Put A Spring In Your Step
Local writer and walking enthusiast, Steve Garrill, guides us on a Lytham Ansdell circular route, perfect for Spring
From St Annes railway station, walk into St Annes and turn right up Garden Street (where the former JR Taylors is being redeveloped into a Spa Hotel). Cross straight over to enter into Ashton Gardens and pass to the right of the excellent Pavilion Café. Explore the beautiful gardens before returning to the war memorial and leaving on the main path to Clifton Drive.
Turn left and, at the lights, turn right towards the pier. Turn right at the end and then cross over to walk through the Peace and Happiness Gardens (known to locals as the Les Dawson Gardens). Walk back past the pier and onto the sea front path. Pass the lifeboat memorial on the left before bearing right past the Lifeboat Station. Continue to pass the beach huts, bear left then drop down the steps to walk along the beach. When you reach Fairhaven go up the steps, turn left and then right down into the gardens. Turn sharp left across the top of the lake to pass the Spitfire memorial. Please pause to read the information.
Continue past the café to the end and up the ramp. Turn left and cross the road to walk up Marine Drive (Fairhaven public house on the right). Turn left then cross the zebra crossing to walk up Woodlands Road. Turn left onto Kingsway, HYGGE café is on the corner. Turn right and then left onto Arundel Road which runs parallel to the railway. Pass a road junction then turn right to cross the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club course.
The course is currently undergoing massive changes but will be ready for the Lytham trophy, a top international event, in May. It will host the Women’s Open in 2026 and it is hoped that The Open will return within the next few years (thanks to Andrew Warburton for this information).
At the end of the path continue straight ahead on the road and turn left down Central Drive (a cul-de-sac where Churchill’s secret wartime house was located). At the end continue on the path which runs alongside the golf course. Continue onto Beauclerk Road which at the end bears left and briefly becomes a path.
Turn left onto Links Gate which overlooks the golf. Bear right at the Club House then left and second right onto St David’s Road South. Continue to the traffic lights, turn left and walk over The Crescent and back into St Annes Square.
For more local walks and local history please see Walks from the South Fylde Line. Signed copies £9.95 from Plackitt & Booth, Lytham and Storytellers, St Annes on Sea.
