Samlesbury Hall is 700 years old this year PAST PLEASURES
2 places to soak up our history
WHALLEY ABBEY
The 14th century abbey was once at the top table of English Christianity and spoken of in the same breath as Fountains and Rievaulx, it was abandoned on the orders of Henry VIII, reduced to rubble and then, as an early example of recycling, stone after stone was removed to build swathes of the surrounding village. It’s now a fascinating site to visit, and stay – the abbey hosts retreats and has on-site accommodation. whalleyabbey.org
SAMLESBURY HALL
Standing beside the A677 between Preston and Blackburn, this is one of Lancashire’s most popular tourist attractions, with 50,000 visitors a year. It’s one of the county’s few Grade 1 listed houses – this year it marks its 700th anniversary – and along with the historic house, there is a new garden café, self-catering accommodation, regular tours and lots of events planned for the anniversary, including festivals, theatrical productions, dining events and a programme of talks. samlesburyhall.co.uk.
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. PHOTO: Ben Hall
HAVE A WILD TIME
3 ways to get close to nature
WIGAN FLASHES
Wigan coal once powered Britain’s heavy industry and up to the middle of the last century hundreds of people worked in and around the pits. Now, that industrial landscape has been replaced by The Flashes – a series of eight shallow ponds created by subsidence caused by the mines – surrounded by trees and meadows which are home to an internationally-important range of plants and animals. lancswt.org.uk
BROCKHOLES
Beside the M6 at Samlesbury lies the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Brockholes Nature Reserve. It opened in 2011 and covers more than 250 acres, with trails and hides from which visitors can spot many species of birds and animals in the woods and around the lakes. The magnificent floating visitor centre, the first of its kind ever built in the UK, houses a café, conference centre, and an activity room for children. lancswt.org.uk
LEIGHTON MOSS
With mudflats, reedbeds, marshes and saltwater lagoons, the RSPB reserve in Silverdale, which marked its 60th anniversary last year, is a haven for wildlife. Among much else, the site is an important habitat for otters, avocets, bearded tits, marsh harriers, egrets, red deer and the elusive bittern. There are nature trails around the reserve, leading to seven hides, as well as a visitor centre, shop and tearoom. Guided walks are available. rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/leighton-moss
View across Downham. PHOTO: Kirsty Thompson PICTURE PERFECT
3 pretty villages to visit
DELIGHTFUL DOWNHAM
In a chart of Lancashire’s picturesque villages, Downham would surely come top. The Downham estate has been owned by the Assheton family since 1558 and members of the family still manage it. The Second Lord Clitheroe didn’t allow overhead electricity lines, TV aerials or satellite dishes in the village, so the village is beautifully unspoilt. The Assheton Arms is arguably the perfect village inn, with good food, good beer and a good atmosphere.
AT OUR HEART
Dunsop Bridge stands at the centrepoint of our islands and you couldn’t wish for a lovelier spot to be at our heart. The village is surrounded by Bowland fells and some of the most beautiful countryside imaginable. It’s a paradise for walkers and cyclists, many of whom end their expedition at the ever-popular Puddleducks Tearoom. The bridge which gives the village its name crosses the river Dunsop near where it meets the Hodder.
HISTORY AND HOSPITALITY
This pretty village on the Furness Peninsula is dominated by the 12th century Priory but there’s also a wonderful selection of places to eat, with cosy tearooms, traditional cosy pubs and restaurants including Simon Rogan’s acclaimed L’Enclume. The season at Cartmel Races opens on May 24, and the course is also the venue for gigs – Olly Murs will be there in June. No visit is complete without sampling the famous Cartmel Sticky Pudding.
Brockhole over zip wire
A VIEW TO A THRILL
3 adrenaline-fuelled adventures
ZIP OVER BROCKHOLE
Next to the meticulously groomed historic gardens of Brockhole on scenic Windermere, you’ll find Zipworld and a host of adventures to choose from. There are bouncy nets, tree-top trails, climbing walls and more, but the showstopper is a 250m zip wire that soars over the rest of the site. Dog friendly, and with food and drink available on site, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.
zipworld.co.uk/locations/windermere
GO APE IN BLACKBURN
Re-opened in February, Blackburn’s Go Ape is the first stand-alone location for young thrill seekers. Perfect for little adventurers over a metre tall or other cautious explorers, hour-long sessions are filled with tricky tree-to-tree crossings, zip lines and more. Plus, the 480-acre Witton Park is filled with nature trails, picnic spots and play areas so it’s an ideal day out for the family. goape.co.uk/locations/blackburn
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT IN BLACKPOOL
Head 380ft up and walk on the glass viewing platform at Blackpool Tower’s SkyWalk if you dare. You can look down at the iconic promenade far below and on a clear day, you can see Liverpool, the Lakes, and even the Isle of Man. Pack in more thrills by braving the UK’s tallest roller coaster ‘The Big One’ with its drop from 235ft, or booking a sightseeing flight from Blackpool Airport for a true bird’s eye view of the county. theblackpooltower.com
Little Lancashire Village: PHOTO: Nicola Campbell
FAMILY FUN
3 ways to keep young children entertained
ICE CREAM AND ANIMALS
After closing for the winter, Bowland Wild Boar Park opened again for the February half term and welcomed families back to fun in the Forest of Bowland. The park has a play area, café and a host of animals to encounter (including a number you can hold) as well as barrel rides, tractor and trailer rides, go karts and even a tank driving experience. wildboarpark.co.uk
BIKING AT BARROWFORD
Get the kids out for some fresh air and exercise, while you enjoy a takeaway coffee and a cake. Barrowford has plenty to blow the cobwebs away, there’s a well-equipped play area in Barrowford Memorial Park, as well as a pump track for perfecting cycling skills, or you might enjoy a walk along the canal to watch the narrowboats navigate the locks. The Pendle Heritage Centre has a cafe and a museum to explore if the weather is wet. pendleheritage.co.uk
LITTLE LANCASHIRE VILLAGE
If your little one loves to play pretend, then a visit to the Little Lancashire Village is in order. From mini building sites, post offices and police stations, to salons, supermarkets, and even an optician – kids can delve into a world of imagination and try a few different careers on for size. There are ‘villages’ in Burnley, Darwen, Rawtenstall, and more recently Brownhill in Blackburn which also includes a central play area. thelittlelancashirevillage.co.uk
Study the night skies over Preston. PHOTO: Getty
LOOK AND LEARN
2 educational days out
SEASONAL GARDEN SESSIONS
Holden Clough in Bolton-by-Bowland hosts many varied craft classes and workshops throughout the year, and some of the most popular this year are likely to be John Foley’s own seasonal masterclasses. Owner and RHS Master Grower John will be presenting sessions to help you master your own garden. Each informative talk is followed by a Q &A session and includes tea/coffee and 10 per cent off plants on the day. Visit holdenclough.com/events
PRINT’S CHARMING
If you’ve ever fancied trying your hand at screen printing, speak to the team at Hot Bed Press in Salford.
Based on Cow Lane, this is one of the biggest and most well-equipped print workshops in the UK. There are facilities for screenprint, relief print, etching and intaglio, letterpress, book arts and more. Evening and weekend classes, as well as complete courses, are held throughout the year for beginners and experienced print makers. hotbedpress.org
Get ideas for more great things to do in the latest edition of Lancashire Life magazine
The Pigeon Tower in Rivington Terraced Gardens. PHOTO: Richard Lawson
ONE, TWO, FREE
3 days out that won’t cost a penny
MORECAMBE BAY
Explore Morecambe with a walk or bike ride along the coast. There are a number of circular routes you can take which offer beautiful views across the bay and surrounding area. Pack a picnic and bring your binoculars; there’s a wealth of birdlife and wildlife to look out for, you might even spot a seal basking off the coast. Watch the world go by in West End Gardens, or take the kids to Happy Mount Park’s large play area; just bear in mind you might need some spending money for ice creams or tiny train rides! lancasterandmorecambebay.com
HISTORIC LANCASTER
Lancaster’s City Museum, on the edge of Market Square, is free to enter and leads visitors through the social and industrial history and archaeology of Lancaster, and the stories of the people who have made the city what it is today. The City Museum is also home to the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum. The Lancashire Police Museum is now housed in Lancaster Castle’s former prison and is also free to enter, with no need to book. lancaster.gov.uk/sites/museums
RIVETING RIVINGTON
Many people are drawn to Rivington to tackle the walk to the summit and to visit the area’s park, woodlands, and replica castle. The village’s many historic buildings and structures attract visitors from far and wide. Named one of the UK’s most enchanting ‘Lost’ Gardens, Rivington Terraced Gardens are free for the public to enjoy and have been described as one of the North West’s best kept secrets. rivingtonterracedgardens.org.uk
Cook over fire in Cockerham. PHOTO: Mindy Coe
FOR FOODIES
3 tasty treats to tuck into
HOT STUFF
Learn how to cook over fire or let the experts do it for you at Land and Sea in Cockerham. Gorgeous food and drink experiences with a sniper-like focus on food provenance, the events on the salt marshes in this quiet corner of the county, celebrate seasonal, wild ingredients and super local produce, bringing people together around long tables for campfires and conversation. They also hold foraging walks and other immersive culinary experiences like fermentation, game butchery, and more. landandsealancaster.com
A WALK WITH WINE
Billed as wine tasting with legs, whether you are mad about malbec or want to learn more about merlot, these tours from owner and expert Kelly Bishop and host Jack Tovey, a teacher at Northern Wine School, include stops at four of the best places for wine in the city where you will taste around six different – and really good – wines. And walking between each venue means you get to take in some of the city too. manchesterwinetours.com
BELLA COOKERY
Pasta, bread and risotto lovers will relish the chance to learn Italian cookery with Maurizio Bocchi, chef patron at the nationally-acclaimed and multi-award winning La Locanda in Gisburn, which he runs with wife, Cinzia. You’ll spend two hours turning the best Italian ingredients into dinner party worthy dishes as well as picking up tips and tricks and enjoying a light lunch. You’ll also take home your own apron and recipe cards. lalocanda.co.uk
Bowland Food Hall
TOP OF THE SHOPS
3 perfect places to mooch
CEDAR FARM
In 1987 pig farmer Pater Baillie and wife Julie turned redundant buildings on their farm into retail spaces and a café. Today, there’s a vast choice of places to shop and savour with everything from chocolate, ceramics and jewellery for sale from independent businesses. You’ll also come away well fed with nourishing food from Cedar Farm Kitchen. All ages will also love the small animal farm, run by Fishers Mobile Farm. cedarfarm.net
BOWLAND FOOD HALL
If there’s a Lancashire food or drink you can’t find here, we’ll eat our hat. But we’d rather taste the cheeses, meats, deli delights, meats and gins, beers and more on offer at this emporium of the region’s yummiest ingredients and products. The café’s food hall is a perfect place to stop and consider what to buy. If you want more, Clitheroe is the perfect place to explore with independent shops, cafes and a castle to stroll around. bowlandfoodhall.com
HOMEBIRD INTERIORS
Whether you’re looking for ideas for a big renovation project or trinkets for your shelves and walls, this relative newcomer to St Annes is full of ideas for your home. Choose candles to make your house smell sweet, seasonal décor, or big items – you’ll love their sink into sofas. There’s a lovely café to spend a while in too. Once you’re done, take the short walk to the beach for a seaside stroll and an ice cream. homebirdfurniture.co.uk
The Paradise Garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater. PHOTO: Neil Hepworth/ RHS
GLORIOUS GARDENS
4 fabulous places for spring colour
SWARTHMOOR HALL
The former home of early Quaker Margaret Fell has beautiful tranquil historic gardens and at this time of year the wildflower meadow has glorious displays of crocuses. There is a woodland garden, vegetable garden and a quiet garden dedicated to peaceful reflection. Some paths are suitable for wheelchairs and there is a cafe. The gardens are open Wednesday- Friday 11am-3pm. swarthmoorhall.co.uk, ngs.org.uk
LYTHAM HALL
The extensive grounds of the Georgian hall feature woodlands, park and gardens and there’s a network of paths to explore. Earlier in the year the grounds were awash with snowdrops and soon they’ll be carpeted with bluebells. Major restoration work has gone on here and one of the more recent projects was to re-create the formal gardens beside the hall. Climb the mount for a great view of the work the volunteers have done. lythamhall.org.uk
RYDAL MOUNT
Much of the five acre garden around William Wordsworth’s former home between Ambleside and Grasmere is as he designed it, with fellside terraces, rock pools and spectacular views. Daffodils feature – naturally – alongside traditional Lakeland planting, informal herbacious borders and trees he planted in breaks from his writing desk. The house is still owned by the Wordsworth family and re-opened to visitors in February. rydalmount.co.uk, ngs.org.uk
RHS BRIDGEWATER
This vast garden was created in Salford opened in 2021 and covers more than 150 acres. It includes one of the UK’s largest walled gardens, a Chinese garden, paradise garden and kitchen garden. There are lots of accessible paths and plenty for children – until the end of the year there’s an activity trail based on the book Guess How Much I Love You.
