COOL RUNNINGS
Tedd Walmsley takes a MINI convertible for a spin and discovers why the Ribble Valley is regarded as a cool place to visit!
Welcome to the Ribble Valley! You have chosen a very ‘cool’ place to take your holiday, short break or day trip. Cool, by definition, means ‘the quality of being functionally attractive or impressive’ and I think you’ll agree that the MINI convertible on loan from our good friends at Bowker MINI fits this description? It’s the perfect car to show you around our beautiful valley.
COOL SCENERY
The landscapes in the Ribble Valley can be jaw dropping in their beauty from the rugged fells of Waddington and Longridge to the lush woods and rivers of the captivating Forest of Bowland. Magical by day but after the sun sets those dark skies are literally heavenly – there are five designated Dark Sky Discovery Sites within the Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – imagine the roof down and staring into the night sky, starry eyed – an out of this world experience.
COOL WALKS
The Ribble Valley has countless great walks to suit all fitness levels and time frames. Gentle strolls through the fields and along riverbanks following in the footsteps of Tolkien or tackling the famous and often misty Pendle Hill. We have plenty of examples in this magazine of walks that start and finish at one of our award-winning country pubs or cafes, many of which are dog friendly and where great food and fine ales are guaranteed.
COOL FOOD
It goes without saying that the Ribble Valley has become a temple to incredible food. The award-winning country pubs sit shoulder to shoulder with independently owned cafes all serving great local produce. When you’re out and about on your travels look out for the plethora of farmers’ markets and in Clitheroe the ever-expanding Holmes Mill and its burgeoning Bowland Food Hall showcasing the many artisan producers we have here in the Ribble Valley.
COOL EVENTS
As we zipped around the valley with the roof down on a stunning late May afternoon it was a great way to see many of the forthcoming events advertised. Headline events such as the Royal Lancashire Show and Clitheroe Food Festival in August – the smaller and not to be missed local agricultural shows of which there are many – Goosnargh and Longridge agricultural shows in July being my personal favourites. We have a wonderful collection of arts and culture events too including Create Longridge in July and an inaugural literary festival to be held at Northcote in August.
COOL RETAIL THERAPY
Our market towns of Clitheroe and Longridge and smaller villages such as Whalley boast a myriad of fine independent retailers. If you want to look the part whether that’s countrywear or technical equipment or indeed top end fashion, we have a host of shops from which to choose. Take time to visit them, parking is generally plentiful and the welcome will be second to none.
COOL FOR KIDS
We pride ourselves in providing good old fashioned fun for your kids – fishing in the rivers, nature trails, parks and playgrounds combine with a range of indoor activities if by chance it rains! Animal parks, nature reserves, ice cream parlours, farm visits – there’s so much to see and do for all ages.
COOL HISTORY
The Ribble Valley is steeped in history, castles and monuments with their individual stories of yesteryear, including the famous Pendle Hill shrouded with its secrets of witchcraft and folklore. Each of our villages is stunning and a great excuse to open up the throttle of the MINI convertible and explore the surrounding countryside.
Our whistle-stop tour of the Ribble Valley prompted me to reflect on the beauty and diversity of the place where we live, the MINI adding to the experience with its cool good looks and head turning qualities – they were a great marriage so to speak. Talking of which, my last observation is that the Ribble Valley is becoming the North West’s number one choice for so many brides. 2018/19 has seen unprecedented demand for our cornucopia of wedding venues from takeover barns to takeover mansions.
I hope you enjoy your time here in the Ribble Valley and enjoy all that we have to offer. As they say north of the border ‘haste ye back’ – it really is cool!
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