Southport is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy a walk surrounded by stunning scenery!
If fresh air and taking in the sights is what you love, then you have come to the right place.
Southport is perfectly placed as a seaside town which boasts miles of coastline, an historic pier, a Victorian shopping boulevard, a nature reserve, pinewoods, award winning parks and lots more besides.
You’ll find The Stamford guest house perfectly placed for all of them, situated right at the heart of Southport town centre and a short walk from the beach.
Here are just five places you’ll love to explore at your own leisure.
1 – Explore Southport’s Famous Coastline
Southport is situated on the North West coast, one the most beautiful and expansive coastlines in the country. At over 22 miles in length, it stretches from Southport up to Crosby Beach and Coastal Park right up to Southport and beyond. On Crosby Beach stands the art installation ‘Another Place’ by Antony Gormley, 100 iron life-
size statues staring out to sea. Formby Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the coastline and on a hot summers day can feel like you are abroad. Extensive views can be soaked up and enjoyed once you wander through the natural dunes.
2 – Time For Adventure
Ainsdale Beach is a hotspot for water activities such as kite surfing and more. The beautiful landscape and wide open space makes it an ideal place for beach sports. The sand dunes in Ainsdale and all along the Southport coastline are home to numerous species and plants, including sand lizards and the rare Natterjack toad. It is one of the largest
dune systems in the UK, so you could spend the day walking or cycling through it and seeing what you can spot.
3 – Historic Lord Street
Southport owes its existence to the growing popularity of sea bathing along the Lancashire coast in the late 18th century. Lord Street dates from the 1820s when the joint Lords of the Manor, the Bold-Houghton and Fleetwood-Hesketh families, laid out a spacious street and began the policy of granting building leases which stipulated that development should not be of an industrial or offensive nature. It was first called Lords’ Street after the founding families.
Lord Street is famously believed to be one of the first boulevards in the world. The young exiled Prince Louis Napoleon took lodgings just off Lord Street for a season in 1838. Much later, when he had become Emperor Napoleon III of France, he ordered his architect Hausman to rebuild the capital. The great boulevards which traverse Paris today are believed to have originated from the Emperor’s memories of Lord Street – tree-lined boulevards, wide pavements and shops on the west side.
4 – The Floral Capital of the North West
Southport is often referred to as the floral capital of the North West and it isn’t surprising when you see the beautiful landscape within and surrounding the town. Bursting with floral splendour with a lake winding through, the Victorian Botanic Gardens in Churchtown is a burst of colour on even the gloomiest day. Open all year round, the gardens is an ideal place to escape winter or summer and the aviary and fernery provide shelter when needed.
Less than a mile away from Lord Street is Hesketh Park. The themed gardens and ornate fountains have been beautifully reconstructed. Stunning greenery, nature trails, wildlife, a large lake and a children’s play area means you can lose track of time and spend an afternoon enjoying family time.
5 – Marshside RSPB Bird Watching
There’s something for everyone all year round at this delightful coastal reserve. In the spring you can see brown hares boxing in the fields, while in the early summer you’ll spot nesting birds like avocets and lapwings. During the winter months, the skies fill with visiting waterfowl such as pink-footed geese and wigeons, not to mention birds of prey that can set flocks wheeling over the marshes. There are two hides, a viewing platform and three viewing screens.
