THE VELVET TRAIL

A circular route through one of the largest areas of wild dune land left in Britain

Distance: 6.41 miles

Duration: 2-3 hours

Facilities: parking, toilets, cafe

Navigation: follow the route here

The Velvet Trail takes you through scenery that many of us often don’t see; encompassing rich sand dunes and a mixture of freshwater and saltwater marsh. Due to the nature of the terrain, you can leave your toughwalking boots behind… but make sure to grab for the wellies, instead!

Of course, climbing a sand dune is completely different to scrambling up a rocky hill and you’re likely to find the soft sand fighting against you.

Once you’ve made it to the top, however, the view is your reward — and it’s beyond worth it. Because of its coastal location and land reclamation, the area around Southport is incredibly flat — meaning that even from the top of a 15-metre sand dune, you’re greeted with the most spectacular views around for miles.

On a clear day looking north, you can see Blackpool Tower, the crags and mountains of the Lake District and looking south, Anglesey and the peaks of Snowdonia can be seen.

Fun fact: Southport musician Marc Almond took inspiration from this trail, naming his 2015 album ‘The Velvet Trail’. As well as inspiring music, the sand dunes and salt marshes of this coastal walk are a haven for wildlife, in particular endangered species such as the Great-Crested Newt, Natterjack Toad and the Sand Lizard.

Following the trail along the seafront, you’re likely to see slacks; seasonal ponds which form in the gullies of sand dunes. On warm days, the sand is crisscrossed with imprints of where the Sand Lizards have been — so make sure to keep an eye out for them.

Given the lack of incline throughout, this is a perfect walk for families and young children. There’s parking close by and it’s also very accessible via public transport — just stop off at Birkdale train station.

The velvet trail is most certainly one of Southport’s hidden gems, and you can follow the route here.