Liverpudlians are well aware of the sweeping coastline that stretches along the Merseyside seashore, but this walk offers something extra, taking in everything from coffee shops to sand lizards and ending at a deserted beach.
Apart from the scramble up the sand dunes at the end, its navigates along well-surfaced paths, meaning you could even cycle or bring a big-wheel pushchair before locking them up at the bikerack that unexpectedly emerges in the middle of the wilderness.
The walk begins at Freshfield Sation, on the main Northern line from Liverpool, in Formby. You can grab a coffee at The Kiosk, or a bite to eat at The Good Catch chippy, before strolling the few miles through heath, pinewoods and sand dunes before eventually reaching the sea.
Try to spot the red squirrels and sand lizards along the way and be sure to pack some snacks, bucket and spade and a kite to enjoy your time on the beach after emerging from a forest line of gnarled and twisted trees like something out of a brothers Grimm fairytale.
9. A glimpse of the sea
The pinewoods clear and through the gnarled trunks of the trees you can see the sand dunes and the promise of the beach beyond. | Dominic Raynor
10. Wildlife to spot
The pinewoods are home to red squirrels and more, but the sand dune habitat is a haven for some equally rare species. There are signs along the route, like the one pictured here, to let you know what to look out for. | Dominic Raynor
11. Pinewoods meet sand dunes
A meeting of two worlds as the pine trees - looking like something out of a brothers Grimm fairytale having been twisted by the sand and the wind coming off the sea - give way to rolling sand dunes. | Dominic Raynor
12. Up and over the dunes
A scramble up the sand dunes reveals a view of the deserted beach below. It’s obligatory to take off your shoes and socks and go for a paddle when the tide is in. | Dominic Raynor