Pendle Visitors' Guide

Pendle Visitors' Guide!

Well known for its striking countryside, Pendle also has lively towns and friendly villages.

Nelson is undergoing a revival, with smart new shops and a new plan to build on its existing traditional character. There's plenty of character in the towns and villages surrounding Nelson, too, places like Barley, the start point for walks up Pendle Hill, and Newchurch, with its Witches Emporium, and by small, but glamorous Barrowford, which takes niche and speciality shopping to another level. In addition to that it has some very fine pubs and restaurants.

Idyllic villages nestle in the shadow of Pendle Hill, villages such as Fence, once the boundary to the Royal Forest, and Roughlee, winner of the Best Kept Village Competition of 2006. Another beautiful town is Colne, often known as Bonnie Colne, and winner of an award in the North West In Bloom competition. Already well known for its restaurant quarter, it has one of the oldest churches in Pendle, St Bartholomew's. Built by Robert de Lacy in 1122, it was rebuilt in 1815, with some of the original features being retained.

You might like to visit the pretty village of Newchurch with its Witches Galore emporium or walk to the top of Pendle Hill and enjoy the magnificent views - such a walk inspired George Fox to set up the Quaker Movement - or meander through the gorgeous village of Wycoller, with its Country Park and Bronte connections. Wycoller Hall was Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

Pendle is rich in heritage. Bancroft Mill offers a wonderful and rare opportunity to see a mill steam engine in action. The 600 horse power engine was originally used to drive 1,250 looms weaving cotton. The very rare Cornish hand-fired boiler is used to power the huge and impressive rope-driven flywheel weighing 30 tons. Nearby is the Lead Mining Museum in Earby, which, with its great collection of mining artefacts, tells the story of mining and the miners' lives. There is also The British in India Museum, a quirky and individual entertainment. Click on www.visitlancashire.com for more details on these museums.

A brand new DVD of the witches' story was released in 2007; it's an intriguing historical investigation and well worth watching! The trails and the DVD are available from local Tourist Information Centres and the Pendle Heritage Centre, which has a display on the witches. The Centre is a historic house, and former home to the Bannister family, whose famous son is Sir Roger Bannister.

At twilight at Wycoller Hall you might see the ghost of the headless horseman, Squire Cunliffe, master of the hall. The story goes that he murdered his wife and fled from the scene on horseback. Legend has it that you can sometimes hear screams and the crack of a whip echoing around the village! The village is also home to the ghost of The Blue Lady, who regularly floats from Pearson House (near the tea shop) into the adjoining house.

The Leeds Liverpool Canal

Pendle hosts one of the most scenic waterways in England: The Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It is now more than 200 years old and at 127 miles long is the longest canal in the country. Whether you're  a boater, cyclist, angler, walker, naturalist, or have an interest in industrial archaeology, this canal is a treasure trove of interest.

Mill Shopping at Barden Mill is to be complemented by the construction of a new marina, the only one on this 20 mile stretch of the canal. Going North East there are safe visitor moorings at Lomeshaye Wharf. The legacy of Pendle's reputation as the industrial centre of its day continues to amaze as you travel East - horse ramps and old wharves are now a backdrop for Kingfishers and Herons and other wildlife.

One of the most scenic parts of the canal is from Barrowford to Barnoldswick, and in between is a Georgian feat of engineering called The Mile Tunnel or Foulridge Tunnel. At one end of the tunnel is Foulridge Wharf, with its historic Lime Kiln. The wharf is the boarding point for one of the most popular trip boats on the canal, the Marton Emperor run by Foulridge Canal Cruises, there is also a nationally accredited Canoe Club.

Many reservoirs feed the canal, including one known as Lake Burwain, which is popular with water sports enthusiasts, and also has a walking trail around it, one of a series of four Pendle Canal Walks which are available free from Pendle's Tourist Information Centres. The Pennine Cycleway also runs along the towpath on this section of the canal, and is great for family cycle rides. Once you pass Lower Park Marina you reach the highest point on the canal at Greenberfield Locks - voted best kept locks in the country.

To celebrate this historic waterway, Pendle has an annual canal festival. Pendle has been awarded the Kenwin Trophy 2007 from the Inland Waterways Association in recognition of its outstanding service to North West canals and contribution to the aims of the Association. The award was presented to the Pendle Canal Development Project. During the last three years Pendle Council has spent over half a million pounds of Lottery money to improve Pendle's Canal Corridor, supporting 36 community-led projects, including nature and heritage trails, and bridge and wharf renovations.

The Tacklers' Trails are four urban heritage trails, each with different names, which link the Leeds and Liverpool canal and cotton making. The people, places and buildings are brought to life on these trails by colourful displays alongside the canal. This includes people like the Ecroyd Family, and places like St Mary's - with the second tallest spire in Lancashire - and the lovely Marsden Park. There is also a series of four scenic Canal Walks, taking in the lovely Alkincoates Nature Reserve.