Bacup

Right up in the Pennine Hills, Bacup is a natural home for outdoor sports and has fantastic views across the valley.

Test your mountain bike skills at Lee and Cragg Quarry  part of the adrenaline gateway. Our quarries hark back to Rossendale’s past stone roots, but with a modern twist, they are perfect for adrenaline junkies and keen mountain bikers.

Or, for something more relaxing follow the beautiful Irwell Valley sculpture trail, looking out for wildlife along the way. 

For something a little different, you can have your very own Top Gun moment at the Flightdesk Experience  in nearby Stackshead, used by professional and wannabe pilots alike.

The beautiful Stubbylee Park, which houses Stubby Lee Hall, is lovely for a gentle stroll and afternoon lunch.

The areas rich history and interesting past can be discovered at Bacup Natural History Museum including the fact that Bacup is home to the 17 feet long Elgin Street which has the (much disputed) title of 'shortest street in the world' according to the Guinness Book of Records.
Did you know that Bacup is home to one of the few remaining English folk dance troupes who wear black-face? The Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers, or 'Nutters' are the only genuinely old traditional team in existence, and is 'the most astounding dance occasion in the entire Custom
Calendar'!

The Rossendale Valley has a strong offer of real ale breweries, and Bacup boasts the wonderful Bare Arts where you can try lots of distinctive ales. Bacup Royal Court Theatre (a mere 120 years old) has a regular programme of shows that showcasing strong, local talent.

Having previously been a mill town of the Industrial Revolution, Bacup was once described by English Heritage as the best preserved cotton mill town in England and many of its traditional features are being preserved and celebrated in this quaint and welcoming town.

Described by English Heritage as the best preserved cotton mill town in England and many of Bacup’s traditional features are preserved and celebrated. It’s also one of the oldest settlements in the Rossendale Valley – mentioned in a charter by Robert de Lacey in 1200. Other claims to fames include being a popular TV location; the 1980s TV police drama, Juliet Bravo was filmed here, also Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, parts of The League of Gentlemen and much of the film Girls' Night.

In terms of altitude, Bacup is the highest town in East Lancashire (835'/250m above sea level) so it provides many points for a scenic view across the stunning Rossendale Valley.

The famous River Irwell runs from Bacup through the Rossendale Valley to Salford and is an important feature in the Valley. The Irwell Sculpture Trail is well worth a walk and has 70 sculptures between Bacup and Salford Quays. Download the map for the route here.

Bacup Royal Court Theatre puts on a wealth of shows; they’ve been showcasing strong, local talent for over 120 years.