Just back from a short break for three days on the Fylde Coast of the North West UK, anyone who knows me will know the fascination of the sea and the tranquillity is really gives me, it shocked me to see that I had never posted anything on my Blog for so long, so sorry.
Such lovely places on the Fylde Coast starting off with Lytham-St-Annes a real conservative respectful area and peaceful, a lovely pier, but sadly for me the flow of the what is only a river is not what I look for.
Blackpool built up a real cheap image full of small B&B's and was stuck in the 50's image for far too long, some amazing piers, a large pleasure beach fair ground and some rough sea's to be seen and especially at this time of the year. Slowly the town is dragging itself into this century and the long promenade is getting a real update but it will take time for the many small hotels and B&B's to follow. There has been a superb tram system all along this seafront and promenade with both single and double decker trams, lit up so well for the annual illumination show of the resort which takes place from late August to early November, but time is moving on and the council wish to see the tram system become faster and more modern which will see the population of the area use it more and not see it as a tourist attraction, it re-opens at Easter will be interesting to see how it progresses.
The 4 Star Hotel we stayed in is in such a lovely setting part of the DeVere Hotel group, in it's own large grounds, I would not like to guess what the land must be worth now. It offers such a large drive way from the main road and then you are in a real peaceful setting, 18 hole golf course, spa, swimming pool inside and out & gym everything you need. It has just been completely re-furbished to be a DeVere Village Hotel while keeping it's original name of The Heron's Reach. A friend and myself differ on the new look, they have gone for what I would call a modern perhaps chic/boutique look which some may seem dark? but you sleep in the dark! haha still good food and service and we received an offer which is just unbelievable cost wise.
We visited Cleveleys a little further along the coast, such childhood memories as one of my Aunts had a big caravan looking towards the sea and beach and we used to go every October half term for the illuminations, now it is a modern Esplanade gone is the caravan park for a new cinema, pizza restaurant and pub with food. The day we visited I have never seen waves so big, in fact the foam produced made you think it was snowing.
The last place of a visit was Fleetwood once a big fishing port, we used to always visit when children as they had a large inside market on Monday and Thursday's and it was also a nice tram ride. Across the estuary is Knott's End and there is a winter hourly ferry, up to now I had never taken the ferry, it as either been cancelled/closed or the weather not good enough, but this time we did make the trip and the photo above shows the ferry coming into land as we stood on the jetty, when we arrived it pulled close to the top but by the time we returned you can see how the water had gone out with the tide.
A great restful break, one day I know I wish fulfil my wish and live facing the sea!
