Places to go

Browsholme Hall
Browsholme Hall is an historic house and the ancestral home of the Parker Family, Bowbearers of the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, who have lived there since it was built in 1507. Visit www.browsholme.co.uk for further details.

Sculpture Trail, Ribble Valley
The trail leads from Brungerley Bridge to Crosshills Quarry along part of the Ribble Way and features work produced in carving workshops by local people alongside work by professional artists. Start your walk at grid reference SD740427 and walk out of Clitheroe towards Waddington.

Coronation Gardens, Waddington
The village, named after the Saxon leader Wada, has earned the title of "Best kept Village" in Lancashire on many occasions. At the centre of Waddington are beautiful Coronation Gardens - the main attraction of the village. The ancient church of St. Mary’s has a fifteenth century tower but the remainder was largely restored in 1901. The village Almshouses, also of historic interest, were originally built in the 1700s then rebuilt on their present location around the green.

Cromwell Bridge
This ancient packhorse bridge dating back to the 16th Century derives its name from the reported crossing by Oliver Cromwell before the battle of Preston in 1648. Located at OS Grid Reference SD 704 391.

Dalehead Church
The graveyard is noted for its wide diversity of plants, and also for the new wind turbine which provides power for the church.  The church is set in an isolated spot in Gisburn Forest.  It was built in 1937 from material from Dalehead Parish Church which was demolished when Stocks Reservoir flooded the village of Stocks-in-Bowland.

Dunsop Bridge
Dunsop Bridge has been officially declared by the Ordnance Survey as the nearest village to the exact centre of the British Isles. This is recognised by a commemorative public telephone box. There is a welcoming gift shop and cafe ‘Puddleducks’ in the village.

Newchurch-in-Pendle
Newchurch-in-Pendle is one of the last unspoilt villages situated in the heart of Pendle Witch country. Visit the witch’s grave and see the ‘Eye of God’ on St. Mary's Churchyard. The Witches Galore Shop sells souvenirs.Parking is available at Barley.

Pendle Heritage Centre
A restored 17th Century and 18th Century house featuring exhibitions about the area including the story of the Pendle Witches. There is a recreated 18th Century walled garden with a woodland walk around the 15th Century Cruck Barn with farm animals, tea room and shop. Visit www.htnw.co.uk/PHFAmain.html for further details.

Roman Museum, Ribchester
A former Roman Fort of Bremetenacum founded in the First Century AD. Its ancient history is recorded in the museum which has many Roman artifacts. Ribchester has been the scene of excavations and investigations from the 16th Century to the present day. The museum seeks to present a picture built up by this research. For further details contact +44 (0) 1254 878 261.

Sawley
This pleasant village on the banks of the Ribble is chiefly known for its ruins of Sawley Abbey. The Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey like Whalley housing the white Monks. The last Abbot, thought to be Thomas Bolton, was concerned in the Pilgrimage of Grace along with Abbot Paslew of Whalley. Sawley Abbey is open to the public, dawn till dusk each day. Visit www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/abbeys/sawley abbey.htm for further details.

Clitheroe Castle
Clitheroe Castle is set in acres of lovely gardens and houses a museum relating to the history and geology of the Ribble Valley. The Norman Castle Keep crowns the bold limestone rock in the centre of town and has dominated its skyline for more than 800 years.

Clitheroe Castle Museum opened on 23 May 2009 following major restoration to the Keep and a complete refurbishment of the museum.

Opening times: April to October 11am to 5pm and November to march 12pm to 4pm. Small admission charge to museum (£3.50 adults, £2.50 concessions) Visitor Enquiries Tel (01200) 424568 or for more information on Clitheroe Castle visit

www.lancashire.gov.uk/clitheroecastlemuseum

Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green
One of the finest boarding and day schools for boys and girls of the Catholic faith. Stonyhurst is a beautiful building with a fascinating history. Arthur Conan Doyle was a scholar and Oliver Cromwell spent the night here. Open to the public at various times throughout the year. Visit www.stonyhurst.ac.uk for further details, or ring UK: 01254 827093 International: +44 1254 827093.

Whalley Abbey
Whalley is famous for its church and Abbey. Whalley Abbey was a large and important Cistercian Monastery. It moved here in 1296 when Abbot Gregory of Norbury and 20 monks arrived. Serious construction began on the site about 1320. The ruins of the Abbey are now open to the public and are protected as an important Ancient Monument. A visitor centre and ‘Memory Lane’ exhibition can be found in the beautiful Abbey grounds.

Slaidburn Heritage Centre
Through displays and an audio-visual presentation, this centre documents local history spanning thousands of years. Group visits are welcome, and packages including guided walks around the village and refreshments are available. Parties of up to 24 can be seated in the tearoom, or larger groups can be accommodated for buffet-style meals. Coach and car parking is available in the village car park, or visitors can be dropped off directly outside. Visit www.htnw.co.uk/Slaimain.html for further details.

Williamson Park
Williamson Park dominates the Lancaster skyline. With spectacular views across Morecambe Bay to the Lakeland Fells as well as Bowland, this 54 acre parkland can be explored by woodland walkways and broad avenues of attractive trees, shrubs and flowers with many quiet resting places to sit and enjoy the Park's peaceful atmosphere. Entertainment for young visitors is provided by safe play equipment, and there are plenty of lawns for games and picnics. Disabled visitors are welcome in the Park, although not all areas may be easily accessible. A car park is situated only 50 yards from the Pavilion Café and Shop. Williamson Park is open from 10am until 4pm every day from October to March. Visit www.williamsonpark.com for further details or ring 01524 33318.

Bowland Wild Boar Park
Situated to the north of Chipping, this recently opened farm diversification scheme offers you the chance to enjoy a picnic and take a ramble in beautiful wooded countryside, view wild boar, longhorn cows and deer. Snacks are available from a cafe and picnic tables are provided. For further details visit www.wildboarpark.co.uk or ring 01995 61554.

Bashall Barn
Bashall Barn located in Bashall Town just outside of Clitheroe is a retail outlet selling local produce and gifts.

Products include speciality bacon and sausages, cheese, pickles, preserves and sauces, ice-creams, as well as a wide range of gifts. It boasts a resident glass artist and the Green Oak Cafe. Bashall Barn has a 50 seater function room with meeting room and education sweet capability. Bashall Barn is changing rapidly as it expands to use the redundant farm buildings that surround it.

Opening Times: Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am - 5.30pm throughout the year. Telephone/fax : 01200 428964 Email: simon_barnes [at] btconnect [dot] com for further details.

Bowland Brewery
The Bowland Beer Company Ltd started operating in April 2003. Situated at the rear of Bashall Barn Farm shop, the brewery leads on from a conference room with viewing portals in to the Brewery. For those wishing to take a closer look, tours of the brewery including beer tasting and an opportunity to sample some 'beef and beer' sausages, can be booked by calling the brewery owner, Richard Baker on 01200 428825 or 07952639465. You can visit the Bowland Brewery website at www.bowlandbrewery.com for further details

Cobble Hey
Cobble Hey has been a working hill farm for more than 150 years and still raises a wide range of sheep and beef cattle breeds. Set in a delightful location, 600 feet above sea level with stunning views over the Forest of Bowland AONB, the farm has always been a rural beauty spot, but in the past 10 years has been transformed as Edwina Miller has lavished her attentions on the extensive gardens adjacent to the farmhouse. The Millers opened the gardens to the public in 2001, and has seen thousands of visitors, who have shared in its beauty and tranquillity ever since. This year, the farm has even more to offer with the opening of a tea room, serving delicious cakes and snacks, home-produced on the farm, and a small gift shop where you can buy unusual gifts and quality local produce. Plant-lovers can also purchase a wide range of specialist plants from the farm’s nursery. The Millers have also worked in conjunction with Countryside Rangers and the RSPB to establish farm walks and information boards to make your experience of this delightful rural setting and important wetland bird habitat even more pleasurable. Cobble Hey has something for everyone. Make sure you don’t miss this treat!

Cobble Hey is open to the public from February 1st to Dec 24th Thursday to Monday 10.30am to 4.30pm Admission Charge: Adult £2.50, Child £1.00. Ring 01995 602643 or Email: cobblehey [at] aol [dot] com. for further details