Formby easy woodland stroll
This walk winds through broadleaf and pine woodlands before finishing at our sand dunes.
Map
Start:
Beach car park at National Trust, Victoria Road, Formby, grid ref: SD274082
1
Facing the sand dunes, take the wide path on the left approximately halfway along the length of the car park. This path can be identified by the blue bridle-path sign at its entrance. After a few metres the path forks. Take the left fork along a broad path down through a small section of woodland.
2
As the path emerges from the woodland take the first path on your left which leads away from the sand dunes, past a bench, and curves left past some wooden bollards into some mature broadleaf woodland.
3
Follow this clear, compacted path through the woodland and after approximately ¼ mile there is a wide fork in the path. Take the right fork, continuing on the level past an enclosed picnic area on your right. (Please note that dogs are not permitted within the enclosed picnic area.) Continue straight on this path as it narrows with a pine plantation on your right and a steep bank on your left.
4
Continue on until you reach a path junction on a fenced trail. At this point take the boardwalk path on the right and follow this boardwalk as it bends round to the left and up a slope.
Red squirrels
National Trust Formby is part of the Sefton stronghold for the native red squirrel, one of 17 strongholds in the north of England. Autumn and spring are when the squirrels are most active but they can be seen out and about in these woodlands all year round. Keep a look out for the feeders in the trees as this is often a good place to catch a glimpse of these shy creatures.
5
At the end of the boardwalk continue to the top of the slope, where you'll meet a crossroads of paths. Take the fenced path on your left. Follow this as it bends round sharply to the left. A short distance after this bend there are two fenced paths to your right, take the first of these paths and it will bring you out on to a roadside opposite the public toilets.
6
Cross the road and take the path (marked Cornerstone path) to the left of the toilets, heading down a ramp into the woodland. Continue to follow this clear, broad path with its white and purple marker posts through the woodland until you meet another path at a T-junction with a set of large wooden chimes on your left-hand side.
Pine woodlands
The pine woodlands were planted from the late 1800s by the Weld Blundell family, whose estate covered this area. Before the trees were planted, this area would have been fixed sand dunes covered in grassland and if you look closely you can still make out the shape of the dunes underneath the trees. Over the years these trees have been a valuable windbreak for the fields used for asparagus cultivation and the neighbouring residential area. Of course, now they're most renowned as the home of the rare native red squirrel.
7
Turn left at this junction and continue to follow the waymarked Cornerstone path. At a fork, take the right path and continue along this wide stone path as it meanders through the mixed woodland and out into an open area. Continue along this path until it reaches an access track at the base of the sand dunes. Turn left along this track and follow it back to the beach car park.
Sand dune restoration
When looking at the sand dunes you may notice something that at first appears to be out of place: lines and lines of Christmas trees. Some areas of the dunes have become vulnerable due to the loss of marram grass, the natural dune stabiliser, caused mainly by trampling. This leaves the dunes bare which means that the wind can blow the sand off them leading to flattening of the dunes and the blown sand covering the road, paths and car park. The trees are part of a restoration project to help to reduce the sand movement and stabilise the dunes.
End:
Beach car park at National Trust, Victoria Road, Formby, grid ref: SD274082
