Where is the best beach in the North West

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BFG

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I have been to Ainsdale beach before but not for years, can anyone advise me on the best place to park and go for a good gallop.

Ta
 
I've only been to Ainsdale and Formby and think Formby is better - especially in winter when it's nice and quiet. There is some good riding through the woods and dunes as well as the beach itself. This was all 3 years ago but doubt any of it has changed that much!
 
i like both, but slight warning about ainsdale. It is popular with kite surfers (myself included!) when the wind in onshore, and with kite buggies whenever its windy. There is a part of the beach designated for this so don't have to be on the same patch, but don't know how your horse feels about kites!
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i like both, but slight warning about ainsdale. It is popular with kite surfers (myself included!) when the wind in onshore, and with kite buggies whenever its windy. There is a part of the beach designated for this so don't have to be on the same patch, but don't know how your horse feels about kites!
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Not sure how my horse feels about the beach but i really don’t think i would survive if there was a lot of kites.

Would you recommend Formby then? How is the parking?
 
Been to Ainsdale Beach on three seperate occasions and came into contact with the Kites on the third occasion. My daughter was trying to ride a quite highly strung Chestnut Arab Mare who it took about 15 attempts to get on as she was so jiggy lol.

Once she got on the mare just blasted and i remember shouting to her try to ask her to stop after about a mile, it took her 3 miles to stop, all this whilst i was sat astride my very calm New Forrest who tootled along like normal.

Was a lovely day to remember as the Arab has since had to be pts with Wobblers.

Never been to Formby so can't comment.
 
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St Annes near Blackpool, there is a fab big carpark (beside the lifeboat hut) and a lovely long beach
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perfect for riding on
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Oh that is interesting that one is nearer to me too. thanks
 
Agree re St.Annes.
Plus as far as i know, they dont do the sand yatching there since there was a bad accident a few years ago - so all the better for the horses!

There is always space to park, and reverse etc! You just have make sure you go to the smaller car park which is by the lifeboat station as mentioned.

(one had a livery go to the main one and she got blocked in, plus you have to pay at the other!)
 
Thank you all so much, i never thought of the beaches further up the coast so i will try the one at lytham St Annes and park on the smaller car park near the Lifeboat station.

I was thinking of maybe going Christmas morning so should be nice a quiet.

Thanks Again.
 
OMG Brighthair (sorry nothing to do with original post).
The poem in your sig just made me cry - sums up exactly how I feel about my lovely boy who I lost unexpectedly last year..........
 
Me too
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They do still have some sort of kite surfing (not yachting) at St Annes but the guys who do it have always been very considerate when I've been on.

Last time I went was about 2 years ago.

I need somebody to babysit me and my 4 year old. Not that she will be naughty (crosses fingers) but the beach is not somewhere I'd choose to go on my own.
 
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OMG Brighthair (sorry nothing to do with original post).
The poem in your sig just made me cry - sums up exactly how I feel about my lovely boy who I lost unexpectedly last year..........

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I love it
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Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
 
I'll meet you there if you want quirky, took Ruby on sunday after not going out for weeks (bruised sole), she was shaking with excitement being tacked up, but was absolutely brill behaviour wise!

Did a fair bit of walking the some trot circles and a little canter (just coming back into work, so keeping her quiet!)

Planning on going again this weekend, have monday off too so might even go a couple of times!
 
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Pilling is fantastic, always dead quiet, but you need to remember to check the tide times, and if you are going, let me know, cos I will come and join you!

I'm about 15 mins away in the wagon.

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Think we might end up at Lytham it is closer to us (we are in Chorley) and i have to be back for Christmas dinner at my mums. Otherwise it would have been lovely to meet up.
 
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Ha, yes me too, would be in trouble if i was late! You can always come over another time, am happy to meet you at Lytham x

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Sounds like a plan we will have to arrange something, i have never taken my big horse to the beach although my other horse has been a few times so i am hoping she will be a calming influence......
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Warning about North Beach car park at St. Annes over Christmas - they block the entrance off to a single car's width using the most enormous concrete bollards - to prevent the caravan utilising nomadic travellers from setting up camp. Then you have to park on the prom round the corner - not so easy or safe. Those types don't even need to be nicking your stuff to be causing you trouble and inconvenience
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ETA

TRAX - some kite-surfing type club has recently set up a club-house and formal entry to the beach and although out to sea, depending on tides, might be closer to you than you think. To add to the excitement, there are often lots or ordinary kite- flyers there to tangle with and you need to keep an eye on where the lines are or for kites which suddenly come down with a thump - and give them a wide berth. If a dog approaches, don't try to out-run it. Stand still (preferably facing the dog) if you can and if things look like getting tricky, I get my whip out ready to jump off and batter the buggers. Never had to yet and often sternly telling them to 'get out of it' does the trick. Most dogs don't bother, the ones which do are usually young ones, totally blown away by the presence of a horse and unsure about what to do once they have bounded up barking. Try and keep yourself and horse safe and when the owner reaches you (invariably breathless from bawling at the dog to come back then pursuing it up the beach to where you are hopefully waiting safely with the errant hound) tell them NOT to batter it for not coming back/running off, but praise it for coming back to them. You'd be amazed at how many want to tan the dog's hide when they get hold of it! Possibly understandable but not the right thing to do. It needs praise for going back to the owner and a better memory of the experience than some growly mad person on the back of a horse yelling at it. My horses are all expert at it now. Try to stay calm but do remember they can do terrible things to a horse's legs and if you try to gallop away, they may give chase, scare your horse into bucking and you might end up on the sand. Sorry to be so long-winded. We are always at the beach and that is very worst-case scenario
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Thanks for all the warnings.....

I hack out quite a lot in dog walking territory and although my older horse doesn’t like them very much my nutty 18hh is very good with them running round his legs thank god.

So do you think i will struggle to park on the car park near the life boat station like everyone has recommended?
 
there is actually. well used to be 2 entrances to it. would you be in a box or trailer? I have gone up the other way - which is more to the sand yatch clubhouse and i was ok parking near that.
I dont mind having a run out the days before you come and waying up the situation if you like?
 
Southport is great. Miles of beach. Hot dog van often there. Easy parking. There is kite flying on one part. I wish it was closer, I'd go often but it's a long drive for me.
 
I used to do Ainsdale regularly..the kites are avoidable
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but just be careful in the sea it can slope away
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I used to prefer riding the formby side (as you look at the sea head left) always a bit quiter
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Not been but is West Kirby anygood as wouldn't mind going myself in new year?

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If I still had a horse i'd be there with you like a shot!
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West kirby is great aslong as you avoid weekends as can get busy and make sure you check the tide times
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Not been but is West Kirby anygood as wouldn't mind going myself in new year?

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If I still had a horse i'd be there with you like a shot!
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West kirby is great aslong as you avoid weekends as can get busy and make sure you check the tide times
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No matter where you go in the winter months you have to check the tides...I actually been to ainsdale and the tide has been in
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and that sea is miles out on a good day
 
I used to work and keep my horse on a trekking yard in Meols 3 miles up the beach from West Kirby. Used to take the horses all the way to West Kirby, its a nice beach, and you can get all the way round past Hoylake to Meols.

I would be aware that there are areas of sinking sand between West Kirby and Meols so if you go further up the beach watch where you go.
 
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