STAY OPEN: STAY COOL
The Ribble Valley comes with many connotations, but is a ‘cool place to be’ one of them? Emily Cunningham takes a road trip in the new MINI Convertible around the Ribble Valley to find out more. Photography: TVPav.com
When tasked with finding the coolest locations in the Ribble Valley I jumped at the chance, but then my mind wandered as to what do I consider to be cool?
What is considered cool for a teenager is probably very different to their parents and when you consider grandparents the mind boggles. Being in my mid-twenties, my approach was to find locations which could be enjoyed by all – let the challenge begin!
First things first, I knew I needed a cool car to complete my road trip and there was one car at the top of my list! Since its launch in March I have had my eyes firmly on the new MINI Convertible and Bowker MINI in Blackburn were more than happy to lend me the latest edition to the MINI family.
Epitomising cool in Metallic Caribbean Aqua, the weather was perfect and I couldn’t wait to get started. A quick technology demo from the MINI team and I was ready to go. The automatic roof can be lowered in less than 20 seconds and the standard reversing camera means reversing is not an issue.
I had promised myself that I wouldn’t rely on the built in MINI sat nav but instead I would ‘follow my nose’ as the old saying goes. Winding through the open country roads, wind in my hair but comfortably warm with the help of my heated seats, I soon found myself at Edisford Bridge in Clitheroe.
Nestled on the edge of the River Ribble, the beautiful scenery is the perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll, a train ride for the children, dipping your toes in the water, eating a picnic, kicking back and relaxing and what’s more, just across the road there is a local pub – that sounds pretty cool to me!
After the excitement of all that fresh air my thoughts had turned to some retail therapy. Stydd Gardens in Ribchester is a shopping experience like no other in the Ribble Valley. There is a selection of interesting and individual shops housed in quirky wooden cabins for everything from beauty, interiors to gardens.
I must admit I did cheat a little here and used my sat nav, but only because I had heard about the terrace at Mitton Hall and I wanted to waste no time in getting there! The smooth ride of the MINI Convertible meant I was experiencing a carefree driving experience and I know I turned a few heads as I whizzed by (for a secret attention seeker I did love this). After a quick obligatory selfie outside, I wandered out to the terrace. Basking in sunshine I couldn’t help but think about cocktails, but as the designated driver, a glass of orange juice and some tapas bar snacks were the order of the day.
The dictionary defines cool as “moderately cold” so my mind instantly turned to ice cream. Nestled at the bottom of Downham hill is the Downham Ice Cream Shop. A fairly new venture established in 2014, the blackcurrant ice cream was a huge hit with me, and of course, everyone of all ages love ice cream don’t they?
By this time it was early evening. Checking my ‘Rain Warner App’, I knew the weather was going to be clear so the roof remained down for open air excitement. I had an evening reservation at the Michelin-starred Northcote to round off my day, but with a few hours to kill I decided to take the MINI Convertible into Clitheroe town centre.
Clitheroe is often referred to as the hub of the Ribble Valley so naturally there is a host of restaurants, shops, and bars but I wasn’t expecting to find the hidden gem that is Escape with Coffee and Cocktails or ESC CC for short. A wide selection of coffee, tea and soft drinks were on offer but I couldn’t help but longingly look at the impressive bespoke cocktail of the week – I will certainly be returning again to sample what can only be described as their show stopping cocktails in a very ‘cool’ venue!
After starting the day with trepidation I am more than confident that I have unearthed a cool day in the Ribble Valley. What isn’t cool about a MINI Convertible with shopping, Michelin-starred food, ice cream, walks by the river, tapas and coffee!
MINI supplied by:
Bowker Blackburn MINI
Trident Way, Blackburn BB1 3NU
01254 274446
www.bowkerblackburnmini.co.uk
