Lytham St Anne's

There are car parks at either end of the promenade between St Anne's Beach and Fairhaven Lake, where your route starts this morning. Park in St Paul's Avenue Car Park.

Fairhaven Lake is a saltwater lake separated from Granny's Bay by Stanner Bank. You can access it via the RSPB Fairhaven Lake Visitor Centre which provides information on all the bird life and wildfowl at the lake. It's home to more than 250 Canada geese, several swans (including a solitary Black one), plus many coots, water hens and other smaller fowl. Head inside and you'll spot canoes and rowing boats for hire – and you can also join a 10-15 minute cruise around the lake on board an electric-powered boat.

After a short walk around the north side of the lake, drop into the Lakeside cafe for some refreshments. There's a lunch menu of toasties, paninis and even burgers and fish 'n' chips if you're hungry enough. Or settle for a filter coffee and a cake as you take in the lake view.
Note, the cafe is closed on Mondays.

A short walk along the lake's nothern shore will bring you to the Fylde Spitfire Memorial – a full-size replica Spitfire perched on the top of a plinth as though it's flting high in the sky. The memorial commemorates those in the RAF, Commonwealth and United States Army Air Forces who lost their lives during WW2.
From here, you can continue the walk around the lake, following the footpath to the road on Stanner Bank. Or you can make tracks and head back to the car park.

Walk back to the car and drive up the coast to your next port of call., St Anne's Beach.

Another pay and display car park that can get quite busy during peak season – so you may have to wait a short while for a space to open up.

Opened to the public in 1885, St Annes Pier retains much of its Victorian charm and character today. Take a walk along the wooden deck and peek inside at the games arcades and slot machines. From the end, you can see all the way down the beach and the Fylde Coast. It's a historic building and well worth exploring.

You've come this far, so you may as well set foot on the beach itself, whether it's sunbathing weather or not. At low tide there's plenty of space to throw down a towel – and while crowded in summer you can rest assured of clean sand and water that's safe to swim in. There are also donkey rides available if you've brought the kids along: a classic British seaside staple.

In the heart of St Annes and just a 10-minute stroll from the beach is the Grade II-listed Ashton Gardens. The space contains 10 acres of beautifully landscaped plants, trees and flowers, with some great facilities too. Take a closer look at the St Annes War Memorial, let the little ones loose in the children's play area, and grab a cuppa in the Pavilion Tea Rooms.

After a wander around the gardens, head back to the car park and drive down the coast to your accommodation for the night.

Each of the stylish en-suite bedrooms at the County Inn, part of the Innkeeper's Collection chain, come with all the amenities you'd expect from a modern hotel. You'll sleep well in the Hypnos bed, and you've got everything needed to make a brew in the morning. There's free WiFi too, and the added benefit that you won't need to walk further than a few yards after your last drink of the night!

The Irish Sea may be lapping at your doorstep, but what better way to celebrate the ocean than dinner in a restaurant dedicated to all things Mediterranean? Chain eatery Ego has earned itself a nationwide reputation for Med-inspired food, with a varied menu influenced by French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Moroccan cuisine. There's gambas al pil pil and pan-fried seabass if you want to honour the coast – or chargrilled steaks, hanging kebabs, Iberian pork, falafel, pizza, pasta and paella to try instead.
The bright and airy restaurant has promises a warm and friendly ambience, and there's a good children's menu too. Plus, the wine list is every bit as Mediterranean as the food. Book your table here.

The County Inn serves until 11pm or midnight at weekends, so there will be time for one last drink before bed, if you're in the mood. Perhaps a cocktail from the extensive menu? Flavoured mojitos, margaritas, strawberry daquiris and pornstar martinis all feature.