Over the Bank Holiday the Sefton coast is expected to be very busy, Sefton Council and its partners are once again urging people to plan their journeys to avoid queues hours spent in a boiling hot car and disruption for local residents.
With Formby’s two very popular National Trust sites often filling up quickly, meaning the car parks have to be closed quite early in the day, the Council is also suggesting people consider other destinations instead.
Southport, Ainsdale and Crosby beach are all RNLI lifeguarded beaches with natural beauty and fantastic facilities, all within minutes of Formby.
And they are in easy walking distance from Merseyrail stations such as Southport, Birkdale, Hillside, Ainsdale, Freshfield, Formby, Hall Road, Blundellsands & Crosby and Waterloo. People can plan their journeys and find timetables and service updates at www.merseyrail.org.
Ainsdale Beach can be found just two stops on Merseyrail or 16 minutes’ drive from Formby, using a satnav at postcode PR8 2QA. Southport beach, five stops on Merseyrail or a 20-minute drive is at postcode PR8 1SB. And Crosby Coastal Park is three stations or 29 minutes’ drive from Formby
Sefton Council is asking those who do drive to its coast to park responsibly and considerately away from residential areas and to make sure there is access for residents and emergency service vehicles at all times.
There is beach parking available with up top 2,000 spaces at Ainsdale and 400 at Southport.
Beach parking costs just £8 per day per cars at Southport beach and £10 per day per cars at Ainsdale. Half price parking is available after 4pm subject to availability. Annual season tickets cost only £30 for Sefton residents and electric or hybrid vehicle users. Season tickets for non-Sefton residents cost £60.
There are also over 1,000 parking spaces close to Southport Beach at Esplanade Park and Ride, which people can find using a Sat Nav at postcode PR8 1RX. Costs are just £2 per day per car Monday to Saturday, including free bus service into Southport Town Centre.
On Sundays, the Esplanade site is a Car Park costing £5 all day. The Park and Ride Service on Sundays and Bank Holidays runs from Fairways at postcode PR9 0LA. The cost is £2 all day per car.
Seven hundred spaces are also available adjacent to the beach, on Marine Drive.
The facilities at Ainsdale beach include men’s, women’s, and disabled toilets. A daily cleaning regime is in place, ensuring the amenities are kept clean and replenished during busy periods through the summer. Accessible toilets are also available at Crosby Coastal Park.
There are also fantastic food and drink outlets on offer at Crosby and Ainsdale beaches, providing much-needed refreshments in the hot weather, and everything you could need for a great day out in Southport.
People can find information to help you enjoy their day out on Sefton Coasts at www.sefton.gov.uk/coast.
People travelling to Sefton Coast can still find the Council’s Communications team’s two Spotify playlists for those who do and do not take the travel advice.
SeftonSoundsOfSummerHeaven is for those who have taken and includes On the Beach by Chris Rhea, The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations and Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. Local band Red Rum Club also feature with Sweet Degrees.
Among the tracks on SeftonSoundsOfSummerHell for those who don’t take the advice are Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac.
