Location
Windy Gap is located in the Ainsdale Nature Reserve.
Royal Birkdale Golf Course is just 5 miles away, Southport is 6 miles away, and Liverpool 15 miles away.
Arriving By Car
Windy Gap is located in the Ainsdale Nature Reserve.
Parking is available for up to 4 cars in a private car park.
Directions are provided with the booking confirmation.
Arriving By Train
The nearest train station is Ainsdale, which is a 30 minute walk or 5 minute drive. Trains go to Southport or Liverpool. Freshfield train station is a 15 minute bike ride away.
Nearby attractions
Golf courses
This stretch of coast draws golfers from all over the world. The jewel in the crown is Royal Birkdale, hosting the Open Championship this year. Formby, Southport & Ainsdale, Hesketh and West Lancashire are all excellent examples of links golf within 15 miles.
Ainsdale Nature Reserve
Windy Gap is in a unique location within Ainsdale Nature Reserve – renowned for it’s rich wildlife and red squirrel population. There are eight miles of marked pathways in the reserve.
A 30-minute walk through the reserve takes you to Ainsdale sand dunes. Look out for the rare natterjack toad or one of the 33 rare plant species, including petalwort and dune hellebore.
Sand dunes along Ainsdale beach, a 30-minute walk from Windy Gap
Alongside Windy Gap is the Boardwalk, which takes you around a beautiful lake, with ducks, moorhens and other waterfowl.
Shops
The nearest shops are a 5-minute cycle or drive away.
Ainsdale Village has a large Co-op and small Tesco. Formby has a large Waitrose, an Iceland and a Marks and Spencer Food Hall. Formby Bypass has a large Tesco. Birkdale has a small Sainsbury’s. Southport has a Morrison’s Superstore, a large Sainsbury’s and an Asda Superstore.
Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose deliver to Windy Gap – please let Margaret know if you arrange a delivery on your arrival day.
Birkdale village has a good range of independent food shops.
Restaurants
A restaurant for every taste can be found in Ainsdale, Birkdale and Southport.
The Sparrowhawk, a very popular pub with excellent food, is a 30-minute walk away, with plenty of parking too.