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Main Instructor:

Susan Spall

Hosted By:

Susan Spall

Walk Description:

 

 

 Join us for a 6.5 km walk at one of our favourite locations, Formby beach and pine woods.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the first lifeboat at Formby. 

We will use some of the paths familiar to us but also new ones. We will walk through the sand dunes, along the beach and hopefully see some of the red sandstone bricks, if the sands have shifted to signify where the lifeboat station was and then on the return have a look at ‘Devils Hole’.  

Formby Lifeboat station – the lifeboat station at Formby was the first in the world. The idea for the lifeboat station came from William Hutchinson a Liverpool Dock Master. He knew the Formby coast could be a dangerous place for shipwreck with its shifting sandbanks, constantly changing water and often fierce gales. The boat house was a large shed. More info read ‘Formby lifeboat station - a world first’ on lancashirepast.com. 

Devils Hole – began to form on a high dune in the early 1940’s probably due to a German bomb explosion in 1940/41.Instead of having an open face to windward as in most blowouts, it still resembles a crater, with steep slopes on all sides. Wind erosion over 7 decades has created an enormous bowl. From the early 1990s the basin reached the water table and began to flood, which created a slack.  

 

Walk speed guide:

Gentle stroll - Gear 1 - Nice pace that you can do for extended periods. 2-2.5mph (these generally are our Wellness walks)   Easy walk - Gear 2 - Faster pace gained through technique. Expect Gear 2 at times throughout the walk with occasional photo stops. 2.5mph (Most of our 1-hour Explorer walks)   Moderate walk - Gear 2/3 - Faster again using technique and with less recovery. Very little stopping. 2.5mph-3mph+ (these are generally Total Body Walx, but also explore this pace on our Explorer and Adventure walks)   Strenuous walk - gear 3/4  (these are generally Total Body Walx, but also explore this pace on our Explorer and Adventure walks).

You are asked to contact your WALX Guide by phone, leaving a voicemail or sending an sms text to the number listed below, if you are likely to be delayed as we do start classes promptly.

Whilst we do understand that sometimes it is not possible to make a class, please be aware that we do operate a no refund policy if you give us less than 2 hours’ notice.

All activities are undertaken at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for any injuries or accidents incurred. We undertake to deliver all classes with qualified staff and have made every effort to risk assess all WALX. On occasions it is necessary to make dynamic risk assessment decisions when there is a localised incident such as trees fallen en route, flooding, traffic changes, etc.

Please ensure your PARQ is up to date and notify us in writing if you have any change to your medical records, or physical or mental wellbeing. This should include any surgery, falls, knocks, or accidents. Thank you.

Contact details (only contact to notify if late or cancelling)

Matt 07530 813225

 

Location Notes:

Turn right at the traffic lights from the A565 onto the B5195, turn left onto the B5424, turn right at the first roundabout and then left at the mini onto Duke street. Straight ahead at the next roundabout past Formby train station this is now Kirklake road all the way to the bottom and park before the road turns to the left.