Perched on the banks of the River Calder, Whalley in the Ribble Valley is the largest district in Lancashire in terms of area, the majority of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.is a charming village, filled with historic buildings, characterful shops and lovely cafes and restaurants. Records show that Whalley came into being around 600AD and as the English were a God-fearing lot back in those days, it’s no surprise to learn that St Mary and All Saints parish church dates back to 628AD. Wander into the pretty churchyard to see three Saxon crosses. Whalley’s most famous sight is Whalley Abbey, whose ruins date back to the 14th century when it was a Cistercian abbey. There is a manmade waterfall on the River Calder where the resident monks went to collect their water. Now you can envisage how the Abbey would have looked with a visit to the Visitor Centre or explore the ancient ruins. Whalley Cricket Ground is famous for hosting the first ‘Roses’ cricket match between Yorkshire and Lancashire, which unfortunately Yorkshire won! Explore beyond the village’s boundaries and you’ll find a wealth of walking trails which criss-cross the lush, Ribble Valley. Walk up to Whalley Nab Viewpoint to drink in spectacular views. Whalley is also the meeting point for the North and South Lancashire Cycleways, two circular routes covering 260 miles of outstanding scenery.