Towns and Villages

The bustling market town of Clitheroe lies in between the Forest of Bowland National Landscape's main upland block and the outlier of Pendle Hill. The town retains much of its old character and customs, and has a wide range of shops, many of which have been run by the same family for generations. A popular open-air market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.The main street of the town is dominated by a massive rock of limestone crowned with the Keep of an ancient Castle, of uncertain age, but at least 800 years old. The Castle grounds contain formal gardens, tennis courts, bowling green and summerhouse cafeteria, and a large open-air auditorium with bandstand where concerts ranging from brass band to rock music can be heard in the summer. Here too can be found the Castle Museum, well worth a visit to enjoy the exhibitions of geology and local life. Children will be fascinated with the sights and sounds of the recreated cloggers workshop, printers shop and lead mine.

This city and port still retains much of its character and provides an excellent historic gateway by road or rail to the Forest of Bowland. It was originally the site of a Roman fortress and a crossing of the River Lune but it was only created a city by King George VI on 14th May 1937. Lancaster was the home of the House of Lancaster and John O'Gaunt's statue dominates the City from over the castle gateway.Dominated by its medieval castle and the River Lune that runs through the city, the narrow, Georgian streets surrounding the castle contain a wealth of attractions, shops and restaurants. The jewel in the crown in terms of attractions is Lancaster Castle. Guided tours are offered showing you around the fascinating courts and medieval dungeons.The elegant Ashton Memorial dominates the skyline in Lancaster and the surrounding Williamson Park provides a beautiful area for picnicking and enjoying the views.Other major attractions include Quayside Maritime Museum looking across the river Lune, and the Judges' Lodgings.

Situated in the heart of the colourful county of Lancashire, Preston is the gateway to the surrounding beautiful landscape and historical sights. Preston is the largest and most important commercial centre in Lancashire and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Preston's history dates back to the Domesday Book and to 1179 with the granting of the Charter, which gave the right to hold a Guild Merchant every 20 years. The "Once in a Preston Guild" tradition continues to this day and we look forward to the next in 2012.As England's newest city plans have been agreed for a new multi-million pound redevelopment of the city centre to include major retail, leisure and cultural facilities, which will enhance the existing excellent retail offer and magnificent heritage buildings such as the Harris Museum & Art Gallery.

Bashall Eaves stands on the banks of the river Hodder in the parish of Mitton. Near this small hamlet can be found the Fairy Bridge, said to have been built one night by fairies to help an old woodcutter who was being pursued by witches.   Browsholme Hall is one of the most historic mansions in the district, and for centuries has been the family seat of the Parkers, former Bow-bearers of Bowland. The Hall is a handsome structure dating from the time of Henry VII, and contains a wealth of woodcarvings, arms and armour, period furniture, textiles, rare books and stained glass. Amongst the collections of paintings is one of Thomas Parker, former Lord Chancellor of England.

The rural settlement of Brock lies at the northern end of the historic parish of Myerscough and Bilsborrow.  It sits astride A6 Garstang Road with Barton Grange Garden Centre on the west side and the site of the former Brock Station (now a community-owned small nature reserve) on the east side.  There are views of the Bowland Fells, Parlick and Fairsnape, and of Beacon Fell Country Park.  Brock Aqueduct (OS grid reference SD 506404) – a grade 2 listed structure first used in 1797 – carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Brock; (the canal towpath continues southwards from the aqueduct to Bilsborrow, Guy’s Thatched Hamlet and beyond).The riverside path from Brock into the Forest of Bowland starts at Hunters Land Rover Garage and continues upstream to FoB at Brock Bottom in the adjoining parish of Claughton.  (SD 512406 and SD 546422 respectively). There is no street parking in Brock but there is a car park at Bilsborrow Village Hall.  The buses to and from Garstang stop on A6 Garstang Road near Barton Grange Garden Centre. 

Caton lies amidst woodland and farmland in the beautiful Lune Valley. First recorded in the Domesday book, the village is thought to stem from the name of Kati (Old Norse) or C(e)atta (Old English), probably the name of an early settler with local influence. The Romans were present here, as is evidenced by the discovery of a Roman milestone in Artle Beck. In more recent times, the village grew to support several cotton mills following the industrial revolution, for example, Low Mill off Mill Lane. Whilst in the area, it is worth visiting the church in nearby Brookhouse, with a doorway dated to the twelfth century and a sixteenth century tower.

Chipping is a picturesque village on the slopes above the River Loud. In Medieval days no less than five water mills were sited along Chipping beck. This is a conservation area with stone-built cottages, 17th century school and almshouses endowed by John Brabin, dyer and cloth merchant. The village also has a 13th century church, which was partly re-built in 1505 and in 1706 and again in the nineteenth century. The font has been in use for over 400 years. Chipping has a cheese maker, a chair factory, and a craft centre. Several attractive Inns are to be found in the village centre. Chipping is also home to the oldest continuously trading shop housed within the village's quaint Post Office.

Dunsop Bridge is the entrance to the famous Trough of Bowland. Lovely winding paths from here through the moors to Lancaster are popular with thousands of fell walkers. With resident ducks and grassy banks it is the perfect place to stop for a picnic or a cup of tea and a cake at the cafe. At St Hubert's Church the painting of a horse on the ceiling above the altar is supposed to be of the 1861 Derby winner 'Kettledrum'. Owned by the Towneley family it is said that the church was paid for with the horse's winnings. Ordnance Survey have declared Dunsop Bridge as the official centre of the British Isles, the famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes unveiled the plaque that verifies this.

Grindleton is situated on a terrace above the River Ribble with superb views of Pendle Hill. It is a Saxon planned village climbing linearly up the fell, parallel to Grindleton Brook. It was named in the Domesday Book as Gretlintone and had a mill. The historical character of the village is farming, and cottage-based hand-loom weaving.The village is famed for a 17th century non-conformist religious sect - the Grindletonians. Damson orchards were once common in the village and a local jam factory used the produce. Alongside damsons, Grindleton became famous for its beekeepers. In 1805 the new church was dedicated to St Ambrose, the patron of beekeepers (one of only two such dedications in the country).The village has a Heritage Trail taking the visitor around the village and outlining its history and vernacular architecture. A leaflet and map may be downloaded from the village website.Above the village is Grindleton Fell, offering excellent walking and outstanding views. For horse-riding, Broomhill Equestrian is at the top of the village.The village has two pubs: the Buck Inn and the Duke of York; the latter is a restaurant owned and run by the chef Michael Heathcote.

The beautiful and idyllic village of Hurst Green is situated in the heart of the Ribble Valley. The village is reputed to be haunted by the Highwayman Ned King, who is thought to be the ghostly figure seen riding through the village late at night. Numerous reports of the hauntings have been made throughout the years. In life he came to his end not far from the Punch Bowl Inn. The Shireburn Arms is a 17th century hotel, named after Richard Shireburn who owned the land around the village. Hurst Green is also home to the beautiful church of St. Peter's and Stonyhurst College, a world famous Roman Catholic boarding college. The magnificent buildings are set in extensive parkland with two huge ponds that were excavated in 1696. The college houses a wonderful museum collection including a 7th century Gospel of St. John. Cromwell stayed here in 1648. In 1811 the building became the first public building to be lit by gas. Conan Doyle creator of Sherlock Holmes is among many famous ex scholars of the college. The college was the setting for the novel 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. You can even walk in the footsteps of author J.R.R. Tolkien, who regularly stayed there, on the famous 'Tolkien Trail' which explores the richly beautiful surrounding countryside that inspired him. A number of names which occur in 'The Lord of the Rings' are similar to those found locally.

Newchurch clings to the southern slopes of Pendle Hill. The village is famous for St Mary's church and its curious 'eye of God' on the tower which watches over the village. The church was built in 1544 by the inhabitants of the five 'booths' of which Goldshaw Booth is now the village parish. The word 'booth' is thought to come from the Norse word 'but' meaning dwelling place. Only the lower courses of the sixteenth century tower now remain, the rest of the 'New' church was rebuilt in 1735. The grave of the Nutter family can be found in the churchyard, and you can find out more about them and the other 'Pendle Witches' at the little shop 'Witches galore' with its coven figures outside. Newchurch hosts a rushbearing ceremony each August with a procession around the village followed by crowning of the rushbearing queen and a Thanksgiving service in the church. Newchurch was awarded best kept hamlet in Lancashire in 2007.

Roughlee - best kept small village in Lancashire for 2006 and champion village in 2007 - is probably best known for its links to the Pendle Witches story, and its proximity to Pendle Hill. However Roughlee also has an important place the history of non conformist religion. John Wesley and his friend William Darney preached at Roughlee between 1747-57, they were stoned and chased away the first time. Originally they preached outdoors or in the cottages, but eventually a Wesleyan Chapel was built in Barley Green in 1837.A small village of just 270 people, Roughlee is a vibrant community and a popular place to visit with its pretty riverside and waterfalls of Pendle Water (a remnant of the mills that used to be here). The village offers a pub, village community centre, trout fishery and caravan parks. The village is well served by public transport which links it to Burnley, Colne and Clitheroe as well as its neighbours Barley and Newchurch.

Sawley village grew up around the ruined Sawley Abbey, on the banks of the river Ribble. Its name refers to 'the damp spot where the willows grow'. The Abbey was founded by William Percy II in 1147, after he was given the land by William the Conqueror. Situated on a busy north-south road even then, the Cistercian Abbey provided accommodation for travellers and this made it an expensive place to run. The Abbey was never prosperous but it survived until 1537, when the monks abandoned it due to the failed Pilgrimage of Grace which attempted to challenge Henry VIII's orders to close the monasteries. The stone was plundered to build the village and now only part of the church and fragments of the cloisters remain.

Slaidburn is a picturesque grey stone village set on the banks of the Hodder in the moorland region of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. The 10th century 'Angel Stone' carving can be seen at Slaidburn Heritage Centre. The centre provides tourist information and houses displays, artifacts and an audio-visual presentation about the village's heritage and the Forest of Bowland. The church of St. Andrew is mostly fifteenth century but has a history that can be traced back over ten centuries. Here you can see an 18th century three-decker pulpit complete with fringed cushions, massive ancient doors, a Jacobean chancel screen and unusual undisturbed Georgian box-pews which still retain the makers adze marks. Much of the woodwork is seventeenth century.Fishing is available on a 2.5 mile stretch on the River Hodder at Slaidburn on specified banks between Hammerton Hall and Great Dunnow.  Full details are available at the Central Stores in Slaidburn - 01200 446268

Slaidburn Archive Website

Its babbling brook and the beautiful Coronation Gardens have earned this village the title of 'Best Kept Village in Lancashire' on many occasions, before 1974 it was often the best kept in Yorkshire too! The village gets its name from Wadda, an Anglo Saxon chief who was implicated in the murder of Ethelred the Northumbrian King. Waddow Hall was originally a Tudor house built by the Tempest family, it now houses the Girl Guide Association and acts as an activity centre. Henry VI (Henry the Good) lived for 12 months at Waddington Hall before being betrayed to the Yorkists in 1465. He escaped via a secret panel and staircase from the dining room but was captured down river at Brungerley Bridge on the outskirts of Clitheroe. The Almshouses in the village were originally built in the 1700s, and then rebuilt on their present location around the green. Robert Parker founded them for the widows of local dalesmen and farmers.

Wigglesworth lies just outside the boundary of the National Landscape, but is on an important route linking Settle to the eastern part of Bowland. The name of the village is believed to have originated in Saxon times: from 'wicel' being the name of a person, or 'wincel' meaning 'of the child' forming the first part, with the last part 'worth' deriving from the Anglo-Saxon word 'wory', pronounced 'worth'.