Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed visits to Sefton’s beautiful Crosby, Ainsdale and Southport beaches this summer.

The Council’s Green Sefton rangers have been kept busy taking care of our Natural Coast by emptying bins, litter picking, and helping people get the most out of their visit to the Borough. They have done this alongside partners such as the RNLI, HM Coastguard, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and National Trust Formby.

Big ‘thank you’

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the visitors who’ve been to our beaches over the summer and who’ve played their part in protecting our Natural Coast by taking their rubbish home and keeping dogs under control. This has kept our beaches looking beautiful and the rare and fragile natural habitats that make our coastline so special, and safe.

“And a big ‘thank you’ also to Green Sefton and all our partners and volunteers for all the work they’ve done over the summer months keeping our coast clean, safe, and enjoyable for all our visitors.”

Parking and facilities

On-beach car parks along Sefton’s Natural Coast are now closed, marking the end of the summer season. Ainsdale and Southport On-Beach car parking will remain closed until 1^st April 2025.

The newly refurbished toilet block at Ainsdale is also closed for the winter, and the temporary toilet provision at Crosby Coastal Park has been removed.

However, the accessible Changing Places toilet facilities at Ainsdale and Crosby Coastal Park remain open. Further information is available at https://www.changing-places.org/find

Travel info

For those who visit our coastline all year round, there are still plenty of ways to travel to the coast, by either foot, bike, or train.

Sefton’s beaches are within easy walking distance from Merseyrail stations such as Southport, Birkdale, Hillside, Ainsdale, Freshfield, Formby, Hall Road, Blundellsands & Crosby and Waterloo. People can plan their journeys and find timetables and service updates at www.merseyrail.org.

For those driving to our Natural Coast, there are many other pay and display car parks in the Southport area just a short walk away from the beach.

Crosby beach is backed by a promenade, from where people can view the Another Place ‘Iron Men’. There are several pay and display car parks adjacent or close to the promenade.

Winter conservation

Winter conservation work will soon be underway. 

You can keep an eye on the latest updates to the Sefton Coast here.