Esplanade: Look around Ferry Beach

Ferry Beach at Fleetwood is the one next to the Lower Lighthouse, across the road from Euston Gardens. It’s the beach next to Fleetwood RNLI lifeboat station, the ferry to Knott End, and the shops at The Esplanade.

[arve url=”https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m16!1m12!1m3!1d5123.711201387916!2d-3.0142720710353625!3d53.92762304465496!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!2m1!1sferry%20beach%20fleetwood!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1569834766559!5m2!1sen!2suk” title=”Google map of Fleetwood Ferry Beach” description=”Google map of Fleetwood Ferry Beach” /]

What’s at Ferry Beach?

Ferry Beach is on the bottom edge of Morecambe Bay, where the Wyre Estuary opens up into the Irish Sea. The Wyre Estuary itself is a wide and sandy habitat which is ideal for the flocks of waders and sea birds.

Did you know? Morecambe Bay officially stretches as far as the golf course, where the new Rossall sea wall begins.

However, it’s not at all ideal for people who might think they can venture onto its dangerous banks. Please DO NOT go off the immediate foreshore and out onto the sandbanks.

The next video is a walk-around, filmed on a gorgeous summer day. It’s part 3 of our walking tour of Fleetwood –

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to the Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel, for loads more great content!

Don’t miss a thing. Get VFC newsletters direct to your inbox.

Sign up to receive interesting information, news & events every week

  By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms, conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

North Euston Hotel

On the inland side of The Esplanade is the North Euston Hotel, the railway hotel where passengers once stayed as they journeyed north to Cumbria.

Find the recently restored Euston Gardens wrapping around the front aspect of the hotel.

Memorials and Public Art against Ferry Beach Fleetwood

Have you seen the different memorials and pieces of public art? The wide seafront promenade adjacent to Ferry Beach is where you’ll find a number of pieces –

Welcome Home

Everybody’s favourite is the ‘Welcome Home’ statue (below). It’s a life-size mother with children and their faithful pet dog, waiting to welcome home their men folk from the sea. Generations of families have done this over the years, relieved to see them back after three weeks of deep sea fishing. Always ‘welcome home’ and never ‘goodbye’, as this was considered unlucky at the start of a trip.

Did you know? The dog is a breed known as a Lancashire Heeler.

It was provided by Mrs Lofthouse and Fisherman’s Friend – the famous lozenge made right here in the town. Designed and sculpted by Anita Lafford it was unveiled in 1997.

The ‘Price of Fish’

This memorial ‘The Real Price of Fish’ depicts equipment from a trawler. It recognises the great contribution that the men and women of the fishing community made to life in Fleetwood.

The real ‘Price of Fish’ is the lives of the men listed in the plaque on this memorial. You can see it in the walk-around video above.

Morecambe Bay Helicopter Accident

The memorial to the Morecambe Bay Helicopter Accident on 27 December 2006, remembers the seven men who tragically lost their lives, all remembered in this enduring memorial.

On this stretch of promenade you’ll also see interpretation signage with local stories and information.

Fleetwood Lower Lighthouse

You can’t miss the Lower Lighthouse on The Esplanade at Fleetwood. Standing in the face of all weathers, year in and year out it watches over Ferry Beach, guiding ships to shore.

It’s one of three lighthouses in Fleetwood. Together with the nearby Upper (or Pharos) Lighthouse and Wyre Light (far out in the channel) they provided safe passage to port.

Fleetwood RNLI Lifeboat Station

The RNLI lifeboat station and HM Coastguard headquarters is on the The Esplanade at Ferry Beach.

It includes the launch facility for the lifeboat, despatch point for the Coastguard and a retail shop – which is well worth a visit.

Adjacent to the RNLI, on the left as you look at it in real life – but on the right of the next photo – is another boat launch and training facility. Owned and operated by Blackpool and the Fylde College, it’s where students at the Nautical College train.

Fleetwood Ferry

The Ferry is both a regular form of transport for the residents of Knott End and Over Wyre, and a popular tourist attraction.

From the crossing point on The Esplanade, you can take the short ferry ride across the River Wyre to Knott End. Explore not just the immediate area, but carry on walking through beautiful countryside and enjoy all that the Over Wyre* area has to offer.

*Over Wyre is the land ‘over the River Wyre’ – the rural areas of Preesall, Pilling, Stalmine, etc.

The alternative to crossing the river by ferry is a fairly long road journey. Travel inland along the A585 and the next crossing point is over the River Wyre at Shard Bridge.

Shops, Food and Amusements

Just past the RNLI you’ll find a block of shops, along with proper seaside fish and chips and an amusement arcade. It’s a lovely spot to while away a few hours, whatever the weather!

Site of Special Scientific Interest

Along with the rest of the Wyre river estuary from Rossall Point, the beach is actually a Site of Special Scientific Interest. That’s because of the plant and wildlife that can be found here.

In recent years, the protection has led to an overgrowth of non-native and often invasive species like sycamores. Removal of them in late 2011, along with the enriched sand dune they were growing in, allowed the protected species (particularly sea holly) to thrive.

This clean-up work included cutting back vegetation and dropping the beach level by about a metre next to the sea wall, from the RNLI Lifeboat Station up to the site of the former Fleetwood Pier. Wyre Council carried the work out, in conjunction with Natural England, to ensure that protected species weren’t damaged.

Views from Ferry Beach

It’s a really lovely spot – come along and enjoy the view. Take a walk as far as you like – pausing to look at the memorials and artworks which line the sea front.

And there’s free parking all the way along the seafront at Fleetwood.

The next video clip below looks over the River Wyre Estuary. It’s taken from the side of the boat launching facility, looking at the boats and the view beyond over Morecambe Bay. The white building in the distance is Heysham power station.

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to the Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel, for loads more great content!

In the distance is the landscape of Lancaster and the Lake District and in front of you a sandy beach. It’s home to colonies of sea holly in its natural habitat, which in turn attracts lots of wildlife.

Straight across the water you can see Lancaster. The power station at Heysham is clearly visible as a big white building. Grange Over Sands, Barrow and Walney Island are all visible on a clear day.

The beauty of this area is that the beach is right against the seafront parking area. Whatever the weather or time of day, you can sit in your car and enjoy the view. Look across Morecambe Bay to the Lakes, Lancaster and beyond. The parking bays face seawards to get the best of the view!