Bolton by Bowland This charming village stands at the south-eastern edge of the Forest where Bowland meets the equally ancient region of Craven and was once part of the old West Riding of Yorkshire. Arranged informally around two pleasant village greens – one of which has a set of well-preserved stocks – cottages mingle with farmhouses and larger residences and the recently refurbished Coach & Horses pub at the heart of the village.
The pretty Skirden Beck flows past the village on its way to meet the Ribble a mile or so downstream and the village is a starting point for many rural walks – most of which involve a pleasant amble alongside a babbling brook. Bolton by Bowland is mentioned in the Domesday book and during the War of the Roses, King Henry VI sought refuge at Bolton Hall after his defeat by the Yorkists at Hexham in 1464. A well in the estate grounds is named after him.
© Peter Gregory
Highlights On a sunny Sunday afternoon, wander out of the village and cross the stream, turning left through the gate and over the field to the village cricket ground where, if you are lucky, that traditional Lancashire/Yorkshire tradition of village cricket will be in full swing.
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