Clitheroe is a bustling market town in the heart of the Ribble Valley, between the Forest of Bowland and Pendle Hill. With a population of around 15,000 it is the largest town in the area.
Hotels
Hotels in Clitheroe town centre include the Old Post House. There are plenty of further choices throughout the Ribble Valley.
Camping
Angram Green is a Camping and Caravanning Club site around three miles east of Clitheroe, between the villages of Worston and Downham and close to Pendle Hill. Situated on a working sheep farm it offers basic facilities for caravans, motorhomes, and tents. Self-catering holiday cottages are also available.
Attractions
The town is dominated by a massive limestone rock, crowned with the keep of Clitheroe Castle, built in the late 12th century by Robert de Lacy. In 1920 it was purchased by the townsfolk by public subscription and declared a war memorial to those that has perished in the First World War. Its extensive grounds contain the Clitheroe Castle Museum, a labyrinth, skate park, children’s play area, and bandstand.
The Grand is the town’s music and arts centre. It was originally built in 1873 as a public hall before being converted to a cinema in 1921. It opened in its latest guise in 2008 following a £3 million transformation and hosts a busy programme of live concerts, theatrical performances, comedy shows, workshops, club nights, and more.
There are no cinemas in Clitheroe, although the Grand usually screens one or two movies each month. The nearest cinemas are the Palace in Longridge, the Odeon in Preston, the Apollo in Burnley, the Vue cinemas in Accrington, Burnley, and Preston.
The Platform Gallery features exhibitions of contemporary craftwork and is situated in a former railway building at the train station. The shop here sells jewellery, glassware, ceramics, textiles, prints, and more. It also hosts craft workshops throughout the year.
Edisford Bridge Picnic Area, around one mile west of the town centre, is a popular spot for family days out. It offers pleasant walks along the banks of the River Ribble, a children’s playground, picnic area, and a miniature steam railway (Ribble Valley Live Steamers). The picnic area shares a car park with the Ribblesdale Pool, a leisure centre with a 25 metre swimming pool, tennis and netball courts, and football pitches.
Clitheroe also boasts its own sculpture trail. It begins at Brungerley Park, northwest of the town centre and extends to the former quarry site at Cross Hill, now a designated wildlife conservation area.
Shops
Clitheroe enjoys a great reputation for its independent specialist shops, a refreshing change from the major chain stores that seem to dominate most town centres these days.
Cowman’s Famous Sausage Shop is a traditional butchers shop known for its massive choice of sausages while D Byrne & Co is widely regarded as one of the best wine shops in North West England.
Dawson’s is a family owned department store on King Street. Its product range includes garden furniture, Weber BBQs, Denby Pottery, Dorma bedding, Le Creuset cookware and other household items.
Clitheroe Market is a traditional market offering a wide range of products such as fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, bread, cheese, clothes, curtains, carpets, and electrical goods. It’s situated on New Market Street in the town centre. Regular market days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. An antique and flea market is held on Fridays.
Award-winning independent supermarket chain Booths has a fantastic store next to the train station. Sainsbury’s and Tesco also have stores in the town.
Transport
Car
Drivers coming from the north or south should leave the M6 motorway at Junction 31 and take the A59. After driving for 12 miles, turn left at the roundabout and take the A671 into Clitheroe town centre.
Car parks in Clitheroe town centre include the short-stay car park on New Market Street (postcode BB7 2JW) and the long-stay car parks on Lowergate (BB7 1AD) and Chester Avenue (BB7 2AJ). All are pay-and-display car parks operated by Ribble Valley Borough Council.
Train
Clitheroe train station is the northern terminus of the Ribble Valley Line. Northern Rail operates a service from Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe. Trains call at Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Blackburn, Langho, and Whalley.