Clitheroe Area Guide

Clitheroe lies at the centre of the Ribble Valley and is well placed for commuting offering excellent communication links with all East Lancashire business centres and the rest of the country by road and rail. The town offers a varied range of amenities including an excellent range of shops, bars, café’s and salons as well as supermarkets and the impressive Bowland Brewery leisure complex. The area is a renowned “Foodie Heaven” with excellent pubs and restaurants many set within the ANOB area of the Trough Of Bowland. The Ribble valley is an affluent area with a café culture and rural heritage and is a desirable and aspirational place to live and visit.

Highlights and attractions

Visit Clitheroe Castle

Overlooking the picturesque town of Clitheroe is the ancient landmark, Clitheroe Castle. Sitting proudly on top of its limestone mound the Castle is the second smallest surviving stone-built keep in England and has dominated the local skyline for over 800 years. The Castle and grounds are open daily and free to visit. Stunning panoramic views of Ribble Valley’s beautiful, historic landscape can be seen from here which certainly makes the climb up to the top worthwhile!

The award-winning Museum is located in the former Steward's House, a Grade II listed building that was built in the 18^th century to house the Steward of Clitheroe Castle. Visitors will also find a Gift Shop and Café making it a great day out for all the family.

Clitheroe Castle

Clitheroe Town Centre

Holmes Mill

Based in the heart of Clitheroe, Holmes Mill is a unique celebration of Lancashire food, drink and entertainment. Featuring a beer hall, hotel, food hall and cinema, this former textiles mill is the perfect place to indulge, unwind and explore.

Forest of Bowland AONB

The Forest of Bowland AONB covers 312 square miles of rural Lancashire and adjacent Yorkshire. From Hurst Green in the south to Wennington in the North, the Forest of Bowland is dotted with charming stone villages, some of which date as far back as pre-historic times. Dominating the landscape is the imposing Pendle Hill, for the adventurous who climb to the 577-metre summit you’re rewarded with spectacular views of the Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland and across to the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Notable villages in the area, include Downham, which has barely been touched since the 16th century and featured in the film Whistle Down the Wind, or from the BBC drama Born and Bred. Waddington and Whalley surround Clitheroe and both are picturesque and lively villages with a bustling social scene.

Downham

Whalley Village

Whalley is an attractive village, with interesting shops and galleries, where old cottages rub shoulders with Tudor and Georgian buildings along the main street. Whalley is famous for its church and Abbey. Whalley Abbey was a large and important Cistercian Monastery. It was moved here in 1296 from Stanlow in Cheshire and 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.

Whalley Abbey

Commuting

East Lancashire, Manchester and Yorkshire business centres as well as the northern motorway network are within striking distance. Travel distances are approximate, Blackburn 10 miles / Manchester 32 miles / Preston 16 miles / Skipton 21 miles / Leeds 46 miles / Leeds Bradford Airport 35 miles / Manchester International Airport 46 miles/ Kendal and the Lake District 60 miles. M6 North and South 15 miles.

Main line train services are available from Preston on the West Coast Main Line with a journey time of 2 hours and 8 minutes to London and trains available to Glasgow and beyond.

Food and drinks

The Ribble Valley is widely known for its quality produce and is sometimes know as the "Ludlow" of the North. There are a wide variety of different restaurants available which will appeal to all tastes and excellent pubs and restaurants can be found across the area ranging from Michelin-star dining and cosy pubs, to cute cafes and food halls, there’s something for everyone.

Here are some of our favourite places to eat and drink:

Northcote

An oasis of food and wine excellence, The Northcote restaurant has retained its Michelin star since 1995 and has 4 AA Rosettes. Dishes which are visual, elegant and packed full of great flavours and textures. Northcote’s Michelin-starred restaurant is elegant, stylish and sophisticated with views of the garden and distant hills of the beautiful Ribble Valley.

Freemasons Wiswell

A cosy country pub, but with outstanding food.

King Street Kitchen

Located in a beautiful Tudor-fronted terraced building, on the main street in Whalley it has classic in décor, with an uncomplicated menu with classic bistro dishes.

Events

Clitheroe Food Festival

Clitheroe Food Festival is an annual showcase of the hard work and dedication of local food and drink producers, and their fabulous produce. The festival, run in partnership with Ribble Valley Borough Council and the kind sponsorship of many local businesses, has increased in popularity by several thousand visitors in the last few years and has also been listed in the Top Ten UK Food Festivals.

Schools

Schools locally have an excellent reputation and there are a wide variety of both state run and independent to choose from including Stonyhurst, Oakhill College and Moorlands as well as Clitheroe Grammar School and Bowland High school. Primary schools in the area are excellent many being village schools with excellent ofstead ratings.