The dunes are home to over 450 plant species including 33 that are locally or regionally rare like petalwort, seaside centaury, yellow bartsia, round-leaved wintergreen, dune helleborine and pendulous-flowered helleborine. Main habitat: coastal sand dunes Features of interest This is one of the best remaining strongholds of the rare natterjack toad, Europe’s loudest amphibian. Red squirrels can occasionally be seen in amongst the reserve’s pine forests too, while sand lizards, great-crested newts and a fantastic variety of orchids and other wildflowers can also be found here. The reserve has a network of around 8 miles of footpaths marked with colour-topped posts. The Woodland Path and Fisherman’s Path are accessible by bike, pushchairs and wheelchairs. See the map to find out where you can ride a horse or cycle at the reserve. See the site visitor leafletfor more details. Directions The reserve is on Route 62 (TransPennine Trail) and local route 81 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network. The reserve is a short walk away from train stations at both Ainsdale (1.2km) and Freshfield (1.4km) Local bus services stop at Freshfield station, Pinfold Lane and Gleneagles Drive. For local transport information contact Merseytravel Access to the reserve by car is via minor roads from the A565. There is no public parking on the reserve, although a limited number of disabled parking places are available (please call the reserve office on 01704 578774 for more information). Public parking can be found at Ainsdale-on-Sea beach car park, with access to the NNR via the beach or neighbouring Ainsdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve. To the south of the reserve parking is also available at the National Trust property in Formby, from where the NNR can be accessed via the Sefton Coast Footpath. There are footpath entrances to the reserve from Pinfold Lane and the Coastal Road, Ainsdale; Fisherman’s Path, Freshfield; and from north and south along the beach and frontal dune paths. The NNR can also be visited via the Trans Pennine Trail and the Sefton Coastal Footpath which provide access to the entire length of Sefton’s Natural Coast. Safety The dunes of the Sefton Coast cover a large area, some parts of which are relatively remote, and you can become disorientated. If you wish to visit the beach check the local tide timetable. The reserve adjoins a large urban area but it can still be very quiet and isolated. For your personal safety, if you are visiting on your own, you are advised to ensure someone else knows where you have gone and roughly what time you will be back. Rabbit burrows are common, and soft sand can give way easily under foot. During dry weather conditions there is also a high risk of fire on site. Please don’t smoke near pine-needle debris or discard cigarettes or empty bottles. Contact Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 01704 578774
Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR
2 West End Lodge
Pinfold Lane
Ainsdale
Merseyside
PR8 3QW