Visit Lancashire

The changes at Samlesbury Hall

It’s a place I went to often as a child and a regular day out whenever the relations came over from Italy; they loved the hall, to them it was the epitome of an English house (and a fine example of one to boot!) which they still talk about to this day.  So, going back to Samlesbury Hall after some time and having the benefit of Director Sharon Jones as guide, was a bit of a revelation.

Things have changed at Samlesbury.  Not the wonderful moment you turn the corner on the drive to see the splendour of the black and white timbers or, the beautifully kept gardens (literally springing-into new life after our seemingly endless winter) no, the real changes are within the hall itself.

Midland Delight

The break between Christmas and New Year saw me hankering for a brisk walk and some fresh air so we decided to take a drive up to Morecambe and have lunch at The Midland Hotel. I haven’t been since English Lakes Hotels took over the management of the property and the rest of the family hadn’t been at all.

Fun on the Farm

I visited Thornton Hall farm Country Park on Friday for a brief visit (I was invited to talk at the Pendle Tourism Association meeting which was held in their conference room) and I have to say how impressed I was with the attraction.

The main play barn and animal pens were immaculately clean, with really innovative ways for kids and animals to interact together with a straw maze, big slides and sand pits. I’m easily distracted by cute and cuddly animals and so couldn’t resist taking a peak at some of the animals which included;  friendly goats, cute calves, barking puppies, a llama (I think - with lovely long eyelashes), chickens & fluffy chicks, bleating lambs, pigs and squealing piglets! I also saw the biggest rabbit I have ever seen (bigger than a large domestic cat).   Well worth a visit (especially for those with kids).

Jason & the Argonauts in Williamson Park

 

Tuesday evening saw Anna and I heading up to Lancaster for the Dukes Promenade theatre production of Jason and the Argonauts in Williamson Park. The volatile British weather had turned from midsummer heat wave the week before to torrential down pours but that didn’t stop us theatre goers donning our cagoules and heading to the park for an evening of outdoor theatre.

 

May's walk of the month

The Carnforth Canal Walks
4.5 - 6 mile walks

Four easy walks detailed in the downloadable leaflet which allow ample time and opportunity to explore the countryside which links two of England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; The Forest of Bowland and Arnside and Silverdale.

To download the walks

April - Walk of the Month

The Burnley Way might be 40 miles but it is conveniently broken down into six separate walks ranging from between 5 and 8 miles. If you are looking for somewhere new to explore this Easter, the Burnley Way might be a good place to start - from industrial heritage to South Pennine Moors - there is plenty to see.

 

All six walks can be downloaded from visitlancashire.com

One for cheese fans!

March's walk of the month is the Lancashire Crumbly Cheese Walk - a 6 mile ramble around Garstang and the area known as the 'Lancashire Milk Fields'.

Lancaster Lunch

I visited The Borough in Lancaster on Tuesday for lunch with an Irish journalist. I had fish & chips (Fleetwood fish battered to perfection) whilst the journalist had steak & ale pie, with a half of Hen Harrier ale. Great service and lovely food– well worth a visit if you are in Lancaster!

A Floral Feast in Garstang

Not only does the area of Garstang have a reputation for serving up some of Lancashire's finest produce but it is also a twice Gold winner of Britain in Bloom and yesterday hosted a visit by the judges of the European equivalent - The Entente Florale!

Adrian and I joined the hard working horticulturalists of Garstang and the European judges at the Garstang Country Hotel & Golf club last night to celebrate the blooming achievement of this Lancashire village.

England's Golf Coast - The home of the Open

As part of the England's Golf Coast campaign I spent the day with colleagues from Liverpool, Southport and Fylde at the Open Golf championship in Royal Birkdale yesterday. The cold and unrelenting rain did not deter the fans (nor the majority of the golfers) from supporting the event and the England's Golf Coast stand became a welcoming beacon for many to shelter from the weather.