Three Rivers Park

Three Rivers is just a few miles from the historic town of Clitheroe, and while Clitheroe Castle with its gardens and the acclaimed Clitheroe Golf Club are both recommended, the town is best known for its specialist shops: Cowman’s Famous Sausage Shop sells over 75 types of sausage while no visit to Clitheroe would be complete without getting lost among the world vintages in the cavernous cellar at Byrnes Wine Shop. Most of the Ribble Valley is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: here and in the Forest of Bowland you’ll find all the walking, cycling and horse-riding you’d expect, as well as 44 villages to explore in the surrounding area. Bowland has some of the most remote walking in the north-west – toss away your shoes and pretend to be a hobbit on the Tolkien Trail (hairy toes optional), or start in the village of Pendle to go moorwards on a Brontë walk. If your legs are still holding up, you can also climb Pendle Hill from the 3000 year old village of Barley for some of the best views of the Ribble Valley. Day trippers will be delighted with the Three Rivers location: the park is off the M6 and well placed for many of the north’s big cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, York, Bradford and Leeds, promenading and Pleasure Beaching at Blackpool or even ambling around the Lake and Peak Districts.