The Hodder Valley

There are many interesting places to visit in the Hodder Valley such as the Bowland Wild Boar Park at Chipping and the Village of Dunsop Bridge where you can feed the ducks by the stream and visit ‘Puddleducks Café’.  The village of Newton in Bowland boasts a good pub’ The Parkers Arms ’and footpaths run alongside the River Hodder to the village of Slaidburn and beyond, Slaidburn with its pretty cottages and quaint café provides a good resting place.    The award winning ‘Inn at Whitewell’ is worth a visit with an excellent menu and riverside setting.

A drive through the scenic Trough of Bowland from Dunsop Bridge to Lancaster is a must.  Lancaster has a large castle and many historic buildings and a good range of shops, at Williamson Park you will find the Butterfly House where you can walk amongst exotic butterflies, and during the summer month’s outdoor theatre performances are held in the park.

Ribble Valley

The vibrant market town of Clitheroe (8miles) is dominated by its Norman Castle the town boasts many ward winning shops such as Cowmans famous sausage shop and Byrnes Wine Merchants.   There is also a local indoor swimming pool (Ribblesdale Pool), Roefield Leisure Centre and a cinema.  The Castle Museum is also worth a visit.  Trains run hourly from Clitheroe Station to Manchester City centre and during the summer months a steam train (Dales Rail) runs as far as Carlisle, a very scenic route that takes you over the spectacular Ribble Head Viaduct.

The scenic village of Waddington (6 miles) offers visitors a taste of village life, with its quiet stream running through beautiful gardens, which the villagers maintain themselves.  You can enjoy home cooked food from the village café or sit and relax outside one of the local pubs.  Every year Waddington holds a Scarecrow Festival and Duck Race, which attract many visitors.

The quaint village of Downham nestles beneath the majestic Pendle Hill and offers the visitor a glimpse of times past as no television aerials, satellite dishes or overhead power lines are allowed. The village has a good shop and café where you can buy local guides and souvenirs of the Pendle Witches who were said to live around Pendle.  Downham is a good start to take the Pendle Witch Trail this takes you around many of the villages surrounding Pendle Hill.  The old village stocks still stand not far from the ‘Assheton Arms’ named after the Assheton family who own the village.

The cottage is within easy driving distance to the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, Blackpool and the coast.

Tolkein Trail – Walk in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien around the picturesque village of Hurst Green and Stonyhurst the landscape believed to has inspired the creation of the legendary ‘Middle Earth’.

Cycling – Mountain Bikers will enjoy both the Forest of Bowland cycle  track and Gisburn Forest with a 16km cycle network, based on existing forest roads.

Golf – With courses at Clitheroe, Mytton Fold, Longridge and Wilpshire and also 9 hole courses at Stonyhurst and Whalley you will be spoilt for choice.

Skiing – Why not try dry slope skiing on the slopes of Pendle Hill.

Ghost Walks – Ghostly guided walks can be taken around the area complete with resident ghosts and sound effects.