Wader Point

The walk down to Wader Point from Bury takes you through proper Lancashire countryside before you hit the water. It's a modest stretch of beach - nothing that'll remind you of the south coast - but there's something appealing about the rawness of it, especially if you catch it when the light's right in late afternoon.

You're looking at sandy banks, a bit of shingle, and the kind of views across the water that reward staying quiet for five minutes. It's the sort of place walkers gravitate towards rather than families hunting deck chairs and ice-cream vans. The walk itself matters more than the destination, really - that's when you clock the birds and the seasonal changes. Budget a couple of hours if you're coming from Bury, depending on your pace.

Wader Point works well as a leg-stretcher when you're based at Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, just a short drive away. That site's got four stars for a reason - decent facilities and close enough to make this a proper half-day outing rather than a mission. The beach doesn't demand the whole day. It's free, obviously, and there aren't any facilities down there, so bring what you need.

Go when the weather's decent - drizzly days turn the walk into a slog - and time it so you're not fighting crowds of bank holiday day-trippers. September's your month if you want it quieter.