I Would not recommend it at all, avoid.

Is it possible to say why? I'm sure others who may have thought of using will want to know.

Naked swimming and sunbathing is possible between Formby and Ainsdale but you have to be careful.

Last year I swam naked in the sea between Formby and Ainsdale a few times, I think I went 4 times. This year I havn't managed to get a visit in.

It is often quiet mid-week away from the car parks especially during term time. There are large areas of open beach with only a few dog walkers. You just need to time your entry into and out of the sea so you don't bump into the dog walkers.

You can always find a quite spot at the top of the beach to dry off and do a bit of sunbathing.

We went midweek , but  we did no see anyone  at all    i think the  police patrols must have had an effect    Susan

Police patrols.... OK....Got it now!

It looks pretty bleak too.

The Gormley statues must be near there.

I live close by and have never tried naturism there.  It is possible and there are secluded spots in the dunes but the locals (council and police especially)  tend to be hostile.  Besides that stretch of coast is not suitable for swimming; takes a long time to walk out to any depth and there is horrible mud just beneath the sand layer.

Besides that stretch of coast is not suitable for swimming; takes a long time to walk out to any depth and there is horrible mud just beneath the sand layer.

I have swam at Formby many times and its fine for swimming. I have never found any mud its just lots and lots of sand. It can be a long walk to the sea when the tide is out; I remember a good 10min hike on one occasion - must have been half a mile, but when the tide is in it can come all the way up to the sand dunes so no walk at all.

I visit Formby beach regularly. Last trip was today. It's fine for nude sunbathing in the dunes if you are discrete. I have been several times this summer though not seen any other naturists which is a shame.

We went quite a few times last year. Midweek, daytime and during term time are our favourite times to visit.

We usually go in from the Ainsdale side rather than Formby Point but will try Formby next year.

We just make sue that we walk quite a way from the main car parking areas and it's usually very easy to find a decent, private (ish) spot.

We have never had any hassle at all. Apparently, the big police operation, which was very self-congratulatory and well publicised, took place during the summer of 2005. This was probably due to a local member of the Police Authority living in Ainsdale. There has no been a repetition since. Apparently the questionable use of such considerable and scarce resources was mentioned. Given the cuts to policing budgets and an official, more tolerant set of policing guidelines having been constructed it is doubtful if a mass 'purge' will be repeated any year soon.

Sounds like this location my be worth a revisit, the part I used to go to was between the old deserted lifeboat station and the flag post of the rifle range.
I didn't walk past when the red flag was flying for obvious reasons.
Whenever I went there was hardly ever anyone about save for the odd dog walker.
I did think that after reading another thread on the recent success by BN at Holkham etc. that they could take this on with the hope of creating an "official area" for those of us living in NW England. The next nearest beach from Manchester is an extra two hour drive to Morfa Dyffrin.

It is a beautiful place,and we used to go there a few years ago now and there were plenty of others happily sunbathing in the nude. It did go through a bad patch and some were fined I think. All rather sad that there are a hundred nude men who stand on the nearby beach at Crosby braving all that the local weather can chuck at them without any problems with the locals. Maybe it's because they are Iron Men. It is a strange set of standards in situations like this.