Asparagus Trail, Formby

The Asparagus Trail at Formby is a short, easy circular of just over two kilometres that loops through the pinewoods and sandy heath behind the Sefton coast. With only around 30 metres of ascent spread across gentle rises, it makes a relaxed half-hour outing suitable for almost anyone on their feet.

The route winds between Corsican and Scots pines, opens onto patches of open sandy ground, and skirts the kind of cleared plots where asparagus was once grown commercially in the light coastal soils. Look out for the rise of Lark Hill nearby, a low dune-topped landmark that gives a sense of how the landscape rolls between woodland and shore.

Being a circular, the walk returns you neatly to your starting point without retracing steps. It pairs well with a longer wander down to the beach if you have time, but on its own it is a satisfying loop that captures the distinctive mix of pine, sand and former farmland that defines this stretch of the Merseyside coast.