There is something special about this stretch of coastline, writes John Lenehan for Lancashire Life.
The sand dunes are constantly changing due to wind and tidal erosion, and I believe that this action has created one of the UKâs most important archaeological sites.
Evidence of humans and animal activity has been found dating back to around 8000 BC, including ancient footprints preserved in mud layers.
The dunes also form part of a rare coastal habitat that supports an abundance of wildlife, most famously one of the countryâs remaining strongholds for the native red squirrel.
Formby Beach had the first lifeboat station in the UK too â built around 1776, it operated until 1916. Formby is also famous for asparagus which is harvested from the end of April to end of June.
Formby and the sand dunes are a particularly beautiful area and the woods at the coastal end of Victoria Road are famous for being a red squirrel reserve.
These animals once thrived throughout the UK until the introduction by the Victorians of the grey squirrel from North America in the late 1800s.
Being a stronger and more adaptable species they started to replace the reds.
More importantly they carry squirrel pox virus that is particularly lethal to reds that have far less resistance to the disease.
Unfortunately, I didnât see any red squirrels on this walk, though not for want of looking.
The walk
- Leave the car park, turn left and walk up Victoria Road and cross the level crossing at the railway station. Then turn immediately left into Montagu Road and follow this.
Reach and pass a gate with a Do Not Obstruct sign on it and carry on along the Tarmac track to reach a crossing point over the railway line.
Cross the line and carry on along the track named Fishermanâs Path and follow this as it crosses the fairway of Formby Golf Club. Beware of golf balls. Reach a metal gate and go past the side of this.
- Turn right at the signpost that says Southport 45mins by bike.
Keep on the track â there are white topped marker posts, but the main track is obvious.
Reach and pass a metal gate with a sign that says Welcome to Ainsdale and the Sand Dunes and carry on the track with Woodvale Airfield on the left beyond the railway line.
There is a totem pole (yes, really) at a picnic site on the left. It was carved by a local chainsaw artist and painted by local artists and represents fauna found in the sand dunes.
Pass the track leading to West End Lodge on the left and keep on the main track.
- Take the path on the left leading into the woods on the left saying Pinfold Path.
After a while, it forks and here keep right, then at the next fork keep straight on, do not go left.
There is a post with a green and white tip; here turn right and follow the now narrow sandy path.
There is a sign saying Pinfold Path. The path is marked by green- and white-tipped poles as it winds its way through the dunes.
Eventually the path reaches a stile but, before reaching the stile, turn sharp left and away from Pinfold Path. Follow the new path up a steep hillock. At the top of this is a short, unmarked post as a guide.
Pass the post and keep on the narrow path until it reaches a wider path and there is a wire fence in front.
Turn right and keep the wire fence on the left. Follow the path.
The path meanders a little but keep following the wire fence on the left.
The path reaches a stile by a metal gate but do not cross this, turn right and with the wire fence on the left follow a very narrow path.
The wire fence turns left â keep left with it and keep it on the left and follow the path.
When the wire fence turns sharp right turn right and follow the path with the wire fence on the left.
The path then turns sharp left and there is a sign saying: Welcome to Ainsdale Sand Dunes and National Trail.
Turn left and, again with the wire fence on the left, follow the path that is the national trail.
The wire fence then turns sharp left and here keep following the path as it leaves the fence corner and goes straight on but bearing diagonally left.
The path is marked by blue-tipped posts with arrows on and it is important to follow these as there is no path marked on the map, just a representation of a route.
At one point the path seems to go straight on but another path goes left downhill and at the bottom is a blue-tipped post.
Follow this path and the blue-tipped posts through the woods to reach a wide track.
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- There is a sign saying Ainsdale Sand Dunes and a post saying Fishermanâs Path.
At this point turn right and follow the track through the dunes to reach the beach and sea.
Then turn left and follow the Sefton Coastal Footpath as it goes along the beach with the dunes on the left.
Please note that in very high tides this way may not be advisable so at the junction where the national path joins the Fishermanâs Path turn left and, after a few metres, the national path is on the right. Turn right and follow this and the blue-tipped posts.
I didnât follow this so cannot comment on it as on the day the tide was out and it was beautifully sunny, so the Sefton Coastal Path was the preferred option.
Keep on the beach path until reaching a sign that says: Victoria Road North Formby and here turn left away from the beach and climb up the sandy dune.
Then keep straight on to the obvious track leading into the woods.
Follow the track until it reaches a junction, then turn right.
There is a sign saying Victoria Road Car Park â of a mile; follow this track back to the car park.
Compass Points
Start and finish: National Trust Car Park, Victoria Road, Formby, L37 1LJ
Distance: 7.5 miles/12km
Time: 3 hours
Map: OS Explorer 285 Southport and Chorley
Terrain: Mainly good tracks but the footpaths on Ainsdale Hills are narrow and twisting. I would advise boots to avoid ankle injuries. There is excellent walking on the beach.
Facilities: There are public toilets at the car park.
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