The sands of time

Mark Sutcliffe takes a bracing seaside saunter through the dunes along the Lancashire coast

The Lancashire coast can be a bracing place – even during the summer months. But if there’s a stiff breeze blowing off the Irish Sea, this route amongst the dune systems and littoral forest of alder, gorse and sea buckthorn is surprisingly sheltered. Wrap up warm and you can do this flat coastal ramble from Southport Club Campsite in early or late season.

On a clear day, the views stretch for miles, extending towards Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells in the north and south across Liverpool Bay to the mountains of Snowdonia (Eryri).

This extensive stretch of ancient dunes is also home to some special wildlife – sand lizards, natterjack toads and a huge range of plants such as early-marsh orchid, marsh helleborine and the nationally rare dune helleborine.

As well as some unique wildlife and stunning scenery, this part of the Lancashire coast has some famous sporting connections. The route loops back inland past the sandy links of Royal Birkdale – scene of some iconic golfing heroics down the years – including Arnold Palmer’s memorable victory in the 1961 Open Championship.

The last mile or so of our walk negotiates the imposing mansions and elegant villas of the upmarket suburbs of Southport.

Directions

1. From the crossroads at the centre of the Club site, head west to join the old coast road and head left to the roundabout then right through a small car park to join a path along the back of the beach running parallel to the coastal road heading south. Behind you to the north, you can see across the Ribble Estuary to Blackpool and its tower and rollercoasters and beyond.

2. 0.3km – Follow the England Coast Path as it threads its way between the salt marshes and sand dunes. Follow the path as it threads its way between the salt marshes and sand dunes alongside the Irish Sea. Continue along the path, through the forest and over a footbridge. This section of the path is known as the Velvet Trail, referencing the carpets of lush vegetation seen here in the early summer months.

3. 1.6km – Continue along the trail for another mile and a half, following the blue waymarker posts.

4. 4.5km – At the public toilets, head left along a road and cross a roundabout and the coastal road, then head left along the pavement towards Southport. After 300m veer right, away from the road and continue along the fence for another 250m.

5. 5.8km – At finger post next to Gate 19, head right through gate and into the nature reserve and follow a path through dunes indicated by green waymarker posts. After 250m, at the junction, keep right, following signs for Hillside Station.

6. 6.7km – Through the next gate, keep left, following marker posts through the woodland. After half a mile, the golf club comes into view. Continue on signed paths towards the clubhouse.

7. 7.3km – At the clubhouse, follow the asphalt road along the perimeter of the links for 150m, then take footpath on the left crossing an access drive signposted Selworthy Road.

8. 8.2km – Where the path runs along the back of some large houses, continue across a road, then left onto a footpath towards the coastal road. After 150m, turn right along Granville Road then left along Grosvenor Road, and right again along Westbourne Road.

9. 9 .8km – At the next junction, turn left along Oxford Road, turn right into Palace Road and continue straight ahead and over junction into Rotten Row. Continue past the model yacht club and back to the Club campsite.

Download this route and others to your smartphone or GPS device from the Club’s OutdoorActive page at: out.ac/IPp3bt

About the route

Start/finish: Southport Club Campsite, The Esplanade, Southport, Lancashire PR8 1RX
Distance: 6.4miles/10.5km.
Time: 3hrs.
Level: Suitable for regular walkers with a good level of fitness.
Terrain: Sandy coastal footpaths, suburban roads and lanes, woodland paths and asphalt paths with no significant ascents or descents.
Landscape: An almost completely flat coastal walk with just a few roads to cross.
Refreshments: None directly on the route.

OS Maps

Club members save 25% on an OS Maps annual subscription which gives you access to intuitive route planning tools and real-time GPS navigation while offering downloadable maps and offline access. Find out more at camc.com/ordnancesurvey.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.