For a summer of fresh air, outdoor fun and the best of coast and country, head north west to Formby – a little known gem, 15-miles north of Liverpool, home to Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa and the brand-new Great British Getaway.
Perfect for staycationers looking for a change of scenery and wide-open spaces, the post-lockdown retreat has epic beaches, National Trust woodland – one of the UK’s last-surviving refuges for red squirrels – and the buzz and culture of Liverpool (not to mention a number of other cities) on its doorstep.
Days can be spent cycling and walking or enjoying a pick of local attractions such as Knowsley Safari Park, and with complimentary accommodation on offer as part of the Great British Getaway, there’s even more reason to stay a while and enjoy what the area has to offer.
Famed for its championship 18 and 9-hole golf courses, Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is where exceedingly spacious accommodation and warmth of welcome come together. The 76 recently refurbished rooms are complemented by extensive guest areas with sweeping views across the green, and after a day exploring the north west, guests can sink into the indoor swimming pool, relax in the thermal suites or enjoy a cocktail by the fire pit.
The Great British Getaway includes:
- Stay 3 nights and get the 3rd night half price
- Accommodation in a luxurious Classic Room with complimentary after dinner cocktails on the first night (for bookings made before 31st August 2020)
- Full English or continental breakfast each morning
- Use of the swimming pool and poolside facilities, including the Laconium Cabin, Experience Showers, Ice Fountain & Himalayan Salt Sauna
- Free bike hire
- Free stays for children when sharing a room with a parent
- Discounted tickets to Knowsley Safari Park
To offer guests complete peace of mind, the Great British Getaway enjoys a flexible booking policy with no deposit to pay on booking and the ability to change dates if required. Guests can also be assured of enhanced safety measures across the resort, including one-way systems, sanitising stations and deep room cleaning.
Break prices start from £99 per room per night (based on two sharing). For more information and to book, visit formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk or call 01704 875699.
Destination Formby: Things to do in the area
A long weekend, a mid-week break or even longer… With a great location in the north west, ease of access and a complimentary extra night’s stay for bookings of two nights or more as part of the Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa Great British Getaway offer, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy a leisurely in Formby. Here are just some of the things to do in the area…
Formby Beach:
Fun-filled days building sandcastles and splashing in the sea are on offer at beautiful Formby beach with its yellow sands, sweeping sand dunes, pine forests and grasslands. At low tide there’s even prehistoric footprints to spot!
Crosby Beach:
Set against the shore of Crosby beach stands Antony Gormley’s atmospheric Another Place land-art project. 100 cast-iron, life-size figures stare enigmatically out to sea, towards Ireland and the unknown.
Cycling:
As part of the Great British Getaway (for breaks of two nights or more) guests of Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa enjoy complimentary use of high-quality road bikes (normally £15/day), plus maps of suggested local trails to explore the area. Awaiting are lots of devoted cycle paths, as well as the lusty, 24-mile Sefton Circular, which takes in Antony Gormley’s atmospheric Another Place land-art project.
Walking:
A red squirrel walk runs through the National Trust-run pinewoods of Freshfield Squirrel Reserve (one of the only places in the UK that is still home to the native red squirrel), or the coast and beautiful Formby beach offers strides aplenty. Other walking routes pass monastic granges and asparagus fields – the perfect spot to enjoy a gourmet picnic freshly prepared by the Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa chef.
Outdoor adventures:
Horse-riding experiences along the dramatic beach and amongst the sand dunes are available along with clay-pigeon shooting and a visit to the Land Rover Experience for bumpy days of off-road adventure.
Animal encounters:
The UK’s longest safari ride awaits at Knowsley Safari Park, the only place in the north west to get up close to animals – and close really does mean close, especially in the drive-through lion enclosure where the magnificent pride roam around the cars!
Towns and cities:
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is just 15 miles from revived Liverpool, all abuzz with new museums and regeneration. Manchester, too, is within day-trip range, as are Blackpool and North Wales. And just as must-visit are the lesser-known North West gems such as Southport and its Victorian botanical gardens, or market town Ormskirk, famed for potatoes and gingerbread.