Forest of Pendle Leisure Park

THE US has Salem, the UK has Pendle. The year 1612 saw the most infamous witch trials in English history, leading to the execution of ten people, all of whom lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire. It’s not surprising that the events have inspired a modern tourism and heritage industry that visitors will find hard to avoid.

But with or without witches, Pendle Hill is a beautiful, distinctive and, it must be said, slightly eerie landmark, standing sentry over the Pendle valley, separating the adjoining conurbations of Colne, Nelson and Burnley from Clitheroe and the wonderful hill country of the Forest of Bowland, and just a short distance from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

An ideal place to base yourself if you want to explore this area is Forest of Pendle Leisure Park, near the village of Roughlee, set amid stunning scenery, with Pendle Hill in the background. It’s part of a family-run business, Hill Brothers, that has been operating leisure parks throughout the UK for 20 years, and it won the Best Kept Park award in 2008.

The park is aimed at those who want to enjoy the scenery and the local activities. There is a children’s play area, but no entertainment facilities on site, though just outside is the Bay Horse Inn, which serves up hearty pub food and is family friendly. There are regular offers available exclusively to the park’s guests.

There is certainly plenty to do in the area, in addition to following the Witches’ Trail... Towneley Hall near Burney, for instance is a country house with a museum and art gallery as well as woodland walks, a sculpture trail, two golf courses, and more. Boundary Mill Shop at Colne has a huge range of goods for happy shoppers, including clothes, arts, crafts and local food.

At Roughlee village is a local fishery stocked with Rainbow, Blue and Brown trout. Nearby Colne has a karting track, and you can also take boat trips from there on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

More importantly, there is just the countryside to enjoy, and you wouldn’t want to miss climbing to the top of Pendle Hill itself – at 557m, the views are certainly worth the effort.


WHAT FACILITIES ARE NEAR THE PARK?

• Local amenities: The nearest shops are in Barrowford (1 mile), with more, plus post office, banks and supermarket in Nelson (1.5 miles).
• Health: The nearest GP’s surgeries, pharmacy, opticians and dentists are in Barrowford; the nearest hospital with 24-hour A&E is Airedale at Keighley (12 miles).
• Transport: Station in Nelson on line to Leeds for connections onward. There are buses Mon-Sat from Roughlee on the Nelson-Clitheroe route (71), with a Sunday service in summer only.
• Food & drink: The Bay Horse Inn is next to the park and serves food with offers for park users; the nearby White Bull at Gisburn on the way to Barrowford is also recommended, while the Zio Italian restaurant at Barrowford is highly regarded; more choice in Nelson and Burnley (5 miles).
• Entertainment: Cinema in Burnley; theatres in Nelson and Colne, where there are also leisure centres.


FOR SALE

2 bed £poa Type: single unit holiday caravan Size: 39ft x 12ft Make: Swift Model: Chamonix

2 bed £poa Type: single unit holiday caravan Size: 38ft x 12ft Make: Swift Model: Moselle

2 bed £poa Type: single unit holiday caravan Size: 42ft x 13ft Make: Willerby Model: Vogue Connoisseur

Pre-owned homes also available, starting from just £10,995.


PARK INFO

Forest of Pendle Leisure Park, Pasture Lane, Roughlee, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 6NR
Tel: 01282 690976 Email: [email protected] Web: www.forestofpendleleisurepark.co.uk

• Open: All year, leisure use only (11 months maximum occupation)
• Ground rent: Call for details
• Age limit: None
• Pets: Permitted
• Entertainment: Childrens play area
• Security: Resident on-site managers


This feature was published in the December 2011 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order a copy of Park & Holiday Homes please click here


Love this lifestyle? Sign up to our monthly lodge and holiday home e-newsletters today for EXCLUSIVE FEATURES please click here

Back to "Campsites" Category