Clitheroe

The historic market town of Clitheroe lies at the heart of Ribble Valley. It retains much of its old character and customs and is famed for its specialist shops, many of which have been run by the same family for generations. The most popular being D. Byrne's wine shop which has an enormous cellar and does business all over the world; Cowmans who sell over 75 types of sausages, Dawsons the traditional ironmongers and department store and Exchange Coffee Company which offers over 35 of the world's finest coffees and 60 specialist teas.

A popular open-air market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The main street of the town is dominated by a massive rock of limestone crowned with the Keep of an ancient Castle at least 800 years old. The Castle grounds contain formal gardens, tennis courts, bowling green and summerhouse cafeteria, and a large open-air auditorium with bandstand where concerts ranging from brass band to rock music can be heard in the summer.

The Edisford Bridge Picnic Area can be found on the outskirts of Clitheroe. Once a battle ground between the Scots and Normans this is now a pleasant family area on the banks of the river with a miniature railway, children's play area, cafeteria and a pitch and putt course. Also nearby is the Ribblesdale swimming pool.

Just outside Clitheroe on the B6478 road to Waddington is the Brungerley Park Sculpture Trail, recently updated with exciting new sculptures reflecting the nature and geology of the local area. The trail leads to Crosshill Quarry, one of two nature reserves and geological trails in the town, the second being Salthill Quarry, both managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Quarrying was taking place here as early as 1651, the limestone formed 300 million years ago when the Ribble Valley was only a few hundred miles north of the equator.