Southport still has some good places worth a visit

I live 40 minutes away from Southport and I have visited alot. As a child we used to spend summer holiday in the local Southport Pontins which is still going.

The fair Idon't think it's as good as it could be, it looks run down especially when you compare it to Blackpool, though it is cheaper!.

If you want to see some real nice parts of Southport then follow this advice.

Shopping.......Only go to Lord street and the surrounding area to do your shopping, they have some great shops, some good designer ones too.

Beach..........If you want to go to the beach here is a lovely part to visit really sandy beachesin Southport much nicer than blackpool's beaches, it's cleaned regular in summer and has facilities like toilets, snacks, info points. One good thing about it is that the tide rarely comes right up to the beach, so you can safetly drive onto it and choose your spot, it's good for beach games too as there is plenty of room for all.

A secret Spot....Best of all take a day for this and drive to Freshfields, further up from Southport Pontins, it's signposted and it's run by the National Trust. It's really worth a visit here, it's too bad that so many people have now found it and every year its gets more busier. It's a nature reserve and there are red and grey squirrels, it's lovely and shadey in summer with nature walks to follow, all are marked so you can get back if you get lost, there are plenty of picnic areas too, the squirrels are quite cheeky and come up close hoping for some tasty bits.

As you drive into Freshfields you have to pay for the car park, it's not that expensive for the whole day, if you are a member of the National Trust then you get in alot cheaper, you can take the car quite close to the beach, or park in the leafy shade of the tall pine trees. After you have walked in the nature reser
ve you can follow the paths which lead straight to the beach, this part of Southport beach is the cleanest of all, probably as it's part of the nature reserve. I have been up here many times it's a real beauty spot, often in the summer before the schools break up its not as busy.