Fylde Coast Ramble
This issue, local writer and walking enthusiast, Steve Garrill, takes us on a late summer’s walk starting in Lytham
Lytham to Freckleton (7.6 miles)
1. Bear left through Sparrow Park and walk down Park Street. At the end cross over turning left and continue along Clifton Street. Immediately after Sainsbury’s turn right down Bath Road. Apex Cycleworks does an excellent range of breakfasts from 8.30am.
2. Turn right and left over the zebra crossing and then bear diagonally left across Lytham Green to the lifeboat shop. Continue along the front to the end then right down the steps. If there is a very high tide the sea comes right up to the promenade. The sea defences are not expected to be continued this far until 2035.
3. Go left around the sea wall. Climb up some steps, through a gate and along the cliff top path [if there is a high tide bear left at the end, turn right and then right again after the traffic lights. As the road goes left go straight ahead through metal gates to the path which joins the cliff top path].
4. Go through a metal gate up to a T junction. Turn right onto Victory Boulevard, follow the road around turning left onto Dock Road. At the end turn right, across the bridge, up the steps on the right following the path on the bank. Bear left and left again back towards the road with the Marina on your right. Boundary Road would likely have been the route of the Lytham Dock Branch Railway.
5. Turn right on the footpath alongside Preston New Road then right over a stile. Follow the bank bearing left and continue alongside the Ribble Estuary. The Estuary is very important for wildlife.
6. The path bears left to a stile, then to the road. Turn right and right again along a driveway, past a house and then through a gate to regain the bank.
7. Along the bank you’ll reach another stile and pass in front of houses. Follow a surfaced track and over another stile. Pass through several fields. The path runs alongside the British Aerospace perimeter fence.
8. At the end of the perimeter fence cross a wooden bridge and continue to pass the indistinct path. You’ll pass a farm track rising up diagonally on the left, ignore this and continue ahead. Cross a stile and go over a sleeper boardwalk.
9. You’ll see a marker post pointing to a path on the left which climbs steeply. Go through a gap in the fence to reach a gate. Go ahead along a fenced path.
10. Cross over a roadway and turn right down a narrow hedged footway. Follow the path, reaching a concrete roadway. After a short while take the path to the left. You’ll enter into Bunker Street and The Ship public house is on the right. Excellent food!
11. At the end of Bunker Street turn left. Continue over a roundabout and pass Flapjacks café on your left. Bear left, the war memorial is on your right and then the bus stop. Catch any bus, they all go to Lytham.
Signed copies of ‘Walks from the South Fylde LIne’ are available from Plackit & Booth in Lytham priced £8.95
