St Anne’s Beach

St Anne’s Beach may be just down the Fylde coast from Blackpool but it’s worlds apart in terms of atmosphere. The Victorian Pier and promenade gardens offer more sedate pleasures than its northern neighbour and there are plenty of ice creams, donkey rides, mini-golf and the like. You can even hire a lovely pastel-coloured beach hut for the day. The gardens also feature a paddling pool and a Splash water play park which are handy if the tide is in.

St Anne’s beach offers a huge sandy expanse for flying kites or playing with buckets and spades. It’s wide and flat so when the tide goes out, it really goes out (although not to the extent of Southport’s sea-less seaside) but it also advances again quickly. Channels bring the water in faster than you might realise. There are no lifeguards here so check the tide tables before you go and keep an eye on the sea.

Stroll along the promenade south towards Lytham. The beach here is backed by sandy dunes criss-crossed with paths and is a good spot for bird-watching. You might even come across a lizard in the dunes. The sandy beach gives way to mud as you move further south so swimming isn’t recommended here. 

If you take a seaside walk to the North Beach where St Anne’s meets the fringes of Blackpool, there is a naturist area. Further on still there is a kite-surfing school and an excellent cafe, The Beachcomber.