Jutting out betwixt the Ribble Estuary and the Irish Sea, just south to the more gaudy Blackpool is…read moreLytham/St. Anne's ... is the very underrated Lytham/St. Anne's Beach. Located on the North and South Promenade of the St Anne's-on-the-Sea, the best place to start with the beach is actually on a pier ... St. Anne's Pier, to be exact. More than 130 years old, the Victorian-era "Pleasure Pier" juts out 180 meters to the tip of the water. You'll get an expansive (and on cloudy days dramatic) view of both the north and south beaches, the Irish Sea, the towns of Lytham/St. Anne's, and, in the distance, Blackpool Tower and that town's less chill offerings. The pier is a great way to see both ends of the beach ... or keep the kids entertained with game-after-game while you sunbathe on the beach. At Lytham-St. Anne's beach, you have the exact same weather as down the road in Blackpool; the exact same miles of soft, castle-maker-friendly sand; the same local ice cream vendors with their yummy concoctions; the same famed Lancashire donkey rides; the same paddler's paradise (the water is a little cold, even in the summer, for all but the hardiest of swimmers). The difference? Lytham-St. Anne's Beach isn't as crowded. Oh sure, the whole western seaboard of England is crowded on a sunny summer day, but your odds of finding a good spot here are much higher. I've stayed in both areas and spent many a days on both Blackpool and LSA beaches; I much prefer this little slice of beachgoer's heaven.

A fantastic clean and swish British Seaside beach before you hit Blackpool. Gardens, a pier and a…read moremass of sand, quiet and sedate just how I remember it from the70's. Good to see somethings have not changed. Would love to live here.

If you're in Liverpool or Chester visiting, it's a must that you get the train across to West Kirby…read moreto see some of the stunning scenery that it has to offer. Not only does it have the Wirral Way, an old railway track that is not a country walk the length of Wirral, but it has the marine lake, the beach and Hilbre Island. Great for a family walk and a day out, Hilbre island is the biggest of three islands that lie between West Kirby and Wales. There's, 'Little I', the smallest, 'Middle I', the next biggest, and the 'Hilbre Island', the biggest! When the tides out loads of people flock over to Hilbre Island, about 40 mins walk from the beach! Here you can climb up and see great views and even a small house in which people live. Be sure to check the tides though as it's not uncommon for people to get stranded on Hilbre Island and it gets bloody cold at night in the middle of the sea!

This has to be a must. I never thought that I would have to book to access Hilbre Island Nature…read moreReserve (the three tidal islands lying at the mouth of the Dee Estuary, Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre). It's totally free of charge but groups are restricted to 50 people and permits are required in advance for any group of 6 or more persons. The permits are allocated on a strictly first come basis, so you may find that your chosen day is already booked. This makes it all the more exciting when you do actually get a permit and manage to go! Permits are available from the Visitor Centre, Wirral Country Park. The islands are cut off from the mainland by the tide for up to four hours out of every twelve. So not get stuck! The views, birds and plants are amazing. I might apply for the Dee Estuary Ranger job as he is the only permanent resident on the islands and lives in Telegraph House.

UPDATE - since writing my original review of Colwyn Bay beach it's been "rebuilt". Tons of sand…read morehave been dredged off shore and dumped on to the beach. The effect has been to raise the level of beach so much that the parts of it around the pier are now above sea level so the tide never comes in all the way. This means there's now a sandy beach 24/7, 365 days a year. In addition to this the new watersports centre, Porth Eirias, has showers and toilets and will eventually have a cafe so the facilities are also greatly improved. Added to the free parking this must now be the best beach for miles around.

The new beach was well worth the visit and luckily it was one of the hottest days of the year…read more Parking was difficult as it was so busy and the public toilets were closed as it was a weekend, it's a five minute walk to the shopping centre by the underpass . The beach is unbeatable. The only room for improvement would be to open the toilets on weekends even if just in the summer season.

What a gorgeous beach this is! Long stretches of flat sand, grassy dunes and a coastal pinewood…read moreforest (inhabited by a local population of red squirrels). A large group of us came here to participate in a beach clean-up day which they arrange most months. We were lucky that it turned out to be a gloriously sunny and warm day, but obviously the downside was that we were having to pick up all manner of litter that the lazy public neglected to take home with them. At least we were helping to keep this location as stunning as possible. It's looked after by the National Trust, so if you're not a member you'll have to pay a car park entry fee. There's a path from the first car park through the forest towards the dunes, or you can drive all the way down towards the dunes and walk to the beach from there (though this area gets full of cars very early). It was still the summer holidays so it was rather busy on the beach, with folks setting down blankets and camping chairs whilst their families messed about in the sand. A really lovely part of the coastline; how we'd never visited before whilst growing up is beyond me. Just remember to 'leave no trace' and take everything home with you!

This place has a nice combination of trails in the woods and beach. The beach is very beautiful a…read morefb is worth visiting alone. There's toilets and a ice cream van as well as a coffee/tea van but that's all in the way of amenities. It's always ram jam packed in the summer and that's if you can get into the car park to get a parking space but in the winter it's a great place to come and explore. There are quite a few dogs not on the leash but where isn't there in the uk! If you have national trust membership it's free to park and visit.

Southport beach seems unique to me in that it's the only beach I've been to where you can almost…read morenever see the sea. It's so far away! This actually makes it an ideal place to learn to drive in the evening, you can bring your car down here and give your kids a go, pull handbrake turns, and generally ruin the underside... remember to wash the salt off. The seafront has that lovely dilapidated British coastal resort feel...

Nice walk and good views and you can also collect shells and the prints are amazing the beach is…read moreenormous and the sea is nice and clean

The sand at Crosby beach isn't quite as soft and luxurious as that of Formby, which is slightly…read morefurther north. In parts you actually get the distinct feeling you may sink if you stand in one place too long and a sign actually warns beach goers not to stray too far from the promenade, and of "wet sand" - a slower version, I presume, of quick sand. That said it's still a great location. One hundred metal Antony Gormley's stare out over the water, his 'Another Place' exhibit, great for amateur photographers. Look to the left and you see cranes, ships and the odd pile of scrap metal. To the right a wind farm and on a clear day, the Blackpool Tower. Don't stare at the stunning vistas too long mind, make sure you beware of the jellyfish that sporadically pop up from time to time. On my last visit to Crosby's sands (31 August) the sun was beaming and warm, and a walk along this under-used beach was a real treat.

Crosby Beach is one of my favorite places in the Merseyside area. My boyfriend's family lives not…read moretoo far away, so whenever we're visiting, I ask to go and we always bring along the their dogs. The main attraction here is to see Antony Gormley's Another Place, a permanent installation of 100 cast iron men that spans the entire beach and into the sea as well. The sculptures are all made in the form of the artist's figure, and all face out looking at the sea. They're ever-evolving as nature erodes them away. They're all identical, but they've been placed as various heights. Some are buried into the sea or into the water. The beach itself is quite deserted; there's never very many people here, but when you arrive you think there's more people until you realized it's the statues masquerading as people in the distance. It's a great beach to take your dog too. However, it's quite windy here, so a nice stroll along the beach in the sand, or up on the boardwalk, that's all that's very nice. It's not the beach to sit out at. Come at sunset for a stunning sky and see the iron men in perfect light! This is a great spot for photographers! The iron men look beautiful in various lights, but especially at sunset. There is easy, free parking in the parking lot above the boardwalk too.

This must be one of the best beaches not only in North Wales but also in the UK. It's got acres of…read moresand, spectacular views (you can see Bear Grylls' private island if you know which way to look) and parking is no problem at all. If you fancy a day at the beach then this should be at the top end of your list.

Red Wharf Bay / Traeth Coch in Welsh is the largest beach on Anglesey at low tide…read more At high tide it is a 5 mile walk around muddy saltmarsh shores, also through fantastic sand dunes. There are birds to be seen such as wading birds, curlew and oystercatchers. Been here a year ago in August. I can recommend it in the evening for a quiet picnic.

What a beach!read more

Dunes at their best, elusive red squirrels and wide sprawling flat brown sandy beaches. There are…read moretwo car parks, one at the Squirrel Trail and one by the beach. Bring coins for the machines unless you have the Parking App. 50 years ago there were tons of red squirrels, the dunes felt massive as we rang hither and thither and slid down the sand, and then ran to the water for a paddle. It's still quite lovely but I fear you would be lucky to see half a squirrel or just a tail.

Formby's Freshfield Nature Reserve has been a long time favourite of mine due to the beauty of its…read morelandscape; I always find this place relaxing on a summer's stroll through its enchanting woodlands, as I keep my eyes peeled for elusive and rare red squirrels that roam. To make the most of your day, you should not miss the stunning stretch of unspoilt coastline that features long sandy beaches and attractive pine woods. As you walk along the beaches, it makes a discovery to search for the 5000-year old red deer footprints that still remain. My favourite part of Freshfield has to be the miles of sand dunes (one of the largest in the UK) and now home to many endangered species such as the Natterjack Toad and the Northern Dune Tiger Beetle. Formby by far is one of the best nature reserves in the North West. A word of warning though, do not circumnavigate before it gets dark, as it's so easy to lose track and find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Make sure you visit with your friends and/or family because it makes an excellent day out!