Take a look at Wyre Estuary Country Park

Love the great outdoors? Want to combine a walk beside the water with wildlife spotting, trees and greenery? Wyre Estuary Country Park is just the place for you!

As the name suggests, the Wyre Estuary Country Park is nestled against the banks of the River Wyre. You get to it by road via Thornton. It’s not really accessible on foot from the seafront/river.

Follow the A585 to the River Wyre Hotel, at the side of the big roundabout. Then follow the signs for ‘Stanah Picnic site’ – on the B5412 in the direction of Thornton. It’s about 2 miles to the entrance of the Park. Don’t worry, if you feel like you’re heading deeper into rural areas and housing estates – you’re going the right way!

• The address for Wyre Estuary Country Park is River Road, Stanah, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 5LR
• Telephone: Duty Ranger on 07976 650803 (9am – 4pm) or Wyre Council main number 01253 891000

Join us for a February walk on a glorious sunny afternoon –

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What’s at Wyre Estuary Country Park?

If you like the countryside, it’s well worth a visit. As you drive into the site the first thing you see is the public facilities.

There’s plenty of car parking, with public transport links. Against the car park is a volunteer base, cafe building and public toilets. The cafe (pictured above) is open from 8am-6pm from April to October. Between November and March the cafe opens from 10am-4pm.

A natural play area packed full of play equipment is a great spot for the young ones to head to for outdoor fun.

You could also bring a picnic and enjoy a good old fashioned day out in the fresh air for free! Don’t forget that if you do bring your own picnic or barbecue, please dispose of all litter in a bin. Or take your rubbish home with you.

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Explore the Park

Once you’ve explored the facilities close by the base, it’s time to head off and explore the rest of the park. There’s a network of accessible paths which you can follow, with amazing views across the wide estuary.

There are so many ways to enjoy Wyre Estuary Country Park. Of course it’s a very popular place for dog walking (please pick up, bag & bin your dogs poo). Cycling and horse riding are popular here too. You can borrow a mobility tramper and follow the Wyreside trail – which is specially adapted for the visually impaired.

Throughout the year the Ranger team host a variety of outdoor events, all with an environmental theme.

If you love water sports, there’s a free-to-launch public slipway at Wyre Estuary Country Park. If you’re intending to launch a boat, jetski or similar, please follow the code of conduct which is shared below.

Watch the Wildlife

Sensitive management allows public access and community involvement whilst conserving the nationally important habitats and wildlife of the site.

Morecambe Bay reaches all the way to Fleetwood and the Wyre Estuary marks its southern boundary.

The Bay is one of the most important sites for wildfowl and waders in Europe. Eleven species are found here in internationally important numbers. The Estuary is home to populations of four species which are big enough to be of national importance. They are the Pink Footed Goose, Teal, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. Of course bird species come and go all year round here, making it a fascinating place for bird watchers.

Along the river, the dense hedgerows provide year round feeding grounds and nesting places for all manner of birds. Autumn sees flocks of birds arriving, including Redwing and Fieldfare from Scandinavia, ready to tuck into autumn berries.

The Wyre Estuary contains the largest area of ungrazed salt marsh in north west England. It’s nationally important for providing food and shelter for a wide range of insects and birds. The plants are specially adapted to tolerate immersion in salt water and have waxy outer surfaces similar to cacti. 

Please note that at high tide the paths along the river bank may be flooded and it may be dangerous to venture onto the Saltmarsh or Mudflats. 

Wyre Estuary Country Park, code of conduct for water sports

• The Wyre Estuary is a part of Morecambe Bay which is internationally important for wildlife
• Mudflats, sandflats and salt marshes provide roosting sites and feeding grounds for wildfowl and wading birds
• The ungrazed salt marshes are rich in flowers, which are important to the North West coast
• The mouth of the estuary is a working port and covered by byelaws
• Please respect other users and wildlife
• The safety of all users is of paramount importance
• Ensure you check the current weather forecast and tide times

For your own safety

• Please observe the byelaws for Fleetwood harbour
• Please do not use the main navigational channel as marked by the green and red marker buoys in the Fleetwood harbour byelaw area (so as not to impede the shipping channel)
• A Wyre Council and Fylde Council bylaw covers the whole of the Wyre Estuary
• Please navigate with due care and attention and with reasonable consideration of other users of the river
• Ensure that you comply with the national safety code (copies available from the Wyreside cafe)
• Proceed at a safe speed having regard to tidal conditions and other users
• Always give way to and pass on the right (starboard)
• Life jacket or buoyancy aids should be worn at all times
• Please stay in your craft and keep off the soft mud
• Keep clear of boat moorings and sailing vessels avoiding undue wash
• Obey all instructions from the coastguard and harbour master

When launching

• Park in the marked bays only
• Do not obstruct the slipway at any time
• Always have consideration for others
• Please keep to 6mph between the marker posts at Stanah
• Please do not walk onto the mud

Help protect the wildlife 

• Avoid areas of salt marsh, sandflats, mudflats used by roosting birds especially those on the marked map
• Please avoid these areas at low water because it causes maximum disturbance to wildlife
• Reckless disturbance of wildlife is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended by the CROW Act 2000)

Please note that at high tide the paths along the river bank may be flooded and it may be dangerous to venture onto the Saltmarsh or Mudflats.