Let’s Take A Walk
Ansdell has its own lovely shops and wonderful Ansdell in Bloom displays. Fairhaven Lake has a long and interesting history and has recently been restored. Author Steve Garrill details a lovely walk around the area
Ansdell and Fairhaven Lake: 2.4 miles
1 Turn left from the railway station [wheelchair/pushchair turn right from the station and then left along Clifton Drive to start at instruction 3]. Coffee and snacks are usually available from Ansdell Institute on your left (community café).
2 Take the first right down Rossall Road. At the end turn right onto Ansdell Road North. Continue over the railway footbridge. Cross over carefully to the left-hand side of the road. The footbridge was the site of Ansdell’s Gate, the first railway station in Ansdell.
3 Cross over carefully and continue. Cross over at the traffic lights. The White Church (white glazed brick) is a Grade II listed building with a beautiful interior and stained-glass windows.
4 Turn right along the newly constructed sea front around Granny’s Bay. Granny’s Bay is officially known as Stanner Bank. Stanner is the local word for shingle banks. It is reputedly called Granny’s Bay because Lady Clifton brought her grandchildren here.
5 Take the path to the right of the ice-cream kiosk to drop down to Fairhaven Lake and left at the public toilets. Before Fairhaven Lake was developed this was an area of sand dunes, rough grass and wild tidal sands called Starr Hills. Fairhaven Lake is a saltwater lake and a very important wildlife habitat – you must visit the RSPB centre!
6 Continue around the lake to reach the Japanese Gardens. The Japanese Gardens were designed and built in 1925 by Thomas Mawson, a leading landscape architect. Fairhaven at War: The park remained open during both World Wars for leisure and entertainment for the public, and a recreational facility for service personnel.
7 Continue around the lake to reach the Spitfire memorial. This is a 2012 replica of a MkV Spitfire in memory of allied airmen. Please take time to read all of the fascinating, and poignant, information boards.
8 Continue around the lake to pass the café to reach the RSPB. The building housing the RSPB Centre was built in 1901 as a workshop and accommodation for the boatman. The RSPB does fantastic work here on the Ribble Estuary and throughout the UK.
9 Continue around the lake and back up the ramp. Cross the road and go up Marine Drive. Turn left, cross via the zebra crossing and back up Woodlands Road to the railway station.
There are many more local walks, and a lot of fascinating local history, in ‘Walks from the South Fylde Line’ by Steve Garrill.
Available from Plackitt & Booth on Clifton Street, Lytham.
