Look Around Fairhaven Lake

Fairhaven Lake is a lovely area on the seafront, where you can enjoy walks, fresh air and watching the wildlife. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and open green spaces, it’s where the Irish Sea meets the estuary of the River Ribble.

You’ll find it near to Granny’s Bay. That’s where Clifton Drive meets the Inner Promenade at the White Church at Ansdell. You can see the White Church at the left of this aerial photo – the lake is behind you in this shot.

The lake extends northwards as far as St Pauls Avenue, where you’ll find the Spitfire Memorial.

This great big outdoor area has plenty of good facilities too. Enjoy traditional amusements and walks, fresh air and the beautiful coastline.

At Granny’s Bay there’s plenty of on-street parking on the seafront. If you prefer, there’s also a pay and display car park at Stanner Bank.

Or if you prefer you can travel by public transport. Ansdell and Fairhaven railway station isn’t far away, just a short way along Woodlands Road.

You can enjoy a few hours or a full day here. There’s the coast on one side and a beautiful green park on the other. Get an ice cream or hot drink from one of the little take-aways, or enjoy refreshments at one of the cafes near the lake. Plus, of course, there are public toilets!

Enjoy your Visit to Fairhaven Lake

It’s a lovely walk on the footpath around the seaward side of the lake, especially on a nice day.

There are occasional events held in the car park here. This is a previous Classic Car Show (below).

Looking back towards Church Scar from the footpath on the seaward side of Fairhaven Lake (below) you can just see the tower of the White Church in the distance.

Did you know? It’s a knockout was filmed at Fairhaven Lake!

Peace and Quiet

The further you walk around the lake footpath the quieter it gets. If you like peace and quiet and a fabulous view, then this is the place for you.

Views over the Sea

The Irish Sea and Ribble estuary also meet here. When the weather is clear there are amazing views across the bay to the Southport area (below).

Slightly beyond you can also see north Wales. Of course you’ll also see plenty of spectacular west coast sunsets and evening sunshine all throughout the year.

The Visitor Centre

Fylde Council secured National Lottery Heritage Funding in December 2018 for the new RSPB Fairhaven Lake Visitor Centre.

The new visitor hub is run in partnership by the RSPB and Fylde Council, and opens on Friday 29^th April 2021. It’s open from 10am-5pm daily.

The new RSPB Visitor Centre (formerly called the Ribble Discovery Centre) is still be home to the RSPB shop. It also now includes new interactive information boards. They tell the story of Fairhaven’s development from shingle bank to boating lake. The centre celebrates the areas natural heritage and its rich history. Inside, the building has been fully restored, exposing the original vaulted ceiling and heritage features.

This is the first building of the exciting restoration project to be opened. The new watersport centre is due to open later in May 2021 and the restored café in July. This follows the successful excavation of the Japanese garden and landscape works completed last winter.

The project is supported through the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and National Lottery Community Fund. It aims to:

• conserve and restore Fairhaven’s heritage buildings and landscape,
• improve the lake’s infrastructure and water quality,
• provide an exciting new programme of events. With new information boards to help visitors better understand Fairhaven’s heritage.

Other funding bodies to the overall project include Fylde Council, Sport England & Lancashire Environmental Fund.

A little further north, just behind these buildings, you’ll find a children’s playground and a Crazy Golf Course. They’re next to the Bowling Greens, with the Lake carrying on behind to the Spitfire Memorial.

Continue towards St Annes to find well equipped tennis courts and, a little further along, the skate park.

It’s a haven for wildlife and somewhere for migrant birds to shelter from the worst of the rough prevailing weather. And it’s a year-round home to ducks and swans.

Did you know? The lake is just over 1m deep at its deepest point. It’s a managed space and well maintained.

Did you know? There have even been otter sightings on the island at the lake!

Spitfire Memorial

By now you’ve just about reached the northern end of the lake as it snakes around the back of the public facilities.

You’ll then find the Spitfire Memorial and the picnic area that’s enjoyed by many. Here, you’re at St Paul’s Avenue, which is also where you’ll find more pay and display parking.

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Sea Wall Construction Works

Construction of a new sea defence is now complete at Fairhaven Lake, Granny’s Bay and Church Scar in Lytham St Annes. The scheme is designed to protect thousands of homes from flooding.

We went to take a look, just after it opened in summer 2020 –

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The new sea defence walls at Church Scar and Fairhaven have cost £17.5m, paid for by the Environment Agency. The project also includes the construction of new promenades.

What do you think?

Hilary from Accrington got in touch to say how much she’d enjoyed her visit to the newly completed sea wall at Fairhaven. Here’s what she said:

My husband and I have enjoyed coming to Lytham for many years. Either to walk around the shops, through the gardens or just get fish ‘n’ chips and sit looking over the boating pool at the lake.

Whilst we have been self isolating (my husband is shielded) we’ve obviously missed our runs out. We‘ve waited with anticipation and once he was allowed to go out (in the car) Lytham was our first port of call. It was safe for him and somewhere to sit and enjoy.

We‘ve also waited with anticipation to see the completion of the regeneration of Fairhaven Lake. Knowing it was to be fully opened we came to have a look. ‘Wow’ does not do it justice, but can I just say how wonderful it is.

First, besides the fantastic finish, can I say what pleased me so much was the parking. There is, I would say, 3 times more places but the number of disabled spots is wonderful. And the fact that they are spread out along the causeway to give different outlooks is so thoughtful.

It was extremely busy when we visited so we could only sit by the car, again plenty of benches. But when it’s a little quieter we can use our walkers and have such a pleasant walk. That’s worth its weight in gold. Two brave souls were actually swimming from the end of the causeway, and there were two fishermen, which is the first time we’ve ever seen that.

Well done to everyone concerned and I hope the regeneration brings back the visitors and much needed funds the lovely town deserves.

Activities to Enjoy

We’ve already mentioned the facilities and activities you can enjoy in the area. They include:

• Bowling Greens
• Skate Park
• Children’s Playground

Proposal For a New Launch for the Lake

The Friends of Fairhaven Lake are proposing that a new, electric powered pleasure cruiser of a style more fitting the lake would complete the renovation project.

The present boat is the “Jubilee”. It’s not a launch and although functional it doesn’t match its predecessors in quality of design or visual appeal.

Watch this space!

Fairhaven Adventure Golf

Opened in summer 2020, this new adventure golf course is great for all ages!

It’s a brilliant course – fun and educational. You’ll learn lots about the area and the wildlife. The holes feature local landmarks and there are historical/descriptive plaques. At the Lytham Hall hole, you aim for the main door.

There are carvings of birds, again with information boards, and that particular bird’s song plays as you approach. It’s all very clever – why don’t you pay it a visit!

Blackpool & Fylde Model Boat Club meet at the North West end of the Lake, adjacent to St.Pauls Avenue Car Park. They meet from April to October, weather permitting. Sailing sessions are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings from 6pm until dusk.

Ribble Cruising Club sometimes hold Try Sailing events on the lake. Why don’t you give it a go?

We hope you’ve enjoyed our armchair guide to Fairhaven Lake. Better still why don’t you pick a fine and sunny day and go out and explore for yourself!

School Visits to Fairhaven Lake

The RSPB can offer trips for your school.

The Ribble Discovery Centre is run in partnership with Fylde Borough Council. It’s a unique hands-on and fun learning experience where children of all ages can get close to nature.

The Centre has a large learning space which you can use, with each programme designed to last two hours. Sessions run from 10am to 12pm and then 12.30 to 2.30pm. Two programmes can be combined to make a whole-day visit.  Book your visit here

The History of Fairhaven Lake

There were two banks of shingle, just offshore in the Fairhaven area. They stretched from St Annes to Granny’s Bay and tailed off in a crescent shape. These banks were known as the ‘Doubler Stanner’. To build the lake the ‘Double Stanner’ was sealed off and the site enclosed, so trapping the sea water.

This was around the time when Thomas Riley rented the land to build the new town of Fairhaven in the 1890s.

This work was done in 1892 and the lake first filled in August 1893. The project was finished by 1896.

Flooding in the past

Those Victorian engineers also planned to extend the sea wall, lake and gardens to the Grand Hotel in St Annes, adding a grand carriage drive. Sadly they had to abandon their plans because of repeated flooding.

Lord Ashton (he of Ashton Gardens) bought it and presented it to the Lytham St Annes Corporation, so it was called Ashton Marine Park until the 1960’s. The newly formed Borough of Lytham St Annes employed Mawson to landscape the surrounding area. But not all of Mawson’s grand ideas were incorporated into the scheme.

The Cafe was originally built as the Clubhouse for Fairhaven Golf Club. It predates all the other buildings in the area. The Golf Club retreated inland after a huge flood in 1896.

Did you know? That Regattas were held on the lake from 1900. The last one was held in 1972 when the Borough of Lytham St Annes was formed.

Over the years, visitors have been able to enjoy a sailing trip around the lake on two different motor launches. Both boats were elegant cruisers capable of carrying more than ten passengers.

• In 1925 the ‘Fairhaven’ was launched. An immediate success, visitors flocked to take a trip around the lake in it.
• The second boat, ‘My Fair Lady’ launched in 1959 with similar popularity.

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