life in Fylde
From Blackpool to the Forest of Bowland AONB, this is a brilliant place to live.
The Fylde, Lancashire, England is a glorious coastal plain and an ideal spot for retirement. This square-shaped peninsula juts out into the Irish sea. Around 20km long, it’s bordered by the wildlife haven of the Ribble Estuary, the sandy beaches of Morecambe Bay and the beautiful Bowland hills. The largest towns include Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Poulton le Fylde and Garstang, but along the stunning Lancashire coast and within the lush rural landscapes you’ll find picturesque villages to explore.
Retirement living in The Fylde
The Fylde is a unique area packed with attractions for all. You, of course, have to visit the Fylde coast. It boasts the bright lights of Blackpool, with its Pleasure Beach, as well as the sandy expanse of Morecombe Bay, the smaller traditional Cleveleys or the fishing town of Fleetwood, which offers a ferry service to Knott End. Then there’s Lytham St Annes, actually two small and pretty seaside towns: visit the Victorian Pier, St Annes Beach huts, the boating lake, the golf course and Lytham Windmill.
Further inland you’ll find rolling countryside and natures reserves, perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding. And there are plenty of interesting villages to explore too, like Elswick a regular In Bloom award winner or Singleton, which is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book.
The Fylde is a very friendly area with plenty of scope to make friends and pitch in with the many and varied community groups. Groups include the Fylde Arts Society, Just Good Friends social group or
Lancashire Dead Good Poets Society, a Blackpool based poetry and performance group. The welcoming Blackpool & North Fylde Model Railway Club holds shows twice a year and the Fylde Coast Ramblers is perfect for people who want to explore the area while making new friends. Football fans will enjoy following the ups and downs of local team, AFC Fylde too.
If you are looking for a new build home in the Fylde coast, then look no further than McCarthy Stone. Did you know? 83% of McCarthy Stone homeowners experience a sense of community in their retirement property.
The Fylde coast can be reached from the rest of the UK via the M6 and then the M55, from which you can reach Blackpool and the coastal towns with ease.
You’ll find railway stations at Blackpool St Annes and Lytham, Poulton, but the main station is Blackpool North train station. From here, you can be in London Euston in 3 hours 40 minutes, Edinburgh in just over 3 hours and Manchester in just over an hour.
One of the best ways to travel between Blackpool and Fleetwood is by tram – there are a mix of modern trams as well as the charming old ones. And of course there is a comprehensive bus network too.
All McCarthy Stone retirement apartments are carefully located be easily accessible and close to local amenities.
With so much to do around the Fylde coast, we can guarantee you won’t get bored!
Fancy a day out at a historic house? Try Georgian Lytham Hall with its vast acres of parkland.
A keen twitcher? Birdwatchers will love the Ribble Discovery Centre by Fairhaven lake and the gateway to the saltmarshes of the Ribble estuary. It’s home to a quarter of a million migrating birds, making it one of the most important sites in Europe.
Ramblers will love exploring the coastal path and many rural trails. The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is perfect for walking, cycling and fishing.
Lancaster makes for a diverting trip. Be sure to visit Lancaster Castle and the Quayside Maritime Museum. Or visit the many attractions of Preston, including the Harrison Museum and Art Gallery.
Is The Fylde a good place to retire?
The Fylde coast has plenty to offer for an active retirement, with opportunities for water sports, walks, cycling, fishing and horse riding. As well as the beautiful beaches and estuaries, you are close to gorgeous countryside including the Forest of Bowland AONB and Ribble nature reserve. The larger towns like Blackpool boast a lively cultural scene, while the historic villages, like picturesque Elswick, are great to explore.
What is the best place to retire in The Fylde?
The Fylde is a beautiful area with something for everyone and offers plenty of options for people wanting to retire by the sea. Cleveleys is a pretty little seaside town with the beach on the doorstep. Poulton-le-Fylde is a compact, but buzzing market town with easy access to a fantastic range of shops and restaurants. For a more rural location, Garstang is a lovely small town built on the banks of the River Wyre.
How much money do you need to retire
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple guide is to multiple the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home. Talk to McCarthy Stone about options to make retirement living affordable.
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“My son wanted me to move a bit closer to where he lives, and Atherstone is very pretty, so I was easily persuaded. I was a little bit worried about some parts of the move, but McCarthy Stone’s Smooth Move service made it so easy for me, I had signed within a fortnight!”