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- Pinewoods and red-squirrel trails (day; dawn/dusk best) — The pinewoods behind the beach are one of the few places in England where native red squirrels still thrive. Trails thread through dunes and pines so you can go from sand to soft-needled shade in minutes. Quiet, early-morning strolls often reward you with scampering reds and squirrel chatter that feels properly wild. (Personal favorite — nothing beats coffee and a red squirrel cameo.)
- Big, sculpted sand dunes and dune-scrambling (day; moonlit walks at night if safe) — Formby’s dune system is huge and constantly reshaped by wind, which makes for dramatic, Instagram-ready ridgelines and little sheltered hollows. Climb, slide, scramble or sit and watch the light change across the sand. At night a moonlit dune walk is eerie and beautiful
- Pinewoods and red-squirrel trails (day; dawn/dusk best) — The pinewoods behind the beach are one of the few places in England where native red squirrels still thrive. Trails thread through dunes and pines so you can go from sand to soft-needled shade in minutes. Quiet, early-morning strolls often reward you with scampering reds and squirrel chatter that feels properly wild. (Personal favorite — nothing beats coffee and a red squirrel cameo.)
- Big, sculpted sand dunes and dune-scrambling (day; moonlit walks at night if safe) — Formby’s dune system is huge and constantly reshaped by wind, which makes for dramatic, Instagram-ready ridgelines and little sheltered hollows. Climb, slide, scramble or sit and watch the light change across the sand. At night a moonlit dune walk is eerie and beautiful — just check tide, weather and park rules before you go.
- Intertidal prehistoric footprints and fossil finds (strictly day, low tide only) — Under certain low-tide conditions the mud and peat on the foreshore reveal ancient human and animal footprints and other fossilised traces. It’s a proper “wow” moment when a string of tiny, ancient prints appears. Timing and local guidance matter here — the sea reclaims them fast, and the area can be hazardous if you don’t watch the tide.
- Seal watching from the point and hides (day, especially low tide) — Grey seals haul out on nearby sandbanks and can be seen from the headland or purpose-built viewpoints. You don’t need to get wet to have a front-row seat; binoculars and a long lens are worth their weight. Pups show up seasonally and the whole scene feels properly coastal and primeval.
- Migrant and coastal birdwatching (day; dawn and dusk prime) — The Sefton Coast around Formby is a magnet for waders and migrants during spring and autumn. You’ll see ringed plovers, little stints and other specialist shorebirds that depend on this stretch of sand and saltmarsh. It’s a birding hotspot more than a generic “see gulls” beach—bring binoculars and learn a couple of calls.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.