Buttercup Meadow Certificated Location

You might head into Chorley (10 minutes’ drive) for the shops or the restaurants, but this market town is well worth a few hours of your time. Check out Astley Hall, a 16th-century mansion decorated with colourful tapestries, period furniture and elaborate stuccos. Its grounds include walled and sensory gardens, as well as large areas of woodland. In Blackburn (20 minutes), the Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery explores the area’s industrial heritage with textile machines and other artefacts; among the highlights of the Ancient Egypt collection are a mummy and a copy of the Rosetta Stone. On the outskirts of the town, Witton Country Park is home to Go Ape Blackburn, with treetop adventure courses. Head towards Preston, stopping first at the Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary (25 minutes) to admire a flight display, and then at the Ribble Steam Railway & Museum (40 minutes), with its large display of vintage steam, diesel and electric locomotives. Depending on the time of year, it’s also possible to arrange lunch and afternoon tea onboard.