Local Activities
Within the immediate vicinity of Thurnham Hall
Black Knights Parachute Centre – For something completely different…………..
Glasson Dock – Port/marina and the Smoke House
Lancaster Canal – just behind Thurnham Hall, across the field from the Woodland Carpark.
Further afield
Aquarium of the Lakes – at Lakeside, this is UK’s leading freshwater aquarium. Just beside the aquarium is the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam railway
Ambleside – Another market town that is very popular with the tourists. Plenty of shops including Hayes Garden Centre.
Arnside – There are many lovely wooded walks around Arnside Knott, up to the “Pepper-Pot” at Silverdale or around the coast with its cliff top walks and sea views.
Between Ambleside and Windermere the Low Wood Water Sports and activity Centre with boat hire, kayaking, waterskiing, sailing, bungy trampolines and climbing walls.
Barrow In Furness – (Continue past Ulverston) This is where the Lakes meet the sea. A Victorian town with numerous facilities for shopping and other leisure activities.
Blackpool for all the obvious stuff. The Sandcastle Waterworld in Blackpool (right opposite the pleasure beach) offers a great day out, particularly out of season when the weather leaves a little to be desired. It houses the longest water rollercoaster in the world plus many other water slides and fun stuff for all ages. Spotlessly clean and helpful, friendly staff too!
Bowness – The A592 from Newby Bridge is quite narrow and windy in places – watch out for large vehicles approaching. This is the main tourist centre. Plenty of choice for eateries, pubs, clubs and souvenir shops. Situated on the edge of Lake Windermere – the biggest lake in the Country at 10.75 miles long. The 10-mile an hour speed limit came into force in 2005 but you can still ski – wake boarding is fast becoming very popular and great at low speeds. Traditional water skiing is great for children at 10 mph!
Brockhole Lake District National Park Centre – The place to visit if you’ve never been to the Lakes before. Its exhibition centre, its setting in a magnificent old house in beautiful gardens on the lakeside, the large grounds [great for picnics] and the range of local books etc are all good reasons for starting a Lakes holiday there. For the younger visitor there is a fantastic adventure playground for children here – for kids of all ages.
Cleveleys – oft neglected companion town of Blackpool.
Coniston – Its best feature is The Old Man of Coniston, rising dramatically behind the houses when seen from the village centre. Coniston is a good centre for walkers and climbers. The Gondola – The best vessel on any of the lakes. A magnificent Victorian steamer superbly restored to show off its polished wood and brass finish as it glides quietly but gracefully along Coniston Water. Jetty at the end of Lake Road in Coniston.
Dalton In Furness – South Lakes Wildlife park – definitely one for the kids, this great park gives you the opportunity to get really close to the animals. There are daily events, which show off the skills of the animals there, especially at feeding time.
Furness Abbey – One of the best examples of mediaeval abbeys in England in a atmospheric setting between Dalton and Barrow. Superb light in late afternoon.
Fleetwood well worth taking a look at. It was the first planned town of Queen Victoria’s era.
Garstang – nice market town.
Hawkshead – A pretty and historic village worth strolling around and discovering hidden alleyways. And, if you must, shop in the various shops that specialise in outdoor clothing. Wordsworth’s old school and the lovely old church are worth seeing too. Between Coniston and Windermere [take the chain ferry from Bowness].
Keswick – The Cars is the Stars Motor Museum featuring the actual cars from television and film, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the James Bond collection.
Kirkby Lonsdale – Must visit this old town. Just outside at Cowan Bridge is Hipping Hall. Excellent food taken in a magnificent dining room cooked by a former Young Chef of the Year.
Kirkham is an ancient market town and well worth a visit. The shops on the steep main street retain an old-World feel. The main market day is Thursday, when things get quite busy. In the centre of Kirkham is a cobbled square where you can see evidence of the old fish market. The parish church of St Michael is still in fine condition following a rebuild in 1822. With its 150 foot high steeple it is clearly visible, even though it is off the main thoroughfare. The Black Horse coaching inn off Hill street is worth finding. Kirkham Grammar School was founded in 1549. Visit The Roman fort at Kirkham
Lake District . Windermere, Ambleside and Coniston are less than an hour away. Visit Gummers How and Fell Foot Country Park at the bottom of Windermere. Visit Grizedale from Hawkshead. Drive along the east side of Coniston Water. Visit Brantwood House for a lunch.
Lancaster has a fine castle and decent shopping area. Visit J Atkinson & Co for an old fashioned Tea and Coffee shop on China Street just in front of the Castle.
Leighton Moss – This is the largest remaining reedbed in north-west England. A bird-watchers paradise.
Lytham St. Anne’s for a nice relaxing sea-side experience.
Morecambe and Heysham for the sea-side.
Newby Bridge – Stott Park Bobbin Mill is one of the best-preserved genuine early 19th century working mills. 1-mile walk to the Lakeside steamer pier to catch the steamer to Bowness.
Poulton-le-Fylde – old market town with stocks in the square.
Preston – National Football Museum at Preston North End’s ground at Deepdale. It is full of very interesting exhibits including the controversial crossbar from the 1966 World Cup Final and memorabilia from all aspects of football.
Silverdale – Village in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Ulverston – This market town is some 8 miles south of L.W.E. It is a good-sized market town, market days being Thursday & Saturday. The nearest large supermarket (Booths) is just on the outskirts and has reasonable opening hours.Laurel & Hardy Museum – Located in Ulverston and devoted to the comedy duo as the name suggests. Stan Laurel was born in here is 1890.The Lakes Glass Centre – Situated opposite Booths at Ulverston is Heron Glass and Cumbria Crystal where you can watch the glass being blown, moulded and baked into swans, mushrooms and ornate vases etc. The factory shop gives you the opportunity to purchase gifts. Windermere – Continue up the hill from Bowness to reach the village of Windermere. Slightly less touristy than Bowness. The famous Lakeland Limited (cookware shop) -formally Lakeland Plastics Ltd is situated at the top, near to the railway station. Windermere Lake Cruises – For an alternative way to reach Bowness. Drive to Haverthwaite and take the steam train to Lakeside, then one of the passenger steamers up to Bowness or even right up to the north of the lake to Ambleside. You can, of course, catch these steamers from Bowness Bay, and Ambleside too.
Further afield to the East there is the adjacent National Park – The Yorkshire Dales (This link takes you to page 2 of “Out and About”) . Visit Sedbergh and Hawes. Much nearer is Kirkby Lonsdale.
Back in Lancashire is the little known Forest of Bowland (an area of outstanding beauty). Take a drive through the Trough of Bowland to Dunsop Bridge – the heart of Britain. Carry on down to Clitheroe and explore the Ribble Valley.
INGLETON
THE NAME “INGLETON” means “Beacon Town”. The village nestles at the foot of Ingleborough amidst wooded glens, waterfalls, caves and pot holes. It is an ideal spot for a day out. In the village there are cafes, restaurants, snack bars and shops.
INGLETON is renowned for its scenery and provides a treat for all who love the countryside and the lore of the Dales. There are many beautiful walks in the hills surrounding Ingleton, giving an opportunity to explore this quiet and peaceful area to all from the family party to the experienced fell walker.
THE FALLS WALK. The walk up the glen, over the hills and back down the other glen to Ingleton is a distance of four wonderful miles. Pecca Falls and Hollybush Spout delight the eye. Thornton Force is a fall characteristic of the limestone formation which tumbles forty feet into a pool surrounded by a natural amphitheatre. Down the ravine formed by the river Twiss there is the Triple Spout of Beezley followed by the Rival Falls. The waters then plunge and roar through Baxenghyll Gorge and Snow Falls complete the series on the return to the village.
INGLEBOROUGH. A well defined path leads to the summit of Ingleborough, 2,373 feet high, which is composed of millstone grit and is nearly a mile in circumference, there are traces of ancient fortifications. The mountain was probably used as an important beacon. There is a shelter and Mountain Indicator on the summit built by the local Mountain Rescue Organisation to commemorate the coronation of the Queen.
CAVES AND POT HOLES. The celebrated White Scar Caves are 4 miles from the village on the Hawes Road. They were discovered in 1923 and since then have been opened up and illuminated. The visitor can easily walk almost half a mile into the heart of Ingleborough. This cave system defies adequate description and a visit must be made to appreciate the natural beauty and a variety of formations. A small charge is made for admission, car parks and refreshments are available.
GAPING GHYLL HOLE is 365 feet deep, 450 feet long and 130 feet wide. It is the grandest and most spacious pot hole in the British Isles. Usually at Spring and August Bank Holiday Weekends, clubs have a winch erected and it is possible to go down in a “bosun’s chair “. In Alum Pot which is 292 feet deep, Alum Pot Beck cascades down in a magnificent plunge and another stream is seen to enter Chasm 60 feet below the gaping mouth. This great natural spectacle is easily visible after a short walk from the road. Permission should be obtained.
Any visitors planning an expedition on the Fells or to explore the Caves and Pot-holes for which the area is famous, are strongly advised to follow the Safety Code, copies of which are available from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre, where further information or advice can be obtained.
The limestone area along with the Craven Fault is of interest to Geologists. The Botanist will find many specimens of plants which grow only in limestone districts
HEATED OPEN AIR SWIMMING POOL. Visitors are welcome. Open May to September.
ANGLING. The Ingleton Angling Association have six miles of excellent trout fishing.
INGLETON CHURCH The Parish Church of St. Mary, picturesquely situated on a hill overlooking the Twiss Beck, stands on the site of the original Norman church. The present building, with the exception of its tower, was erected n 1887. The Norman Font, during the Commonwealth when the doctrine of baptism was disavowed, was thrown into the Twiss Beck where it lay until it was rescued at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The church still has a 13 th -century tower. An example of the rare vinegar bible is on display.
While in the area, other places of interest areas follows (miles shown are from Ingleton):
Airton Austwick Bentham 4 Miles. Market Day Wednesday. Golf Course Burton in Lonsdale 3 Miles Chapel le Dale Church and Lych Gate. Clapham 4 Miles Cowen Bridge Easegill Force 1 Mile. Giggleswick Hawes 18 Miles. Market Day Tuesday Halton Gill Hellifield Horton-in-Ribblesdale Kendal 17 Miles Kirkby Lonsdale 7 Miles. Market Day Thursday. Golf Course. Lancaster 18 Miles Lancliffe Litton Long Preston Malham Morecambe 20 Miles Pen-Y-Ghent Rathmell Ribblehead Viaduct 6 miles. Settle 10 Miles. Golf Course. Market Day Tuesday Stainforth Skipton 26 Miles Thornton in Lonsdale Church, Whipping Posts and Stocks. 1 Mile. Whernside Wigglesworth Yordas Cave 5 Miles
The Ribble Valley
The Ribble Valley is a close kept secret to most folk. The Queen once said that she would like to retire to this particular part of Lancashire. As I have lived in Blackburn since 1969 I have grown to know the area quite well and feel visitors to Thurnham Hall could do themselves a favour by taking a day out to explore the delights of the valley.
Most people have heard of Stonyhurst College, even if it is only through the connection with Tolkien and his famous work “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Tolkiens sons attended Stonyhurst and the area around the college was the inspiration for the fictitious homeland of the Hobbits, Middle Earth.
The college is a famous Roman Catholic boarding school and is close by the pretty village of Hurst Green. However, before becoming a college the building was originally the family home of the Shireburne’s. It was built in 1648 and Oliver Cromwell rested there in 1648 prior to the Battle of Preston.
The Shireburnes died out and the house deteriorated before being given to the Jesuits in 1794, who set up a school there, where it has remained ever since. The Shireburn Arms in Hurst Green celebtrates their name.
There is a connection with the Shireburne family and the church of All Hallows at Great Mitton. This church dates from 1270 and has just been restored. The church has a chancel screen which is thought to have come from Sawley Abbey.
The Cistercian Abbey at Sawley (picture to right) was founded in 1147 but was destroyed by command of Henry VIII in 1537. It is well worth a visit and you can take refreshment at the Spread Eagle where you can the enjoy the setting of this cottage-style seventeenth-century inn. The Riverside Restaurant provides excellent views of the River Ribble and the Bowland Hills beyond. Chef Greig Barnes trained with Paul Heathcote!
While on the subject of food, if you continue on the A59 from Sawley and head over to Skipton, you pass through Gisburn ( the supposed birth-place of Guy of Gisburn, arch foe of Robin Hood and Steward to the Sherrif of Nottingham). In the centre of the village is the White Bull Hotel . Behind the village is Gisburne Park and the River Ribble provides its northern boundary.
Continue on towards Skipton which is a busy North Yorkshire Market town. The Angel at Hetton provides fabulous food and makes a great day out. It is six miles from Skipton along the B6265.
OK, just drifted away from the Ribble Valley there. Best get back down the A59 to Clitheroe. This is the primary market town of the Ribble Valley. The A59 used to pass straight through the town but the by-pass now takes all the main traffic so you can enjoy wondering about in peace. Looking East from Clitheroe you cannot miss the dark and brooding Pendle Hill – the home of the Witches of Pendle. Visit the nearby villages of Pendleton, Worston, Downham and Rimington which all lie in the shadow of Pendle Hill, near Clitheroe. It is a lovely drive all around Pendle Hill. To the West of the hill are the Pendle Witch villages of Barley, Newchurch in Pendle and Sabden (for the famous Treacle Mines!!).
Travel south from Clitheroe on the A59 to reach Whalley and visit Whalley Abbey. Take the B6246 to Great Mitton. Call in at the Three Fishes. Pick up the B6243 to Hurst Green and Stonyhurst College. Continue along the B6243 to Longridge and check out The Longridge Restaurant. Maybe call in before that at Ribchester. This is an ancient Roman Settlement on the banks of the River Ribble. A Roman Fort was established here. Artefacts can be viewed in the Roman Museum. See the roman pillars either side of the entrance to the White Bull.
In this part of the Ribble Valley it is hard to not notice Longridge Fell. Excellent views of the whole region and out to the coast can be had from the top of Jeffrey Hill. Having gone to the north of Longridge Fell you should visit the pretty village of Chipping which lies in the valley bottom between Longridge Fell and the majestic collection of Fells that make up the Forest of Bowland. At this side of Longridge Fell lies the River Hodder. This meanders along the valley bottomaway from Chipping, towards Bashall Eaves, past the end of Longridge Fell and Stonyhurst College to join the Ribble at Great Mitton.
From Chipping the drive to Slaidburn passes through fine farmland. The reward is to stop off for afternoon tea at The Hark to Bounty Inn in the village. You could then double back to Newton, another of the Villages of Bowland. Follow the road on to Dunsop Bridge, the gravitational centre of our island. You can now follow the road back to Thurnham via the Trough of Bowland.
Farmers Markets
Lancashire
Carnforth Railway Station. Fourth Wednesday monthly 9.30am — 2.30pm. 01539 732736. Clitheroe. First and third Tuesday monthly 9am — 4pm. 01200 443012. Colne. Third Saturday monthly 9am — 2pm. 01282 661240. Fleetwood Market. Third Friday monthly from 9am. 01253 771651. Great Eccleston. The Square. Third Wednesday monthly 9am – 2pm. 01995 670386. Helmshore Mills Textile Museum. Rossendale. First Sunday monthly l0am — 3pm. 07725 466315. Hoghton Tower. Third Sunday monthly (excluding July when it is held on the 2nd Sunday) 10 am – 3pm. 01254 852986. Kirkham. Cunliffe Fold Farm, Blackleach Lane. Every Saturday l0am — 2pm. 01772 690622. Market Square Lancaster. Second Saturday monthly l0am — 4pm. 01524 66627. Mawdesley. Cedar Farm, Back Lane. First Saturday monthly l0am — 3pm. 01704 832200Penwortham. St Mary’s Church Hall, Cop Lane. First Saturday monthly 9am — 1pm 07947 035994. St Annes. Upper Promenade, nr Pleasure Island. First Thursday monthly 9am — 2pm. 01995 670386. St Chad’s Church Hall. Poulton-le-Fylde. Fourth Saturday monthly 9am — 1pm. 01253 883470. Southport. King Street. Last Thursday monthly l0am — 3pm. 0151 934 4283. Scarisbrick Village Hall. Second Tuesday monthly 9.30am — 1230pm. 01704 880623.
Cumbria
Carlisle Castle. English Street. First Friday monthly 9.30am — 3.30pm. 01539 732736. High Bentham Market Hall. First Saturday monthly 9.30am — 2.30pm. 01539 732736. Whitehaven Market Hall. First Saturday monthly 9.30am — 2.30pm. 01946 852635. Carlisle. Harrison and Hetherington, Borderway Mart, Rosehill. 2nd Saturday monthly 9.30am — 1pm. 01228 590490. Orton Village. Second Saturday monthly 9.30am — 2.30pm. 01931 714004. Hadrian’s Wall. Greenhead Village Hall. Second Sunday monthly l0am — 2pm. 01539 732736. Penrith Market Square. Third Tuesday monthly 9am – 2.30pm. 01768 817817. Brough Memorial Hall. Third Saturday monthly 9.30am — 2pm (January — March 9.30am — 1pm). 01768 342135. Ulverston Market Place. Third Saturday monthly 9am — 2.30pm. 01539 732736. Kendal Market Hall. Last Friday monthly 9.30am — 3.30pm. 01539 732736. Brampton. Moot Hall. Last Saturday monthly 9am — 2.30pm. 01539 732736.
