EXPLORE THE

Ribble Valley’s towns and villages are full of treats and surprises. From historic buildings to unique boutiques, there’s something to please all tastes and ages. Let’s take a whistle stop tour through the highlights.

Clitheroe

Clitheroe is the bustling heart of the Ribble Valley, a market town with a rich culture, old and new.

The town is especially well known for its Norman castle keep, which overlooks the high street and offers a gorgeous panoramic view over the Ribble Valley. For a small fee, you can enter the interactive castle museum and learn more about the castle and the area.

Clitheroe Castle also has a splendid 16 acres of grounds to explore. With a playground, labyrinth, and bandstand, there’s something for all the family.

Fancy a bit of shopping during your visit to the Ribble Valley? In Clitheroe, you’re at the right place. On the high street and quaint side streets, there are charming bookshops, crafts stores, and homeware boutiques galore. Foodies also won’t be disappointed - enjoy take-home treats from Cowman’s Famous Sausage Shop, D Byrne’s Wine Merchants, Holmes Mill’s food hall, and more.

Another great place for shopping is Clitheroe’s historic market. Held several times a week, it offers an impressive selection of fresh local food, crafts, homeware, and more. Once a year, the marketplace joins the high street in hosting the Clitheroe Food Festival - stall after stall of delicious local produce to sample and take home.

Speaking of food and drink, Clitheroe is a highly sought-after destination for wining and dining. Whether you’re thirsty for a craft ale or a freshly mixed cocktail, you’ll easily find your calling in one of the town’s trendy breweries and bars. Hungry? Why not head to the Emporium, a lavishly converted old Methodist chapel that combines Parisian café culture with a fine-dining experience.

Also popular, by day and by night, is the converted textile factory - Holmes Mill. Offering a food hall, patisserie, beer hall, and live music events, Holmes Mill is a trend-setting social hub that attracts visitors from far and wide.

To complement the town’s vibrant culture, Clitheroe has many green spaces for relaxing. One favourite is Edisford Bridge on the edge of town, where you can paddle in the River Ribble, picnic on the banks, and maybe even catch a visit from the ice cream van!

Ever-flourishing, Clitheroe has a lot to offer. For more information on sights and what’s on in Clitheroe, head to the Platform Gallery and Tourist Information Centre.

Whalley

Nestled at the foot of Whalley Nab, alongside the River Calder, lies the village of Whalley. It’s a place steeped in history, rural charm, and natural beauty.

One of the village’s most popular places to visit is Whalley Abbey, a former 14th-century Cistercian monastery. Today, the Abbey’s grounds remain open for daytime exploration and are accompanied by a stunning onsite conference centre and retreat.

Adding to Whalley’s heritage is the viaduct overlooking the village. Completed in 1850, the viaduct was built to carry the railway over the River Calder and has since become a landmark of the Ribble Valley.

In addition to its heritage, Whalley has a very rich culture. Independent bistros and cafés make for an abundant culinary scene, and the retail environment is thriving. Dotted throughout the village are exquisite jewellers, hair and beauty salons, and designer clothing boutiques - all waiting to be explored.

‘Ribble Valley shops offer a warm northern welcome, here you will find some of the best brands on the market in many of our fashion and jewellery shops and enjoy award winning customer services. Most of the local shops are truly independently owned, which means they are able to offer unique product ranges and hand-picked collections, within a friendly boutique style shopping experience." explained Marianne Hyde, Precious Whalley.

Before opening her boutique in Whalley, Marianne worked for a garment sourcing company, travelling extensively in India and the Far East, then opening a jewellery and accessories boutique in Dalt Vila, Ibiza. (the old town), she later moved back to the UK and started to start her own boutique, finding the perfect spot in King Street Whalley where she has enjoyed welcoming customers for the last 13 years .

Worth a special mention is the multi-award-winning outdoor clothing specialist Whalley Warm & Dry. Here you’ll be met by highly qualified staff who give expert advice and help you find the perfect product for your outdoor needs.

Speaking of the outdoors, Whalley has some gorgeous nature on its doorstep too. Within walking distance lies, for example, Spring Wood - a once monastery-owned woodland that now hosts many a family picnic, forest walk, and ice cream delight! What makes Spring Wood so special is its rarity; as a semi-natural ancient woodland dating from before 1600, it is one of the very few areas of greenery from this time that were not cleared to make way for agricultural land.

So if you like the sound of a charming village that combines history, nature, and modernity, Whalley is the place for you.

Precious is an independent boutique situated in the heart of the picturesque Ribble Valley.

The brands we offer are handpicked with ‘individuality’ in mind. I am strongly influenced by my Scandinavian roots when sourcing, so you will find many Danish and Swedish brands at Precious which are both stylish and very practical. We also look to recreate the bohemian feel I had in my boutique in Ibiza. For this I look to the UK, France, Italy and the USA for my inspiration.

Longridge

Longridge is aptly named as it sits on a hilltop, a long ridge, with stunning views over the Ribble Valley countryside.

The main street of Longridge, Berry Lane, is very much the hub of the town with a colourful selection of shops. Discover unique art, homeware, jewellery, gifts, designer clothing, shoes and more - there is an attractive mix of longstanding family businesses and more recent arrivals. Every year, two major events form an important part of Longridge’s culture. First, there is Longridge Field Day - a community-run celebration complete with imaginative floats, fancy dress, and decorations throughout the town.

The second highlight in Longridge’s calendar is the Goosnargh and Longridge Show. This showcases the best of local food and farming, with a good emphasis on entertainment for younger visitors. It’s a great day out for the family!

As with Ribble Valley’s other top destinations, Longridge has a fascinating history. Formerly a cotton mill town, Longridge was built in the 1800s from locally quarried sandstone. Entering Longridge today is like stepping back in timemany of the original sandstone features remain, acting as a memorial to the town’s 19th-century conception.

To add to the heritage, one of the most significant places in Longridge is Club Row. Erected between 1774 and 1804, it is a row of twenty mill workmen’s cottages, built back when Longridge was just a village. Did you know, Club Row is believed to be the oldest surviving example of properties built by a building society in the world!

For more tips on what to do in and around Longridge, including walking and history trails, head to Longridge’s Heritage and Visitor Centre - located in the Old Station.