Pull on a pair of comfy shoes and go walking in St Annes. With a flat landscape, wide open skies, beaches and more, walking is free and good for you!
It’s good for the mind and body, with lots of proven scientific benefits. Walking is something that most of us can do, and it doesn’t cost any money. It’s amazing what you’ll see while you’re on foot too. Take one of the ‘Trail’ leaflets with you and explore the local area, historic buildings and interesting things.
Are you an experienced walker, or not up to much more than a stroll? St Annes is a great place to enjoy this age-old and completely free passtime.
Where to go Walking in St Annes
St Annes is a great place to go for a walk. If you are lucky enough to live here you could go out of your own gate and around the block. Or you could make your way to the beach and promenade, or enjoy one of the parks. Whichever route you pick it’s better than staying inside.
If you’re a visitor it’s well worth making a visit to St Annes just to enjoy the places where you can take a walk. Spring, summer, autumn or winter, there’s always plenty to see. Plus plenty of different weather and views to enjoy too!
Explore when you go Walking in St Annes
Follow a trail…
Want to make your walk feel worthwhile? Download one of the ‘Town Trail’ leaflets and see what you can find.
- St Annes on the Sea Town Trail – produced by St Annes on the Sea Town Council
- Blue Plaque Trail – produced by St Annes on the Sea Town Council
- Ansdell Heritage Trail – produced by Ansdell Heritage Group and available at Ansdell Library.
Community Rail Lancashire also produces a set of guide – ideal for anyone travelling by train. They begin at the local station and follow a circular route around interesting local landmarks and places.
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Community Rail Lancashire supports healthy living and has worked with partners to produce and publicise a number of self-guide walks across the five community rail partnership areas. Here are the local ones – download the guides here
Walking guide to St Annes 
Community Rail Lancashire walking guide to Lytham 
Walking guide to Lytham Hall
Walking in St Annes… with the help of your car
As odd as that might sound, you might want to drive to the seafront and then enjoy your walk from there. In which case you’ll want to know where to park.
You can park for free along the whole of the long seafront highway. There are pay and display car parks at various spots along the seafront. Plus public car parks in the town centre which are close to the beach and parks.
- Getting to St Annes
- Parking in the area
Seafront Walking in St Annes
Head to the coast and a lovely walk awaits you on St Annes seafront.
You don’t need to worry about the tide if you fancy walking on the beach. There’s a really big tidal range at St Annes, and at low tide the sea goes out ever such a long way. At high tide there’s usually quite a lot of beach still exposed. Perhaps not in really windy weather (when you probably wouldn’t want to be on the beach anyway!)
St Annes promenade is nice and flat which makes for a very pleasant walk indeed. There are plenty of benches and places where you can sit and rest and take in the view. It’s ideal for prams and wheelchairs, with plenty of access points and a flat surface that’s easy to ride on.
Dogs on Beaches
Like most seaside beaches, central beach (at the left of the the Pier) in St Annes is subject to a dog ban throughout the bathing season. There’s plenty of other beach where you can walk your dog.
Please don’t take your dog on the sand during the summer period when/where restrictions apply, or you may receive an on-the-spot fine.
Go further afield…
Do you feel adventurous and fancy a longer walk? Why don’t you head north or south along the coast and enjoy a reasonable ramble. If you walk southwards you’ll reach Lytham quite quickly and beyond that, the banks of the River Ribble.
Walk on the beach to Blackpool, Cleveleys, Fleetwood and beyond
Technically, you could walk from St Annes to Fleetwood on the beach. Please consult the tide times before you try to do that, or you may find yourself swimming!
You can enjoy miles of unspoilt, clean beach along the Fylde Coast. And a wide promenade, all the way from Lytham to Fleetwood.
On a lovely day, take your shoes and socks off and paddle along the water’s edge as you walk. It’s surprising just how much distance you can cover when you do this. Why not walk as far as you want to then catch a bus or tram back to where you started from?
Walk the Lancashire Coastal Way
Experienced and keen walkers can pick up the coastal Lancashire Way footpath at St Annes.
- It starts at Freckleton, just slightly inland from Lytham on the banks of the Ribble Estuary.
- The route follows the seafront along the Fylde Coast.
- It crosses the River Wyre at Fleetwood
- And carries on far beyond to Silverdale, just north of Carnforth.
The entire 67.4 mile route might be a bit too much for you. But according to Google Maps, the coastal path from West Beach at Lytham to Dock Street at Fleetwood is a little over 17 miles.
Green Spaces for Walking in St Annes
Do you prefer to be surrounded by trees, greenery and fields when you go for a walk? There are places where you can do that in St Annes too.
Apart from the many parks, there are beautiful gardens along the promenade.
Ashton Gardens is probably the best known of the local parks. There are miles of sand dunes for you to explore too.
While you’re here…
Have a look at the homepage of the Visit St Annes website for more of the latest updates.
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We were delighted with our first visit to Fairhaven Lake on 10 July 2021. The 20 minute boat hire (a modest £8) was excellent, revealing parts of the lake we would not otherwise have seen. We were impressed with the helpfulness and friendliness of the boat hire staff. Big thanks to them.
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it!
St Annes Walks
Your article on St Annes walks impressed me.
I’m a regular day-visitor – from Nelson – to your shores and the clean, open, friendly environment on the Fylde coast offers a priceless health boost. Combined with walking, my visits are never dull and provide me with physical and psychological benefits.
I usually park my car at Lowther Gardens, take the coastal path out past the ever-beautiful Fairhaven Lake, on to St Annes Pier (often taking in the enthralling views from its seaward end) and follow the sand dunes to Starr Gate.
On my return trip, I follow Clifton Drive and religiously visit the historically and horticulturally significant Ashton Garden: a relaxing coffee and sandwich in the outdoor Café really is a highlight of my trip.
I continue my walk to Lowther through the laid-back, never hurried, east St Annes and, with my car in sight, take in the beautiful views across the Ribble estuary to Southport and the hills beyond.
Bliss, and at a cost of a minimum of shoe leather!
This walk usually takes me around four hours and is just over 10 miles. However, the beauty of St Annes is that you can tailor your walk to your wants and you’re never too far from somewhere to rest: and refreshments are plentiful.
Ten years ago, following major surgery, I’d drive out to Starr Gate and walk up the promenade to Blackpool Tower in 200-yard bursts. From that starting point, I’ve built up my walking to its current level. Last December on my 70th birthday, my daughter and I walked from Lowther Gardens to Red Bank Road at Bispham. We took a coffee and cake, and then strolled back down the coast route to Lowther – a 20-mile round trip.
As well as giving me a great deal of enjoyment, walking has extended my life – and St Annes and the Fylde has played a big part in that.
Enjoy your walk – Enjoy your Fylde.
Keith Jackson, Nelson, Lancashire
(photos available)
You’ve inspired me to follow your route next time I’m in Lytham. Thanks for this.