Explore, Eat, Experience
17th to 24th September 2023
Delicious local produce is in the spotlight in a week of events highlighting the best of Bowland with foraging walks, feasting, cycle trails and food tours.
Feast Bowland is a celebration of local food producers, wild foods and the distinctive local dishes found across this beautiful area. Running Sunday 17 to Saturday 23 September, the week-long programme includes walks, rides, tours and foraging and is a great way to explore and experience the area.
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS:
- Sunday 17th - Valley & Villages Cycle
- Monday 18th - Pendle Pub & Valley Walk
- Tuesday 19th - Herbal Medicine Walk
- Wednesday 20th - Bowland and Bay Food Tours
- Thursday 21st - Elderberry Forage and Jam Making
- Friday 22nd - Foraging and Well-Being Wander
- Saturday 23rd - Picnic in the Park
- Sunday 24th - Bowland Villages Cycle Tour
FRINGE EVENTS
Sunday 17th - Valley & Villages Cycle
10am to 2.30pm, Clitheroe
Love the idea of leaving the car behind and jumping on your bike – but feeling a bit rusty? Then why not join Breaking Cycles CIC for this friendly-led ride through some lovely Ribble Valley villages?
Gain cycling confidence on this sociable 12-15 mile route, exploring the roads and lanes around Bashall, Whalley, Wiswell and Pendleton. And, as it's Feast Bowland week, enjoy a well-earned lunch stop at Café Autisan in the beautiful surroundings of Whalley Abbey.
Bring your own bike & helmet but don’t worry if you don’t have one, you can borrow one from Breaking Cycles CIC bike library.
(Just let us know in the comments box when booking).
This will be an adults-only event and, whilst we'll ride at the pace of the slowest group member, you'll need a good general level of fitness.
Don't forget to bring water, snacks and clothing appropriate for the weather/road cycling.
For full details of this event, please follow this link
(This event is suitable for those aged 18 and over.)
COST: £15pp + cost of your lunch of choice at the cafe
Follow this link for further event information
BOOKING FORM
Monday 18th - Pendle Pub & Valley Walk
9.30am to 2pm, Sabden
Join us for an enchanting guided walk to explore the southern flanks of Pendle Hill, followed by a hearty lunch at the White Hart pub.
This 8-mile route explores the pastures and woodlands of the Sabden valley before heading into the more remote reaches through the pretty ghyll of Stainscomb with its ancient stone field boundaries and returning to Sabden via the scenic Churn Clough reservoir.
This is a demanding walk with stiles and some steep sections. Participants will need appropriate footwear – ideally walking boots or shoes, waterproofs and plenty of warm clothing.
COST: Walk free, but the lunch is part of the event and participants will need to cover the cost of this from the pub's lunchtime menu
(This event is suitable for those aged 18 and over.)
BOOKING FORM
Tuesday 19th - Herbal Medicine Walk
(NOW FULLY BOOKED - PLEASE COMPLETE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO A WAITING LIST)
1pm to 4pm, Barrowford
Guided walk and workshop learning about herbalism, wild foods, resilience, sustainability, health and wellbeing
Take a walk with Danielle Kay to the wild edges of Barrowford Park and see what autumnal hedgerow delights are available at this time of year and how to enjoy them for yourself.
Back at the Pendle Heritage Centre Danielle will prepare a variety of elixirs for you to try and you will prepare your own winter tonic to take away.
COST: £15pp
(Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.)
BOOKING FORM
Wednesday 20th - Bowland and Bay Food Tours (NOW FULLY BOOKED)
2 tours running: either 9am to 12:30pm or 1pm to 4.30pm from Clitheroe
The expert guided artisan foodie tour will include 5-6 food experiences in the Ribble Valley and Goosnargh:
– Mrs Kirkham’s legendary cheese tasting
– Wild Fox craft gin & Lancashire butter pies
– Rosy Goat Ice Cream
– Freshly baked cakes and cuppa by Always Cake
– Bowland Brewery for beer flight or Bowland gin/soft drinks
– Tour of Food Hall
Over 18s only. Please note on the booking any dietary requirements & contact details.
Alongside the deliciousness, Bowland & Bay provide:
Luxury transport for up to 8 guests in Mercedes-Benz Tourer.
History, landscape and nature photo opportunities.
Sensory retail stop offs for pantry & hearth gifts.
Foodie chats and legendary tales of Bowland & Bay.
We look forward to meeting fellow Foodie Explorers to join the adventure!
COST: Feast Bowland Event offer of only £35pp (normal price £85pp)
(This event is suitable for those aged 18 and over.)
BOOK DIRECTLY WITH BOWLAND & BAY
Thursday 21st - Elderberry Forage and Jam (NOW FULLY BOOKED - PLEASE COMPLETE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO A WAITING LIST)
10am to 3pm, Jeffrey Hill, Nr Longridge
Join us for an elderberry forage around the farm, home to the Lovely Cow Shed on Jeffery Hill, followed by a jam-making session using your foraged goods, in the capable hands of Ann Lupton. As well as the foraging and jam-making you will enjoy a guided walk from the door with a member of the National Landscape team, to take in the magnificent views from Jeffrey Hill.
Enjoy a beautiful, local produce lunch and refreshments during the day and take home your home-made pot of jam!
COST: £25pp (includes refreshments, lunch and jam to take away)
(This event is suitable for those aged 18 and over.)
BOOKING FORM
Friday 22nd - Foraging & Well-Being Wander (NOW FULLY BOOKED - PLEASE COMPLETE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO A WAITING LIST)
2 walks running, either: 10am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4pm, Wray
Join Pete Compston from Pendle Plant Craft for one of two foraging and well-being wanders. Be guided on a short walk in the beautiful village of Wray to learn about plants, trees and mushrooms. Find out about their benefits and uses, while delving into our connection with the beautiful surroundings. As this is a Feast Bowland event we would be delighted if you could join us in between both walks at Bridge House Farm Tearooms for a tasty locally-produced lunch.
COST: FREE (optional cafe lunch, at a cost - please state when booking)
(Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.)
BOOKING FORM
Saturday 23rd - Picnic in the Park
11am to 2pm, Dunsop Bridge
Join Bowland Fitness for a fun, family event with outdoor games and a picnic lunch. Matt will start the day with yoga-type movements set to a story, to engage the whole family!
All ages welcome, but the games will be geared up for children from the age of 3 upwards. Children must be accompanied and supervised by adults.
Please bring along your own picnic lunch.
COST: FREE
BOOKING FORM
Sunday 24th - Bowland Villages Cycle Tour (NOW CANCELLED BUT THERE IS STILL SPACE AVAILABLE ON 17th RIDE)
10am to 2.30pm, Clitheroe
Explore the quiet lanes and villages of the Forest of Bowland on this leisurely ride led by Breaking Cycles CIC. We'll ride through the picturesque villages of Waddington, Downham, Rimington and Bolton by Bowland, and have the all-important lunch stop at an exciting new cafe/restaurant - sampling some wonderful local produce.
The event is for more confident riders as it covers up to 30 miles of mixed terrain and provides wonderful views with short ascents and descents. There will be plenty of opportunities for stops to take in the beautiful scenery and chat will fellow riders and your knowledgeable guides.
Please bring your own bike and helmet (if you need to borrow a bike, please do get in touch with Breaking Cycles, who will try their best to help).
This will be an adults-only event and, whilst we'll ride at the pace of the slowest group member, you'll need a good general level of fitness.
Don't forget to bring water, snacks and clothing appropriate for the weather/road cycling.
COST: £15pp + cost of your lunch of choice at the cafe
(This event is suitable for those aged 18 and over.)
Follow this link for further event information
FRINGE EVENTS
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17th September: The Courtyard Diary Cheese-Making Course, Austwick (now fully booked, but follow the link to find other dates)
- Spend a day learning how to make cheese in this purpose-built cheese dairy. These cheese-making courses are taught by industry expert Andy Swinscoe. You’ll be guided through the background science and technical theory of how to make cheeses, and then experience hands-on cheese-making of two distinctly different cheeses. And you’ll get to take home the cheese you made!
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17th September: Longridge Soap Box Derby
- Join Longridge Soap Box Derby and explore the delicious, local produce food court while you're there! This is the second year for Longridge SoapBox Derby and will see a racetrack being built down Berry Lane for the enjoyment of families near and far. There will be food, music, entertainment picnic facilities and, above all, the race teams who are bringing all of their design skills and creativity together for your enjoyment. SThe SoapBox Derby is a free-to-attend event, aiming to bring all manner of thrills and spills to their great town and is being brought to by local charity, St Catherine’s Hospice together with the help of Love Longridge.
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22nd September: The Untamed Supper - Autumnal Seasonal Feast at the Rewilding
- Join the Rewilding at Patty's Barn for their signature dining experience, a seasonal feast prepared over fire and served in our rustic barn in rural Lancashire.
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23rd September: Autumn Forage - Mushroom Hunt and Lunch at the Rewilding
- Autumn is an exciting and abundant time to forage, with berries and mushrooms aplenty as well as enjoying the beautiful transition of the seasons, explore the local area and enjoy an autumnal lunch.
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30th September to 1st October: Dale House 2-Day Artisan Bread Course
- The 2 day course will cover brioche, sourdoughs, crumpets, flat breads, basic white and malted grain loaves, focaccia, donuts and bakbas. The cooking days take place in their beautiful farmhouse situated in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape and very close to Gisburn Forest, Stocks reservoir and the Yorkshire dales. Dominique has led a full career working in some of the premier kitchens in the UK. From the Roux brothers to the Houses of Parliament she has cooked for celebrities, royalty and prime ministers.
For questions about any of the events, please email hetty.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk Tel: 01200 448000