Astley Park is a fantastic park on the edge of Chorley town centre. It offers a wealth of attractions including a historic house, playground and woodland.
Astley Hall is a Grade I listed building, completed in the 17th century. It offers a unique collection of oak furniture and beautiful plaster ceilings. Entrance is free.
The playground is themed around Royalists and Roundheads due to Oliver Cromwell’s reputed stay at Astley Hall prior to the Battle of Preston in 1648. Play equipment includes a castle ruin, zip wire, slides, and sand pit. It is decent but can’t beat the setting of the playground at Yarrow Valley Country Park.
Pets’ Corner is a wonderful attraction home to a variety of animals such as chipmunks, snakes, snails, degus, guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, budgerigars, chickens, and hens. My daughter bought a box of vegetables and thoroughly enjoyed feeding them. About 15 minutes into our visit one of the volunteers brought out a huge African spurred tortoise from its enclosure and, much to everybody’s delight, let it wander freely around the grounds.
Café Ambio occupies the ground floor of the Coach House (next to Astley Hall). Exhibitions are held upstairs.
Astley Hall’s Walled Garden features vegetable beds, herb gardens, and an orchard with apple and pear trees. According to the information board, many of the ingredients used at Café Ambio are sourced from here.
Astley Hall and Park is a great place to visit. If time permits, we’d recommend you combine your visit here with a trip to Yarrow Valley Country Park.
Astley Hall and Park are located just northwest of Chorley town centre. The main car park is situated next to Astley Hall on Hallgate, at the western end of the park. Chorley Council recommend using the postcode PR7 1XA to find it with a satellite navigation system.
The closest railway station is Chorley (in the town centre – next to Chorley Bus Station). Euxton Balshaw Lane Train Station and Buckshaw Parkway Train Station are also nearby.
We visited the park yesterday with our 3 year old grandson.At first we went around the walled garden which was really well tended and very enjoyable.We then went to the castle play area but soon moved on as the area was full off dogs there was even a dog plus owner in the sand pit.Over to the pet area when we entered we were hit by the smell it was overpowering and a female was trying her best to clean up with no additional help.Outside we had to tell the girl that the chickens had no water to drink.when we sat down on a bench a massive dog run up and frightened myself and my grandson and when I spoke to the owner who had two other dogs on leads and another running free she said we shouldn’t be on a park if we didn’t like dogs.There are signs to say that dogs should be kept under control but I don’t think anyone takes any notice of them.I think the park and surroundings are beautiful but unfortunately it will be a long time before I visit again .