Clitheroe is an attractive market town in the Ribble Valley [1] in East Lancashire, which claims to be at the geographic heart of England. It lies to the south of the Forest of Bowland and is the ideal staging post for visiting that area, known as 'Lancashire's hidden gem'.

It is well known for its Norman castle, dating back over 800 years and for great food and wine shops.

Get in

Clitheroe has a railway interchange, with hourly trains to Blackburn and Manchester (Victoria Station). It is also served by regular buses from Preston, the X80 and 280, which run hourly during the day.

Get around

There are bus connections with Bolton, Blackburn, Accrington, Skipton, Ribchester and local villages.

See

The castle, which is often said to have the smallest Norman keep in England. It stands on a 35-metre outcrop of limestone and is one of the oldest buildings in Lancashire, and is surrounded by pleasant gardens and a park. It is also the only remaining castle in the county which had a royalist garrison during the English Civil War.

Do

• Wander through the main streets and experience a typical northern English market town, especially on market days. There has been a market in Clitheroe since Norman times. The market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a Flea market on Fridays.
• Visit the Platform Gallery at the railway station - an excellent craft gallery.
• Visit the Ribble Valley Sculpture Trail. This includes over 20 interesting sculptures, plus interpretation boards about the area and its wildlife. The trail travels through Brungerley Park and Cross Hill Quarry, combining river and woodland walking with good views and wildlife in the nature reserve managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Starts less than a mile from Clitheroe town centre, heading north towards Waddington.

Buy

Clitheroe is well served by specialist shop, and an award-winning off-licence, D. Byrne & Co, on King Street. It also has an excellent Booths Supermarket - an institution in Lancashire.

Eat

A good choice of cafes and restaurants throughout the town.

Drink

Plenty of characterful inns and public houses in town.

Go next

• The Forest of Bowland - explore a beautiful and almost unknown area of Britain.
• Browsholme Hall The oldest surviving family home in Lancashire is the ancestral home of the Parker Family, who have lived there since it was built in 1507. Open some summer weekends http://www.browsholme.com/lancashire_historic_house.php
• 1 Sawley Abbey. The remains of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1148, set on the banks of the Ribble against a backdrop of dramatic hills. Free. 
• Whalley Abbey. A 14th century Cistercian Abbey on the banks of the Calder.