Near Blackpool Lies A Coastal English Town With Scenic Trails And Award-Winning Beaches

England isn't always the go-to destination for a beach vacation. The U.K. as a whole has a reputation as being cold, wet, and windy, and as such is not ideal for sun worshippers looking to lounge on golden-sand beaches. This reputation is somewhat unfair – London, for example, gets fewer rainy days than Miami, Sydney, or Mexico City, and you can enjoy a warm, sunny escape all summer long in somewhere like Cornwall.

There are also some seriously impressive beaches to be found in England. Cornwall (again) regularly features in lists of the best beaches in the world, and other spots like Dorset, Sussex, and even Northumberland have stunning stretches of sand to offer. And if you like pebble beaches, there are seaside gems everywhere you turn, from Selsey to Chesil Beach. One wonderful and often overlooked coastal town is Fleetwood, in the northwest, which boasts some fabulous, award-winning beaches and a selection of stunning scenic hiking trails.

Fleetwood sits on a small spit of land between the Irish Sea and the Wyre River, just north of the traditional seaside resort of Blackpool, famous for its old-school Pleasure Beach amusement park and the annual light show. It is close to the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, and roughly equidistant from Manchester International Airport (MAN) and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL). Trains from London and the rest of the U.K. run via Preston to Blackpool, and Fleetwood is a short bus ride away.

Fleetwood's beaches are a delightful combination of natural beauty and traditional charm, with some fascinating artistic additions that add a quirky, esoteric twist to a day out at the beach. Fleetwood's two beaches, along with Rossall Beach and Jubilee Beach in nearby Cleveleys, have been awarded Seaside Awards by Keep Britain Tidy, in recognition of the cleanliness of their water, the safety of the beach itself, and the attractiveness of the surroundings.

Marine Beach is Fleetwood's main town beach, a lovely stretch of sand backed by the classic Victorian architecture of the promenade, as well as a row of gorgeous, colorful, traditional bathing huts. It is the ideal choice for families, as it is close to all the amenities of the town. Fleetwood's second beach, Ferry Beach, is just a short walk away, where the Wyre Estuary meets the wild Irish Sea. This is a perfect spot for nature-lovers, as the nearby salt marshes and sandflats are filled with wading birds, and there are some gorgeous coastal views.

Over toward Cleveleys, Rossall Beach and Jubilee Beach are worth exploring too. Rossall Beach is dominated by the impressive Rossall Point Tower, the base of the National Coastwatch Institution, and offers wonderful views across Morecambe Bay, which is also one of the most dangerous beaches in England. Rossall Point is also the location of the Mythic Coast, a sculpture trail that adds a touch of magic and whimsy to the beach. Jubilee Beach is the main seafront of Cleveleys, offering wide-open sands ideal for building sandcastles or flying kites.

Alongside its award-winning beaches, Fleetwood has some fabulous walking trails, and it is a fantastic place for a hiking getaway. One of the best places to start, and a great way to combine a hike with the coastal views and sunny sands of Morecambe Bay, is by hitting the Lancashire Coastal Way from Fleetwood to Rossall Point, with the option to go further to Cleveleys. You'll get the chance to see all four beaches in the area, as well as the delightful Mythic Coast sculptures and the exquisite Victorian architecture of these two charming towns. It's about four and a half miles from Fleetwood to Cleveleys, so the full out-and-back route takes around four hours.

Another excellent hike is to get onto the Wyre Way and explore the section from the mouth of the Wyre Estuary down to Shard Bridge. There's a circular route that goes from Wyre Estuary Country Park, offering fabulous birdwatching opportunities, across to Rossall Point, then around the coast to the Knott End Ferry, past salt marshes and antique sea defenses to Shard Bridge, and back to Fleetwood.

For the most adventurous walkers, the Forest of Bowland is just a short drive away. Park at the Bowland Visitor Centre and cafe, then try the Beacon Fell Summit Circular, a 2.1-mile loop route with 334 feet of elevation, and some stunning views from the summit over the Lancashire countryside.