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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre is a fantastic new development near Crosby beach. It has replaced…read morethe pretty mediocre sports centre previously situated at Crosby Marina. Lakeside has retained the marine lake to perform numerous wet sports activities such as canoeing and yachting, kayaking, wind surfing and raft building. There are now lots of dry activities also available: cycling climbing and orienteering and a well appointed fitness suite. Lakeside welcome disabled and special needs visitors and people of all abilities. The facilities here are undeniably good and quite unique to the area; an invitaion for tourists and a great boost for the local economy. There is on site accommodation at "Lakeside Lodge", 14 en suite bedrooms with all guest requirements; even more incentive to visti from further afield. The dining facilities at "Lakeside Bistro" make for perfect after sports sustenance or an evening out. enjoy apertifs with sea views from the roof top terrace, or have breakfast overlooking the yachts sailing on the marina.

Nestled between the impressive houses overlooking Crosby's waterfront and the beach itself, the…read moreLakeside Activity Centre is a stones throw away from the cranes and industry of the Port of Liverpool. It looks a fairly new addition to Crosby beach, perhaps cashing in on the success of Antony Gormley's 'Another Place'. On a hot Tuesday we decided to head for the Lakeside Bistro (within the activity centre) for a cold drink and a bite to eat. The décor is modern and clean and the food is extremely well priced, we got two meals and two drinks for less than £7! I had no complaints about the bistro or its service, some of the other diners may have been less content. At one point the kitchen was temporarily closed so it could deal with a back log of orders and the large queue of hungry beach goers looked decidedly put out. The bistro looks out onto its stunning surroundings and also onto the fantastic children's play area, from which my fiancée had to hold me back.

It's a very pretty but the parking machines never work be careful because they will ticket you!read more

This is the place that I grew up building dens with my school friends in the middle of the woods…read moreand rock climbing and going on huge bike rides! It's a beautiful place and it really shows off the beauty of Wirral's countryside. Royden Park is gorgeous and there is a pond there for game fishing as well as an old model steam train that children can ride on on certain days! Thurstaston common is home to Thors Rock, a huge sandstone landmark where thousands of people have etched their names and sweet nothings for years on end. It's a great place for a family walk, walking the dog, a jog, a bike ride, or just an escape for a while. There's a campsite down the road for those that want to come and camp on the Wirral near somewhere beautiful. There's also a fantastic little pub about ten minutes walk away called the Cottage Loaf, they serve delicious homemade food to get your energy back up after a long walk!

"Another Place" is Antony Gormley's spectacular modern art piece at Crosby beach. It features 100…read morecast iron men, in replica of the artist's figure, set over 2 miles at the beach looking out into the sea. Some are cast far out into the water, and some of the sculptures are very close to the boardwalk. The sculptures are buried at various depths in the sand (or water), creating a vivid landscape. They were supposed to move to other cities like New York after their stint in Crosby, but it was decided that the iron men would remain in Crosby. As time has passed, nature has taken over and the men have become one with the sea and their environment as they have been engrossed with moss, algae and corrosion, making them ever more poignant in their location. 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. It's a great spot to take your dogs for a run on the beach too. There is easy, free parking in the parking lot above the boardwalk too.

I have to say that I have always admired Antony's work, but he has really come into fashion in the…read morelast few years - since the Angel of the North in fact. This particular piece was installed on various beaches before being brought home to the NorthWest. As others have pointed out, there was initially local opposition to the figures, but these same people have now fully adopted them and fought to keep them on Formby beach. Representing the hundreds of thousands of emigrants who travelled from the port of Liverpool, they have a poignancy as well as a feeling of expectancy. See them as the tide comes in or goes out - both are equally rewarding. Don't forget your camera!