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Welcome to Formby Beach
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Formby Beach and Pinewoods
Formby Beach is one of the UK’s most breathtaking coastlines — a landscape of golden sands, dramatic dunes, and sweeping pinewoods with uninterrupted views across the Mersey Estuary and out towards the Irish Sea. It’s a place where families, walkers, and nature lovers can enjoy the very best of the great outdoors.
Voted Europe’s top picnic spot in 2014, Formby is perfect for exploring coastal trails, tasting local delicacies such as award-winning asparagus, or simply relaxing on the dunes while taking in the sea air.
This remarkable shoreline is also steeped in history. The shifting sands have uncovered prehistoric footprints left by humans and animals more than 3,500 years ago, offering a rare glimpse into the past. The surrounding pinewoods, planted over a century ago, provide a sanctuary for the endangered red squirrel — a highlight for many visitors. Climb the dunes and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views stretching as far as the Welsh mountains and the Lake District.
Whether you’re here to walk, run, cycle, picnic, or simply unwind, Formby Beach & Pinewoods promises an unforgettable day out for all ages.
Formby’s Lifeboat House was
The World's FIRST Lifeboat House
Formby was home to the first lifeboat house in the world, built in 1776. Positioned on this stretch of coast because of the dangerous sandbanks and shifting tides at the mouth of the Mersey, it served one of the busiest and most treacherous shipping approaches in Britain. Countless vessels entered and left Liverpool at the height of its growth as a major port, and the risk of wrecks along the Formby coastline was very high.
The lifeboat house played a vital role in early organised lifesaving at sea, providing crews with shelter and equipment to respond quickly to ships in distress. Although the original building was destroyed by storms in 1802, it was later rebuilt to continue this lifesaving mission.
Today, only the foundations remain, partly buried in the sand near the dunes. These ruins are a powerful reminder of Formby’s pioneering place in maritime history and the bravery of the crews who risked their lives to save others.
The Shipwreck of The Pegu on Formby Beach
Lying about a mile off Formby Point, at the low spring tide line, the wreck of the Pegu remains hidden beneath the waves for most of the year.
The Pegu was an 8,000-tonne cargo vessel that ran aground and was lost in 1939 at the edge of the shipping channel near Mad Wharf, Formby Point. The tragedy occurred during wartime, when buoy lights had been switched off as a security measure, leaving the ship without vital navigational aids.
Decades later, in 1987, the wreck suffered further damage. A tug inbound to Liverpool had its bridge windows smashed by a massive wave, causing engine failure in the Formby Channel. As the vessel dragged its anchor in the storm, it drifted directly over the Pegu, snapping off the wreck’s mast before grounding itself. Fortunately, the tug was later refloated with the help of rescue vessels dispatched by the Coastguard at Crosby.
Today, the remains of the Pegu form part of Formby’s rich maritime heritage, a reminder of both the perils of wartime navigation and the relentless power of the sea.
The wreck of The Star of Hope
The Star of Hope was a German barque, a typical sailing vessel of the late 19th century, measuring approximately 120 feet in length and 25 feet across. She was a regular visitor to the busy transatlantic routes, carrying goods into the thriving port of Liverpool.
In January 1883, disaster struck when the Star of Hope was wrecked off the Mersey coast. A telegram dated 27 January 1883 reported: “The German barque the Star of Hope was known to be off the Mersey, where distress flares were seen. Nothing has been heard of her since. A further report says the crew of the Star of Hope are aboard the Crosby Lightship. The vessel must therefore be wrecked.”
Thankfully, all nine crew members survived, having been rescued and taken aboard the Crosby Lightship. While the ship herself was lost, the safe recovery of her crew stands as a rare glimmer of hope in a tale of shipwreck.
Today, the story of the Star of Hope lives on as part of Formby’s rich maritime heritage, reflecting both the dangers of navigating the Mersey’s shifting sands and the bravery of those who sailed its waters.
Formby Beach Blog
