Church, the site of an ancient burial ground, home to the Godstone. Locally believed to be a rebus to converting Vikings to Christianity. From the station’s south bound platform go straight across the…

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Butterfly Cycle Route

This circular route, from Freshfield Railway Station, goes along the north of Formby and then passes through or near several Nature Reserves. You will pass through the home of butterflies, sand lizards and natterjack toads at the Ainsdale Sand Dunes Reserve before reaching Formby Golf Club and Freshfield Dune Heath Nature Reserve. You will also pass RAF Woodvale and Burrough’s Wood. From the railway station, travel along Victoria Road before turning left onto Gores Road and then right onto Massam’s Lane, going past the awarding winning public house, ‘The Freshfield…

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Curlew Cycle Route

This circular route begins at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and will take in the sights of the Crosby Coast. You will pass through the Crosby Coastal Park with views of Wirral and North Wales coasts and Antony Gormley’s 'Another Place' statues. You will also pass the Royal Hotel, Blucher Street and Wellington Street which recognise the close links the area has with the 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Go straight out of the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, crossing the access road and head towards Great Georges Road. Turn left onto Marine Terrace, opposite the Royal Hotel…

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Kestrel Cycle Route

Along this route you will enjoy the resorts varied urban landscapes and the newly developed community woodland. You will pass through King’s Gardens, Portland Street playing fields and then Newlands, the Community Woodland. This is home to a variety of wildlife and Kestrels can regularly be seen hunting over head. Heading back into the town you will pass through the grounds of the hospital and across the playing fields at Meols Cop, adjacent to KGV College and Southport Football Club. The route also takes you past Hesketh Golf Club with the RSPB bird reserve at Marshside close by. Turn…

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Lapwing Cycle Route

This circular route will take you through a wildlife rich area in the heart of agricultural West Lancashire. Starting at Burscough Wharf the route goes through the north of Burscough and then passes through or near several nature reserves. You will pass through the home of lapwings, dragonflies and butterflies at the Martin Mere Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre before reaching Tarlscough Moss and Burscough Wharf. You will also pass Windmill Animal Farm and Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve.  Begin at Burscough Wharf, turn right onto the canal. Follow the towpath and continue to the…

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Maghull to Aintree Leeds-Liverpool Canal Walk or Cycle

This pleasant canal-side walk or cycle ride of some 5.8 km (3.6 miles) is entirely level throughout on the well-surfaced and maintained towpath of the Leeds–Liverpool Canal. From the green suburbs of Maghull, we travel southeast through farmland and open countryside, under two motorways before our route loops back northwest, alongside one of the world’s best known racecourses. Parking is widely available in Maghull and starting from Maghull Station if you wish, will shorten the walk. We start at Green Lane (OS: 373025) to follow the towpath southwards, first under the concrete…

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Mallard Cycle Route

This circular route boasts spectacular panoramic views that include North Wales and the Lake District. You will pass the Marine Lake and Bird Reserve at Marshside, a popular nesting spot for many birds including avocets and lapwings. You will also pass through Churchtown, a pretty village, north of Southport, with its numerous small boutiques and specialist shops. It is also home to Botanic Gardens, a park nationally renowned for its floral displays and numerous other attractions such as its lakes and museum. You will return back to the Eco Centre having past through Southport Town Centre…

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Marram Cycle Route

This short route is a relaxing cycle ride that takes in areas of outstanding natural beauty and offers great seaside views of the Southport coast. You will cycle past Queen’s Jubilee Nature Reserve and Victoria Park, home to Southport’s Flower Show, along Esplanade. You will travel along the disused Cheshire Lines Railway, passing the site of the old Birkdale Palace Station, up to Birkdale Local Nature Reserve and the world famous Royal Birkdale Golf Course. The route passes through an area of housing that was historically referred to as the “Castles in the Sand”and…

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Meanders Around Melling

‘Melinge’, as it is listed in the Domesday Book, once overlooked the marshes, woodlands and reed beds of the River Alt. At the time of the Domesday census, Godiva the widow of Leofric, was the lady of the manor and a forest stretched from Waddicar to Wood End in Maghull. Start by turning left out of the car park at Maghull Station, across the level crossing and walk 450 metres along Melling Lane to the M58 overbridge, where we turn left on a signposted path through amenity woodland, with the green fence of the motorway embankment on the right and playing fields to the left…

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Natterjack Cycle Route

This ride begins on the old Cheshire Lines Railway and follows a circular route through Ainsdale, Birkdale and Southport Town centre. You will pass Birkdale Nature Reserve, the home of the rare Natterjack Toad and Sand Lizard, Birkdale Sands, the site used as training gallops by Red Rum and Royal Birkdale Golf Course. The cycle route continues through the centre of Ainsdale, passing the site of the old Ainsdale Mill, the Millstone is now housed in the Library garden and around the eastern edge of Birkdale. Travelling back into Southport you will pass St. Paul's Church, built in 1864, with…

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Netherton to Crosby Marine Park

This new combined cycling and walking route starts at the Aldrins Lane swing bridge on the Leeds–Liverpool Canal and proceeds westwards along the canal towpath to link up with the tarmac pathway through Rimrose Valley Park. The route then crosses the Liverpool–Southport railway between Seaforth and Waterloo stations to finish on the banks of the Mersey at Crosby swimming pool. We start at the Aldrins Lane swing bridge to follow the towpath for the next two km (1.25 miles) through the suburban housing estates of Netherton and Buckley Hill. The place name Netherton, comes from the…

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Shrimp Cycle Route

This is an ideal route to enjoy some of Southport’s best landmarks and it is clearly signed in both directions.  Along the sea front you will have views out to the Irish Sea and pass a variety of interesting sculptures including the Trans Pennine Trail's Sea Mark. You will pass under the second longest pier in Britain, with its cafes and penny arcades. You will pass the Marine Lake, home to a variety of watersports and the Southport Belle, a Mississippi style paddle steamer, and through Kings Garden, the home of the model railway village. Turn right from the Eco Centre car park…

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Southport Seaside Stroll

Southport is a seaside town of sophisticated charm and character, yet with plenty of activities and events on offer, right throughout the year. This short walk (2 miles) takes in some of the main landmarks and attractions and starts and finishes at the Tourist Information Centre at the Lord Street/Eastbank Street junction, near the Library and Town Hall. Crossing the road, we walk northwards on the left side of Lord Street under the ironwork canopies. Our first stop is Wayfarers Arcade, a beautifully restored shopping arcade, full of specialist shops, cafes and a Grade-II listed building…

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Squirrel Cycle Route

This linear route links Southport to Formby and passes several Nature Reserves. You will travel along the line of the old Cheshire Lines Railway, passing the Queens Jubilee Nature Trail, Birkdale Nature Reserve, the Sands Lake Nature Trail and Pontins Holiday Park. You then pass through Ainsdale Sand Dunes Nature Reserve, the home of the sand lizards and natterjack toads, before reaching Formby Golf Club and Freshfield Dune Heath Nature Reserve. You will also pass RAF Woodvale before reaching the end of the route at the entrance of the National Trust site, famous for its Red Squirrel…

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Swan Cycle Route

This circular cycle route takes in the sights and sounds of Southport’s many famous landmarks. You will pass Victoria Park, home of the renowned Southport Flower Show every August, and along the picturesque boulevard of Lord Street with its Victorian shop fronts and tranquil gardens. The route continues past the well manicured Hesketh Park, open since 1868, with its numerous attractions including a conservatory, an observatory, lakes and cafe. You will ride along Park Crescent with the rich heritage views of its large Victorian houses, pass the Marine Lake, home to various species of…

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