Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief The Fylde Coast runs from Fleetwood in the North, through Blackpool , to Lytham in the South. A coastal path runs the entire way, often on top of imposing sea defences and promenades, as in Cleveleys. A visit is likely to include wandering along the coast, looking out to sea across miles of sand when the tide is out. The beaches provide more than enough space for visitors, and although these are not high intensity resorts, there are a variety of facilities at the beaches and in the towns. The Fleetwood Museum provides a good introduction to the history and ways-of-life of the town. Sea Swallow statue on the promenade at Cleveleys What's Here? Since its development in Victorian times, Fleetwood has had a varied history, including as a tourist destination, a fishing port and a ferry terminal.  This varied history can be traced in the excellent Fleetwood Museum , which on my visit had enthusiastic volunteers occupying its informative themed spaces, including one on Fish...

In Brief. Wallasey and West Kirby are coastal towns towards the end of the Wirral peninsula, with views to Liverpool and North Wales, respectively. Wallasey is a substantial town, and includes the resort of New Brighton as a suburb, from which robust coastal defences can be walked in both directions. West Kirby is more compact, but has a distinctive and substantial marine lake. Looking across the Mersey to Liverpool. What's Here? New Brighton hosts assorted eateries and leisure facilities, including a theatre, cinema, ten-pin bowling and restaurants, near to the not especially pleasing marine lake and some rather tired looking resort facilities.  However, the Marine Point Leisure and Retail Park was doing good business on my weekday visit outside the holiday season, and after my walk I had a welcome brunch at the Marino Lounge. I chose to walk from New Brighton along the Mersey, past many elevated properties that enjoy views across to Liverpool Docks, and then the city itself. As...

In Brief. Lytham St Annes is a town immediately to the south of Blackpool, and the coast faces the Irish Sea over substantial beaches in St Annes. Thus St Annes is essentially a somewhat sleepy seaside resort that most likely is not especially envious of its glitzier neighbour. Following the coast round to the Ribble estuary, Lytham has coastal defences, but feels more like a market town, with a refined shopping and restaurant area and an annual music festival . Statue of a shrimper in Lowther Gardens, Lytham. What's Here? In visiting a town that occupies a substantial stretch of shoreline, I decided to park at St Annes, walk to Lytham along the coastal path, and to walk back along the slightly more direct cost road (perhaps 4 miles each way).  This turned out to be a reasonable plan, with changing coastal scenery, a variety of attractions, and periodic eateries. In my visit in September, it was warm, occasionally sunny, and calm, though during a previous visit in October the coast...