Season: autumn
Sitting between Formby and Southport, Ainsdale beach is the only north west beach with a Blue Flag award for the high quality of its bathing water. The beach is regularly cleaned and there is extensive lifeguard cover. It is popular with families and there is a dog exclusion zone, with pets allowed elsewhere on the beach. The Ainsdale and Birkdale Hills Local Nature Reserve sits behind the dunes and this is a breeding ground for the Natterjack Toad. There’s also The Ainsdale Discovery Centre by the beach, where you can hire bikes. With water sports also high on the agenda, there’s plenty for everyone at Ainsdale beach. The nearby village has restaurants and independent shops to enjoy after a bracing beach walk.
What the beach means to Stephen and Lynne.
A view from the dunes behind the beach.
