Latest news with #CrosbyBeach
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'They're looking for possibilities beyond the horizon': the Iron Men 20 years on
For twenty years, they've stood motionless on the sand - yet still, they manage to surprise. Today (July 1) marks two decades since Antony Gormley's 'Another Place' was first installed on Crosby Beach, and in that time the Iron Men have become part of the Sefton coastline's soul. To mark the milestone, the ECHO asked visitors on the beach what the statues mean to them - whether they've known them for years, or are meeting them for the very first time. Avis Mayo had travelled all the way from New Zealand to visit the site, where 100 cast-iron figures are dotted along three kilometres of beach and into the sea. 'They're amazing really,' she said, looking out across the sands. 'The fact that they can remain standing for that long and not have been washed away is incredible.' READ MORE: Xabi Alonso phone call helped Liverpool beat Man City and Chelsea to £17.5m transfer READ MORE: 'Fit and healthy' man, 20, given devastating diagnosis The figures - each moulded from Gormley's own body - were originally a temporary installation when they first appeared in 2005, sparking local debate. Some residents felt they were haunting or unwelcome; others grew attached. Ultimately, the statues stayed. Jill Chesworth, who now lives locally, remembers the early days well: 'When they arrived, they were supposed to be temporary. I have friends around here who were pleased when they were made permanent.' Neil Sanford, visiting from Allerton, was surprised to learn the statues had already reached their 20th birthday. He said: 'I didn't think it was as long as that. I thought it had been about 10 years," adding: 'The windmills in the distance are an amazing backdrop.' For others, the figures still retain an eerie allure. 'They're deceptive,' said Matthew Wright, standing on the sand. 'You look at them and you think they're going to move.' He'd been wondering about their meaning, too. He suggested they're 'looking out for possibilities beyond the horizon - or thinking about where humans came from and they want to return to the sea," before joking: 'Or they might be looking for their next home in Wales.' The statues have become a symbol of Merseyside's northern coast, with their quiet watchfulness offering something different to each visitor. Vereena Jones, who was visiting from elsewhere in the UK, admitted she was seeing them for the first time despite several trips to the region. She said: 'There's more of them than I knew. 'I've never got to see them, even though I've been here [Merseyside] several times.' Another Place has weathered time and tide - but 20 years on, it seems the Iron Men are going nowhere. Still staring out to sea. Still stirring something in everyone who visits them.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Antony Gormley's iron men of Crosby 'belong to Merseyside now'
The striking iron men of Crosby Beach now "belong to Merseyside", the artist who installed them 20 years ago has Antony Gormley's Another Place, featuring 100 iron sculptures modelled on the artist's own body, has become synonymous with the Sefton coast near told BBC Radio Merseyside the statues "don't belong to me any more" and are "literally part of the landscape now". Analysing Another Place after two decades, Sir Anthony said: "I think that the work is about life and death, love and loss, and without people reacting to it, it's nothing." He added: "I mean, that's what art is - it's made to be shared."The installation covers a distance of nearly two miles (3km), with the iron men spaced out along the tide line, and out from the beach towards the Irish Sea and the horizon. Another Place was commissioned by Liverpool Biennial in partnership with South Sefton installation was later made permanent by Sefton Council. Since then it has become an established Antony said: "There's something wonderful about the way that they have been embraced by the people of Crosby and indeed the people of Liverpool."It's just absolutely amazing the way that people of all ages - people walking their dogs, kids, people running, playing all kinds of games including golf - somehow merge with the work. "So the kind of gap between life and art has somehow been bridged."Sir Antony, whose works also include the Angel of the North sculpture near the A1 in Gateshead, said he wanted to evoke the relationship between people and nature. "I think there are two ways in which we discover ourselves," he explained. "One is in relation to nature. When we climb a mountain, when we swim in the sea, we kind of return to some really basic relationship with our planetary home. "But then there's the other self that comes from our relations with others, with our parents, our colleagues, our friends, our family."And the two, I think, are both acknowledged in Another Place. "They're obviously similar bodies to suggest a family relationship - a blood relationship - but at the same time they're very far apart."They are about between 150 and 200 metres apart, facing their own destiny. "And I think that's true for all of us, isn't it?" Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warning issued as 'monster jellyfish' spotted on Merseyside beach
A "monster jellyfish" was spotted on the Merseyside coastline this week, with the local council offering advice to people visiting the beach as the hot weather continues. With temperatures rising across the region as we officially head into summer, it is common for jellyfish to appear in waters around Merseyside, including Sefton which is home to some of Merseyside's nicest beaches. But one beachgoer told the ECHO how they spotted what they described as a "monster jellyfish" on Crosby Beach. They said: "You couldn't move for jellyfish yesterday. Every 50 metres, there was another one. READ MORE: Mum and daughter, eight, found dead at home READ MORE: Met Office confirm thunderstorms to hit UK in 13-hour warning "Most were fairly small in size, but one was monstrous, it was quite shocking to see. Some of them were on the beach, and others were floating on the swash. I'd hate for anyone to get stung while swimming or walking." A council spokesperson told the ECHO it advises people to avoid touching jellyfish that appear on the shore and to keep dogs under close control. A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: 'It is common for jellyfish of varying sizes to be spotted along our coastline during the warmer months. "There are a variety of jellyfish that live in our seas and while some may be harmless, some can give a painful sting. 'While we can't know for sure the type of the jellyfish from looking at the photograph, most jellyfish found in the UK do not cause serious harm. 'However, we advise people avoid touching them and keep dogs under close control while enjoying our natural coastline.' For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Join the Liverpool ECHO Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community to receive the latest news straight to your phone by clicking here. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here Try the Liverpool Echo Premium app and get the first month free
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Telegraph
The best UK beaches you can reach by train in one hour or less
The summer is fast approaching, and so too are our thoughts of the beach. Whether you favour a traditional, bucket-and-spades affair, or prefer somewhere more peaceful, the coastline is the place to be on a sunny day. And while some of the more remote spots require a car to reach them, many of our most spectacular beaches are perfectly accessible by train – meaning there's no need to negotiate parking arrangements or struggle with traffic. Here are some of the best UK beaches accessible by train. Find a beach in: England From Newcastle: Tynemouth Beach The beaches of the north east are among Britain's best. Alternately melancholy and tropical, they make for a fantastic day out from, say, Newcastle or Durham. Among the best is Tynemouth Longsands, overlooked by the ruined Tynemouth priory. Best of all, it's accessible by the Metro – take a speedy trip from Newcastle and you're at the seaside. Braver visitors should head out into the water for a bracing swim (read our guide to open water swimming here), or join the throngs of surfers and catch a wave. How to get there On the Metro, take the YEL line from Monument station, in the centre of Newcastle, to Tynemouth (towards South Shields via Whitley Bay). The journey takes around 25 minutes. Where to stay No 61 offers well-appointed bed and breakfast rooms from £130 per night. From Liverpool: Crosby Beach Crosby Beach reached some notoriety with the installation of Anthony Gormley's Another Place sculptures. The statues are enduringly powerful, but the beach itself, even without artistic intervention, is a beautiful place for a coastal walk. Check the tides before visiting, wander along the sands, and then visit one of Crosby's elegant bars – Liverpool Road Social is a favourite. How to get there Take the Merseyrail train from Liverpool Central to Blundellsands & Crosby station (20 mins), or Waterloo (17 mins), and walk along the stretch of coastline. Where to stay The Lake House Waterloo has modern, family-friendly rooms that look across the water. Prices start at £86 per night. From London: Broadstairs Londoners have long been visiting Brighton and Margate for summer sun. If the crowds are too much, though, try getting off the train earlier, at Broadstairs. Charles Dickens stayed here while writing Bleak House, and the house in which he stayed sits on a promontory over the wide expanse of beach. Head down to the sands to sunbathe, or, for a sweet treat, hop between the town's numerous ice cream parlours – try Morelli's for an unbeatable gelato. How to get there Southeastern trains from London St Pancras to Broadstairs take one hour and 20 minutes. Where to stay The Botany Bay Hotel is a family-friendly pub with rooms, situated around 10 minutes from Broadstairs. Rooms start at £126 per night. Scotland From Edinburgh: Pettycur Beach Pettycur Beach is a small and sheltered bay backed by grand sand dunes. Its minimal facilities mean this probably isn't one for a young family, but make it ideal for a tranquil afternoon at the coast. It's a remarkably peaceful place with views across the Firth of Forth. And if you're a dog-owner, visit when the tide is out to frolic along the wide sands. How to get there Take the Scotrail train from Edinburgh Waverley to Perth, disembarking at Kinghorn (around 40 minutes). It's then a 15 minute walk to the beach. Where to stay Cardinals Folly is a cosy b&b in a converted Victorian church. From £87 per night, including breakfast. From Glasgow: Troon Close to cafes, shops and restaurants, Troon's popular beach is ideal for a summer day out. A day on the esplanade might include a game of hide-and-seek in the Italianate garden, or a scramble over the climbing frame in the well-equipped playground. Throughout the summer months, kite-surfers make it their regular spot. And the two-hour, two-mile treasure trail is a pleasing diversion regardless of the weather. How to get there The ScotRail train from Glasgow to Ayr stops off in Troon, taking around 40 minutes. Where to stay Marine Troon is a landmark hotel, primarily (but not exclusively) favoured by golfers. Its rooms offer spectacular views across to the Isle of Arran. From £265 per night. From Inverness: Nairn 'Astrotourism' – that is, the pursuit of astronomical phenomena – is being lauded as a 'travel trend' for this year. If this is true, Nairn beach should be among the busiest places in the country. Its pretty sands are a perfect spot to watch the sun set, complemented by views across the Moray Forth. In winter, the Northern Lights regularly dance across its dark skies. How to get there Take the ScotRail train from Inverness to Nairn (around 20 minutes), then walk for about 20 minutes down to the beach. Where to stay Golf View Hotel and Spa has Nairn's beach on its doorstep. A night's stay starts at £182 per night. Wales From Cardiff: Llantwit Major Beach Surfers adore Llantwit Major Beach for its adrenaline-boosting waves. Those who are less confident in the water, however, should head to the popular spot for its rockpooling opportunities. Children will adore finding waterborne wildlife, while adults will, secretly, get a thrill from the nostalgia of it all. The coastline here is also home to Britain's tiniest resident butterfly, the Small Blue – keep your eyes peeled while wandering along the clifftops. How to get there Take the Transport for Wales train from Cardiff Central to Llantwit Major (around 45 minutes). It's a half-an-hour walk to the beach. Where to stay The Great House Guest House lives up to its name. The charming, Grade II-listed cottage offers rooms from £135 (and its afternoon tea comes highly recommended). From Porthmadog: Barmouth Beach For those visiting Snowdonia, Barmouth is a charming coastal diversion. Go hiking in the national park's valleys, and then relax on its wide, open sands. The traditional spot has it all – ice cream shops, fish and chips, amusement arcades – but somehow never gets overcrowded, meaning respite can be found on its coves, too. At low tide, it's possible to walk along the sands to Harlech in the north. How to get there Trains run to Barmouth from Porthmadog (one hour) and Shrewsbury (two and a half hours), both with Transport for Wales. Where to stay Llwyndu is a 400-year-old, honeysuckle-fronted and clotted-cream-coloured farmhouse, offering rooms from £120 per night. Northern Ireland From Belfast: Ballyholme Bay Bangor's Ballyholme Bay is the antidote to a busy day in Belfast. Take a picnic and watch the comings-and-goings of the Yacht Club, whose members can be seen making the most of good weather. If you fancy trying your hand at watersports, take an introductory sailing course here, or try your hand at windsurfing. How to get there A half-an-hour Translink train journey from Belfast's Lanyon Place station will take you to Bangor. From there, it's a 20 minute walk to Ballyhome Bay. Where to stay The Harrison Hotel is a quirky and eccentric place to stay in Belfast. Rooms from £167 per night. From Derry/Londonderry: Castlerock Beach An antidote to England's sewage-blighted beaches, Castlerock is regularly awarded Blue Flag status for its clear waters. Anglers adore it for its fruitful fishing opportunities, while the dramatic cliffs to the west make for spectacular photography opportunities. There's boardwalk access, making it easy to weave through the dunes, plus a summer lifeguard service. And if you are taking the car (not that you'll need to), there's free parking, too. How to get there The train from Derry/Londonderry to Castlerock takes around half an hour with Translink. Where to stay The Bishop's Gate Hotel is a grand former gentleman's club in the bigger city. Rooms from £179 per night.
