Formby Dunes

The walk starts from Formby Village and follows an anticlockwise circular route via Formby Dunes, site of 'Lost Resort', Formby Beach, site of first Lifeboat station with a possible detour to 'Devils Hole'.

Technical sheet

n°5700070
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.24 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 9 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 15 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

From dunes to beach

Description of the walk

(S/E) Take Hog Hill Lane southwest beside allotments. Carefully cross the rail track and continue beside the MOD range.

(1) Turn north (right) at the information board along the track beside the nature reserve.

(2) Turn southwest (left via gateway into nature reserve. Notice board here detailing history of dunes.

(3) Leave path northwest (right) and head through the dunes and pine trees.

(4) Take path briefly southwest (left). Exit road northwest (right) via 'Lost Resort' trail keeping West of caravan park.

(5) Cross Lifeboat Road and follow trail North to edge of car park. Make way along West side of car park via information board. Leave car park via path heading north towards wood.

(6) Take track west (left) initially through wood and then via dunes to beach.

(7) Turn south (left) along the beach keeping close to sand dunes particularly if tide is high. Possible detour into dunes to visit 'Devils Hole' after site of worlds first lifeboat station.

(8) Leave beach (left) taking Hoggs Hill Lane north east back to start.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Formby Village
  2. 1 : km 1.37 - alt. 6 m - Cabin Hill
  3. 2 : km 1.89 - alt. 9 m - Dune Entrance
  4. 3 : km 2.06 - alt. 9 m - Cross Dunes
  5. 4 : km 2.62 - alt. 12 m - Albert RD
  6. 5 : km 3.5 - alt. 12 m - Lifeboat Road
  7. 6 : km 4.2 - alt. 15 m - Wickes Wood
  8. 7 : km 4.5 - alt. 5 m - Formby Point
  9. 8 : km 7.2 - alt. 6 m - Hoggs Hill Lane
  10. S/E : km 9.24 - alt. 6 m - Formby Village

Practical information

In the nearby area

Site of worlds first lifeboat station.
Formby Dunes.
Formby Beach.
'Last Resort' , attempt to turn dunes into seaside town. Notice boards beside path explains this history.
Detour to 'Devils Hole', deep depression in dune system, possible

Other walks in the area

Walking Formby Squirrel Asparagus Trail

Walker
Formby Squirrel Asparagus Trail
↔8.48 km ↗+21 m ↘-22 m ◔2h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Formby (Liverpool City Region)
The walk starts in Formby Kirkdale Road and follows anti-clockwise route along Asparagus and Squirrel Trails together with dune and beach sections.

Walking Ainsdale Reserve Circular

Walker
Ainsdale Reserve Circular
↔8.32 km ↗+26 m ↘-20 m ◔2h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sefton (Lancashire)
A circular around Ainsdale Nature reserve starting with the gentle woodland section before moving on to a trickier dry dune section due to a large number of paths crisscrossing the dunes, The final section is through the wet dune section where the path is clearly marked but ponds block the path during wet periods so improvisation or wellingtons might be necessary.

Walking Lunt Meadows Circular

Walker
Lunt Meadows Circular
↔9.00 km ↗+6 m ↘-6 m ◔2h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sefton (Liverpool City Region)
Walk starting from Lunt Meadows Nature reserve and crosses the River Alt to disused Cheshire Lines rail track. After following the rail track the route crosses open farmland to a short road section leading back to the nature reserve. The final part of the walk makes its way via the nature reserve ponds to start.

Walking Lunt Circular via River Alt

Walker
Lunt Circular via River Alt
↔8.93 km ↗+5 m ↘-5 m ◔2h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Sefton (Liverpool City Region)
The walk starts from Lunt Village, Sefton and follows the anticlockwise circular route via River Alt, Cheshire Lines railtrack, River Alt and briefly Mersey Forest.

Walking Lydiate

Walker
Lydiate
↔9.39 km ↗+12 m ↘-11 m ◔2h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Lydiate (Liverpool City Region)
The walk starts from Bell's Lane in Lydiate and follows clockwise circular route via disused railway lane and canal towpath. A possible brief detour to St Catherine's Chapel and the oldest pub in Lancashire, Scotch Piper.

Walking Sefton Meadows

Walker
Sefton Meadows
↔8.22 km ↗+8 m ↘-8 m ◔2h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sefton (Liverpool City Region)
The walk starts from Sefton Village and follows a clockwise circular route via Sefton Mill site Sefton Meadows, Cheshire Lines railtrack, River Alt and briefly Mersey Forest.

Walking Maghull Circular

Walker
Maghull Circular
↔8.75 km ↗+12 m ↘-12 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Maghull (Liverpool City Region)
A circular route starting from Maghull centre initially following the canal and then disused rail track before heading beside Melling Brook to outskirts of Melling. Final section rejoins canal back to start.

Walking Exploring Liverpool City Centre

Walker
↔5.39 km ↗+39 m ↘-39 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Liverpool (Liverpool City Region)
The City of Liverpool offers the walker many sights to explore. This walk takes in the key attractions and provides the basis for a half day introduction to the City.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.