Explore the Seafront Boating Lakes

Between the sea and main promenade highway at Fleetwood seafront, are two boating lakes. A little bridge separates them, which takes you to the coastal path.

It’s a pretty spot to pass an hour, get an ice cream from the small cafe and go crabbing with the little ones! We went for a walk around on a lovely day in May. Come and take a look!

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It’s an attractive area at The Esplanade on Fleetwood seafront. Walk around the lakes using the pavement against the highway, or follow the footpath around the edge of the lake itself. It’s a lovely spot for a quiet walk – watch the wildlife and enjoy the view!

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The Larger Boating Lake

The larger of the two boating lakes is the one with a small island in it. You can use it to paddle about in. Students at Fleetwood Nautical College also train there, as do various community groups. At its deepest the water is about 4′, and about 3′ (1m) at its shallowest.

Using the Boating Lake

If you’d like to use it to practice your canoe and paddle-boating skills you can just turn up and do so as you wish.

However, if you’d like to organise a ‘proper event’ you should contact Wyre Council to arrange for the necessary permissions. The difference between you using it for a splash-about and an ‘event’ is whether it’s promoted in advance to draw a big crowd.

Boatwork and Seamanship Training

Students from Blackpool and the Fylde College use the large boating lake for boatwork and seamanship training.

They attend Fleetwood Nautical College, the campus isn’t far away, just off Eros roundabout on the A585.

The orange capsule suspended against the lake is a replica lifeboat.

In the next video you’ll see it sailing around the lake as students practise their survival skills. It’s an old clip and poor quality – which just shows how good camera phones have become!

Model Yacht Pond

At the other side of the bridge is the smaller of the two boating lakes, the model yacht pond. To its left is the paddling pool.

Fleetwood Model Yacht & Power Boat Club has it’s clubhouse against the lake. They holds events and competitions throughout the year on the model yacht pond.

The Club formed in 1929 and the smaller of the two lakes officially opened in 1932. In the same year the club held its first National Championship for 6 metre model Yachts.

Then in 1933 for the first time, the British Open A Class Championship was held in Fleetwood. Fleetwood has since held many major national and international championships, for many classes of boats. There’s a racing section for model yachts, rules and a thriving scale section.

The clubhouse and lake facilities have been improved in different ways over the years. It’s now one of the finest clubhouses in the country.

2017 Competition

These photos are from the 2017 (UK) Vane A-Class Championships at Fleetwood. This prestigious regatta dates back to the late 1920’s. The five day event brings skippers from all over the UK, and from abroad.

Feed the Birds at the Boating Lakes

Families of ducks, geese and swans also live on the boating lakes. They’ve trained the public to feed them. It’s quite a sight when they gather to watch the events!

If you’re going to feed the birds it’s best not to give them bread. It’s the equivalent of junk food and it pollutes their water. Instead, they’ll enjoy wild bird seed (or you can even get special duck food), or chopped up green vegetables or lettuce.

Crabbing in the Boating Lakes

We have it on good authority that the boating lakes is a good spot for crabbing. Particularly the left hand paddling pool. It’s an age old passtime for children to try their hand at, fishing little crabs out of the water.

What do you need for crabbing?

If you fancy having a go and learning some fishing skills, go prepared and take your equipment with you. You’ll need:

• a bucket or a clear container – a transparent plastic bucket or food box is ideal
• some string or line – natural garden string has less impact on the environment if you lose any of it
• bait – crabs especially like fish – and bacon!
• something to put your bait in. A little net bag is ideal – or you could use a bit of old fabric/dishcloth etc.

Before you start, put some sand and a few pebbles in your container then fill it up with water. Put your bait in your bit of fabric or your net bag and fasten it to the end of your string.

Dangle your bait into the water – keep a hold on the string and wait for the crabs to bite!

The smell of the bait attracts crabs to your bag. You can pull them up out of the water and put them in your bucket to watch.

Make sure you put your catch back into the water when you’ve finished. And please don’t leave any litter behind when you leave.

Improvement Works to the Lakes

In December 2014 work started to improve the lakes. The aim was to achieve consistent levels of water in them.

First, the main boating lake was dredged and drained to enable the lining to be repaired. The edge of the pond (the aprons) was re-concreted and improvements also made to some of the access pathways. With the repairs made, the pond was refilled with sea water.

Sand dredged out of the lake was transported to Rossall to be recycled. After being stored for a while it was used in the landscaping of Larkholme Grasslands. That’s part of the new Rossall sea defence works.