Beaches

The coastline from Southport down to Crosby spans 22 miles and is a haven for nature and wildlife as well as magnificent beaches.

At Southport beach you have Marshside RSPB is a haven for bird watchers; there are two hides, a viewing platform and three viewing screens. In the summer spot nesting birds like avocets and lapwings and in the winter the skies will be filled with pink footed geese and wigeons.

Along to the wildlife haven in Southport, the Queens Jubilee Nature Trail where the oldest of the dunes are now covered in willow scrub and are home to different orchids and wildlife.

Take a walk along the oldest iron pier in the country where at the end you will see nothing but coastal views for miles that will literally take your breath away, stop for a coffee or ice cream at the end.

Ainsdale beach is a haven for extreme kite activities. Imagine time with the family having fun with a kite buggy or land board in the sea, it also boasts some of the most beautiful sunsets - if you find a quiet spec nestled within the dunes, you could literally feel on your own private beach watching the sun set over Ainsdale.

Climb through the dramatic dunes at Formby beach to be met with the most beautiful beach surrounded by sweeping pine woods and the famous red squirrel. Delve further in to the shipwrecks and prehistoric footprints which lay trapped for thousands of years in sediment beds.

Crosby beach is located 12 miles south of Southport, and is home to Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ installation, the biggest open air art gallery in the country.

With 22 miles of coast to explore, whether it is walking the dog, going for an early morning run or walking along the beach, there is plenty of open space to do that - and all of this accessible on the Merseyrail's Northern Line service!