Formby Beach Woods

What it’s like

Pinewoods behind the dunes where you go looking for red squirrels, snowdrops and autumn fungi, free to wander.

There's no set trail to follow here, just pinewoods and sandy paths where the fun is in what you spot. Red squirrels are the big draw, they say, and you'll want to slow down and keep quiet if you're hoping for a sighting rather than marching the kids straight through. Late winter brings wild snowdrops pushing up through the woodland floor, and by autumn it's fungi doing the interesting stuff instead, so the same walk looks completely different depending on when you turn up.

It suits kids who like a proper hunt rather than a playground with equipment to queue for. A four-year-old can happily potter along the paths looking for squirrels; an eight-year-old with a fungi guide on their phone will find plenty to photograph. There's parking on site, and getting in costs nothing, which makes it an easy one to add to a beach trip without feeling like you have to make a day of it.

Because it's proper woodland rather than a landscaped park, expect sandy, uneven ground underfoot in places. That's part of the appeal if you're after something less manicured, but it's not the spot for a buggy you want to keep clean.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Good for most ages, best for kids who like a hunt not a playground

• Squirrel spotting takes patience, a quiet approach works better than a noisy one
• Snowdrops are a late winter thing, fungi is more of an autumn spot
• Paths are sandy and uneven rather than flat, footwear matters

Plan your visit

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

See all Woodland & Forest in Liverpool · Things to do in Liverpool