Fairhaven Lake and Gardens
Fairhaven Lake and Gardens is located on the coast midway between Lytham and St Annes on the Sea. Offering stunning views over the Ribble Estuary, it’s a popular destination for a walk, picnic, relaxing boat trip, bird watching, Fairhaven Adventure Golf, tennis and so much more…
Enjoying Fairhaven…
Fairhaven Lake is an extremely popular day visitor destination and offers a choice of boat rides, paddle boarding, a snack or meal by the waterside, bird watching, nature walks, sporting activity (tennis and bowling), adventure playground, the eighteen hole Adventure Golf Course, and there’s the restored Japanese Garden and the Spitfire memorial too. In Autumn the lake is a very busy stopping off area for migrating birds and there’s a popular RSPB Centre which is free to visit where you can find out about the latest sightings. There’s adjacent free parking and a ramp to the lakeside (from the car park adjacent to the Adventure Golf) as well as toilets and the routes around the lake offering easy mobility, plus there’s the adjacent promenade overlooking the Ribble estuary. Following recent investment from Fylde Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund there’s been plenty of work underway to restore the facilities and gardens. A water sports centre was introduced in 2021 and the popular cafe has been extensively refurbished too. Access Guide to the venue is HERE
Boat Service
The Fairhaven Boat Service is seasonal, operated weather permitting and is open at weekends, bank holidays and every day during school holidays from 10.00am – 5.00pm (last tickets are issued at 4:30pm). Please note for your safety and for the safety of the site staff, the following measures have been implemented:
- Access the boat hire via the ramped entrance by the RSPB building.
- Follow guidance from the staff.
- Life jackets are available.
- No pre-booking is required.
- Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) sessions available
Don’t miss the Swan Pedalos – there’s a 2 seater and a 4 seater available to hire, plus rowing boats, motor boats and much more…
RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre
The Ribble Estuary draws in more than a quarter of a million birds to the estuary at any one time. It’s a restaurant for them – packed full of shellfish, worms and other tiny creatures that provide an endless supply of food. Wading birds like curlew, redshank, godwits, knot, dunlin and oystercatcher occur in abundance here, alongside colourful ducks like wigeon, shelduck and pintail. Thousands of pink-footed geese spend the long winter nights resting here too.
The nearby sand dunes and saltmarsh are also home to a variety of unusual plants and small creatures. They can be explored on a school trip or one of our family events.
Fairhaven Lake itself, is a popular destination for locals and tourists and is also a great place to spot a range of different ducks and geese. Tufted ducks dive under the water for their food while mallards, coots and mute swans glide serenely across the surface.
Food At Fairhaven Lake
Housed in the original 1895 golf club house, the newly refurbished Fairhaven Lake Café takes in waterside views of the lake and gardens. Following an extensive refurbishment programme, there’s an extensive menu of breakfast, meals and snacks is available with hand made on site cakes and desserts. An outside dining area is available adjacent to a children’s play area. There’s a designated doggy friendly area for those visiting the café with their furry friend. The ice cream parlour sells Bonds Ice Cream as well as a range of ice lollies and other ice creams. There’s free car parking nearby and designated disabled bays offering easy access.
Stannah Bank Kiosk is located on the car park between Fairhaven Lake and Granny’s Bay, offering fabulous views across the Ribble Estuary and serves a wide range hot and cold drinks, ice creams and snacks. There’s a small outside seating are too.
There are many picnic benches around the lake and park area which you are of course welcome to use, and to help us to protect the wildlife and natural assets, please do take your litter home or use the bins provided.
NOW OPEN! – Hole 19 at the Fairhaven Adventure Golf – ideal for a take away hot or cold drink if you’re on the go! (open to non golf guests too).
Lytham St Annes Spitfire Memorial
In 2009 the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team was formed as the fundraising arm of the Fylde Spitfire Memorial Fund. The teams objective was to raise funds through public donations to build a full-size replica of the Mark VB Spitfire W3644 which was purchased by the people of the Borough in 1940. Sadly the aircraft and pilot Sgt Alan Lever-Ridings were shot down by an FW190 whilst returning from escort duty during a bombing mission over Morlaix, France. The Memorial was officially unveiled on the 19th August 2012.
Friends Of Fairhaven Lake
This group of volunteers aims to develop community use of Fairhaven Lake by promoting its historical heritage and ecological values. They want to improve access to all to the lake and encourage a wide participation in organising and developing its many features including events and activities for all parts of the community. Since 2016 they have played an active role in the planning of the project for the restoration of the lake and supported and organised numerous events and activities each year including the Big Picnic, theatre productions in the Boat House and heritage walks.
You can get in touch via the Facebook page .
New members are welcome and can contact them by email fairhavenlakefriends@gmail.com.
The future for Fairhaven
Fylde Council received a confirmed National Lottery grant of £1.476 million for the Fairhaven Lake and Garden Restoration project in December 2018.
Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the project can now fulfil its ambition to make Fairhaven Lake and Gardens one of the finest marine lakes in the United Kingdom! Supported through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund, the project aims to conserve and restore Fairhaven’s heritage buildings and landscape, improve the lake’s infrastructure and water quality, and provide an exciting new programme of events. For more information about the future of Fairhaven lake, click here.