Forcro one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Formby. If, like me, you arrive at the station from the north, the easiest access to the start of the route is the station footbridge (steps or lifts), but it’s worth looking at the station from the road bridge anyway, for the lovely mosaic nameplate.
A suburban street took me to a section of cycle track, near the start of which there is the choice of a short corner-cut through woods, via kissing gates, but this route uses the tarmac track to reach the long, straight section next to the railway. This section had no escape for a mile, but was fairly busy with friendly locals, walking or cycling.
Hightown Station and Inn (opens at midday) were about a third of the way along the route.
A few more suburban streets (with impractical zigzagging pavements) brought me to the start of the dunes path. Although the plotting is inaccurate through here, it is easy to follow the frequent waymarkers along the sandy, weaving paths through the marram grass. The wind was very gentle and it was very quiet in the dips, sometimes I could hear voices of other walkers but not see them. I found it a lovely atmospheric place, where it was possible to branch off the higher dunes for glimpses of the sea.
The going was easier on reaching the tarmacked cycle track, and the rubble beach looked interesting. I watched a ferry, bound for Ireland, as it passed the wind turbines, failed to identify a distant flock of birds, looked out towards the distant hill of Wales, and then had the peace disturbed by three noisy powered paragliders.
At two thirds of the way through the route, there was a car park, toilets, a coffee vending van, and access to a station. This was also the start of the evocative Antony Gormley statues, dozens of isolated life-sized iron statues, staring out to sea, some half submerged by sea or sand. (My crappy phone-camera doesn’t do them justice.)
Eventually I reached the path off and into Crosby. The route passed lots of affluent housing, then crossed under the railway, with a sloping subway (13⁰ or 23%) and two slalom cycle barriers with a 1 metre gap, and finished near to lots of cafés and shops.
This was an excellent, really enjoyable route and I challenge anyone to walk this route quickly! I took so many photos that it’s difficult to narrow them down.

I walked from Crosby to Formby.

This route is not very accurate, especially through the dunes south of Hightown where there is a maze of confusing paths through the hillocks. Keep to the KCIII path marked by regular posts and you wont get lost.

Odd starting point, less than 100m away there are shops and cafes in a pedestrian area with benches.
Suburban walking from Crosby along wide pavements. Underpass at Blundell Sands Station (23%). Over a grassy dune to the coastal promenade. Easy walking with great views. I ventured off the path to get a close look at the 'Another Place' statues and do some beach combing. Check tide times if you want to do the same. After the life boat station the KCIII path is clearly marked and there is a newish cycle path through the grassy common. I walked to the side as the grassy path was kinder on the feet. There are beaches of building rubble made quite attractive by the softening effect of the waves. Muddy flats provide good views and feeding grounds for heron, egrets, oystercatchers and flocks of murmurating turnstones. Take binoculars if you have them. At the point the cycle path turns inland the KCIII path continues north through dunes and you loose sight of the sea. Follow the signposts and you wont end up in Hightown too early or on the mudflats. Alas you have to turn into town to avoid being shot or blown up (there are signs to tell you this). I took a route past the Corner shop and pub. From the station there is a long straight cycle path next to the railway with a short diversion through a wood. This takes you to Formby station (lifts over the railway).
Not for wheels - narrow soft sandy paths.
I've uploaded a more accurate version. And an accessible version too.

A good walk, but a few steps and copious amounts of sand will mean it's not for everyone.

From Formby station, we take steps down to the residential road below (it can be stepless if you follow the slope of the road bridge, but it's a bit longer). After a few paved roads, we reach tarmac paths which take us south, past woods and fields until we're running alongside the railway and the rifle range of Altcar.

At its end, we follow the paved drive to the rifle range into Hightown. Passing the station, we walk along residential roads until we access the footpath. A sandy path running through a mass of spiky marram grass, there are all kinds of paths here, but the main path is marked by regular wooden posts (it's part of the Coastal Path).

Once you've negotiated the sand, the path becomes tarmac, and we follow the coastal path past the hidden remains of Fort Crosby and the interesting coastal defences, formed from building debris of homes and businesses destroyed in the Blitz and its associated clear outs. Past the Coast Guard post, it becomes a promenade, with great views across the mouth of the Mersey estuary and out into the Irish Sea, and also of Antony Gormley's Another Place, a series of statues running along a mile of Crosby's beach.

The promenade can sometimes be covered by sand, blown over the concrete on the frequent storms, but we're soon following a sandy footpath across the scrub to the road at Blundellsands, and continuing to the station, with links to Southport or Liverpool.

A good coastal route with great views (and head-clearing wind!). Good transport links, with shops at both ends, and a pub in Hightown.

Overall, an easy, flat route, mostly well surfaced and signposted. The exceptions are the section south of Hightown which is hard to follow and not very accessible and the Crosby town centre section which is busy.
Formby Station to Sanderling Park – suburban streets with pavements, quiet traffic. From the station there is direct access to the start at Andrews Lane through a pedestrian tunnel at the south end of the northbound platform.
Sanderling Park to Hightown – off road, car free, well surfaced path shared with cyclists. Well signposted. Runs alongside a military base for much of the way with ‘keep out’ warnings but no impact on the path.
Hightown Pub – good stop for refreshments
Hightown to Blundellsands Sailing Club – tricky to work out the route from Thornbeck Avenue. Then there is a maze of narrow undulating sandy paths and it's not clear which to follow. Keep the sea on the right side though (if heading south) and you can’t go far wrong.
Blundellsands Sailing Club to Crosby Coastguard Station – first a wide grassy path and then a well surfaced car free path shared with cyclists. Fantastic views over Liverpool Bay to the Wirral and the Clwydian Hills in North Wales.
Crosby Coastguard Station to Blundellsands Road West – promenade walk alongside the ‘Another Place’ statues in the sand. Honest Coffee Shop in the Burbo Bank Car Park en route. Its not clear when to turn left inland from the promenade but if you get to Crosby Leisure Centre you’ve gone too far
Blundellsands Road West to Great Crosby (Blundellsands Road East, Eshe Road, College Road, Coronation Road, The By-pass) - quiet suburban streets with pavements then busy town centre streets with several crossings needed. The pedestrian tunnel under Merseyrail at Blundellsands station is quite narrow and low. Plenty of shops and cafés for refreshments on this section.

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