Pendle Steps, Breakfast and Bluebells.

One of the great things about working a split shift is the  fact that I have a good chunk of spare time going free during the day. If I can drag myself away from my latest streaming addictions on Netflix etc, there’s certainly the opportunity to do something more constructive.   😁

Pendle Steps.

Although I have made it up to the summit of Pendle Hill before, I’ve never done it the short sharp shock way.  The Pendle Steps are steep stone steps that cut a quickish route up to the trigg point. I say quickish, because my sister who dragged me along  was very kind and let us stop frequently to admire the view. 😃

We parked roadside near Pendle House Farm so we needn’t walk up from the car park in the village. It was then a short hike along a  farm track to the start of the steps. Lapwings were busy twirling and tumbling from the sky, real aerial acrobats.

Information board at the beginning of the steps.

Unfortunately 😕 not open. Love the name though.

Sis at the kissing gate at the start of the steps.

Of course Pendle Hill is steeped in history which  you do get a sense of  whilst walking in the area. George Fox founded the Quaker movement after having an inspirational spiritual experience here in 1652 and previous to that, the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 are still ingrained in our lands myth and legend.

Looking back down the steps.

A man and his doggo heading upwards.

And look, we made it to  the Summit, 557 metres.

Witchy Pendle Way sign.

We saw lots of Green Hairstreak butterfly in the bilberry.

There was definitely a sense of achievement after having conquered The Pendle Steps. And a sense of relief!

Breakfast & Bluebells.

The other half has changed jobs and shift patterns, so it means he gets some time off during the week too. One morning we decided to try out breakfast at a newish cafe in the nearby village of Whalley. Holdens & Co are an ice cream parlour, kitchen and deli situated in the village centre. We opted for  The Breakfast Sharing Board which is laden with toast, croissants, pain au chocolate and fruit loaf. Quite the carbs overload, and probably big enough for 3 to 4 people to dive into actually. Hugo the labrador was only too happy to help! Holdens is clean and bright, I loved that we grabbed a window facing table perfect for people watching and dogs are made welcome in the cafe.

Holdens & Co.

Just outside Whalley is Spring Wood & Picnic Site , a semi ancient woodland which is a lovely spot for shady walks, especially when the weather is getting hotter. Bluebells and Ramsons ( Wild Garlic) put on an impressive display here in late April & May. Below are a few photos I captured on our walk.

I’m pleased to have seen the bluebells as they will soon be finished for the year.

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Holden Clough Nurseries , Bolton By Bowland, Lancs.

So I’m not into gardening at all, but for some reason I quite enjoy a trip out to Holden Clough, especially on a sunny day when wandering around the beautiful outdoor plant areas. They give off welcoming Mediterranean vibes. 😎

I love the chalkboard signs that are dotted everywhere, helpful lists of which plants like to live where. 🌵 My friend even noticed a list of Rabbit Friendly greenery. Very helpful  when you have a mischievous run of the garden bun..

There are lovely indoor areas to explore, packed full of lush vegetation, gifts and homewares.

We met the proprietor Lily Cat. Here she is on her way to the office for a meeting, then a snooze. 🐱

Holden Clough is also dog friendly. Quite a few folk bring their four legged friends here to help with any gardening decisions. Treats are available from the Reading Room tea room.

The weather was actually warm on my most recent visit , so my friend and I sat outside in the sunshine with our bacon butties. 😎 The Reading Room is a pretty place to sit in too. I love the books hanging from the fairy lit branches. The next two photos are from a previous trip.

I did buy a couple of bits for myself this time.  A plant and a pretty notebook. Hopefully I will keep this plant alive, 🤞 fingers crossed!

Thanks for bobbing by.  🌵🌸🌼🌵

Happa Horse Sanctuary, Burnley, Lancs. 🐎

It is 50 years this year since HAPPA (the Horses & Ponies Protection Association) relocated from London ‘ Up North’  to Shores Hey Farm in Burnley’s scenic Thursden Valley. Their mission includes rescuing equines suffering from Neglect, Abuse and Abandonment , offering them Love, Safety and Rehabilitation and finding them new forever homes. The Rescue Centre can hold up to 40 to 60 horses.

I visited on a wet week day in the February Half Term Holidays with my Sister and Niece. Most of the horses and ponies, plus one donkey called ‘ Jack Frost ‘ were warm and dry in their stable blocks, which did mean we got to meet quite a few of them. Each stable has an information poster setting out the animals story and goals for the future. Centre staff were busy taking the horses out for exercise, a couple at a time.

The surrounding countryside at Shores Hey Farm is in great walking country, so it would definitely be a good place to take Hugo my Labrador. The Centre is actually very pet friendly and dogs are allowed on leads around the stables and field tracks and in the onsite cafe.

We decided to have lunch in the cafe which is a warm and inviting space. However it was extremely busy and I do recommend booking if you visit in the school holidays or at weekends. I enjoyed my cheese & pickle sandwich with crisps & salad and my niece and I shared ‘ the most’ delicious Eton Mess meringue. All purchases contribute to the charitys funds, so it is fab that the cafe is so popular!

I bought a £6 entry  ticket online ,which admits up to 6 people. The Centre is great value for money , often holding events and running kids activities. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting.

HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm.

Thanks for dropping by.

Afternoon Tea at Betty’s Tea Rooms, Harrogate.

If you wish to indulge yourself with the most sumptuous Afternoon Tea, I recommend pre booking the stunning Imperial Suite at Betty’s Tea Room in Harrogate.

One of the great reasons for booking an Afternoon Tea at Betty’s is missing that long queue outside. Walk- ins are happily permitted in the busy ground floor restaurant, but it is lovely to woosh straight past the waiting crowds as you are ushered upstairs into the elegant dining room above.

The Imperial Suite is named after the former Cafe Imperial , a buisness that Betty’s bought in the 1960s after relocating from Cambridge Cresent to Parliament Street. With views over Harrogate’s attractive town centre , the suite is light, airy and exudes sophistication. A pianist serenading the diners adds to the ambience.

The occasion for our visit was a friend’s birthday and what a lovely venue to start off the celebrations. After being seated by a friendly member of staff , the menu was shown and explained to us. Our refreshment choices soon followed , served in gleaming silver teapots.

Betty’s Afternoon Tea arrived displayed on an elegant three tiered cake stand and consisted of a selection of delicate finger sandwiches, two miniature scones accompanied by clotted cream and strawberry preserve and three dainty cakes/desserts. A vegetarian option was chosen by the Birthday Girl and any sandwich fillings not to our preference, were obligingly swapped for an alternative. We were also offered additional sandwiches free of charge.

Dining in the Imperial Suite had been a very leisurely and civilised affair and we all agreed that the food had been delicious too. In fact we couldn’t resist purchasing Fat Rascals and other tasty treats to take home from Betty’s Tea shop afterwards. 🙂

We also visited a couple of eclectic independent shops in Harrogate including vintage store Bo Grove Oxford Street , that sent us back in time to and face to face with our 1970s childhoods. 😍

Have you experienced Afternoon Tea at Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate?

Thanks for dropping by. 🍰

A New Boots Day.

I was in desperate need of some new walking boots. Instead of paying over the odds at Cotswold Outdoors , I remembered the existence of Winfields Of Haslingden ( a discount walking&camping store) , and persuaded my Other Half that a trip to Rossendale in Lancashire would be a good idea. We packed a certain Black Labrador and headed for the land of Holland’s Pies & Shoe Trails.

Holland’s Pies

Made with Flies

Concrete Bottoms

And Wooden Sides.

Wil suddenly started quoting the above rhyme whilst driving through Baxenden, where the Hollands Pies factory is. I must admit, I have never heard it before. 😅

My Walking boots purchase was a success. After noticing my previous boots on sale for half the price I’d paid for them at an outdoors shop in Glenridding, ( grrrrr),I settled for a pair of Karrimors.

We parked in Haslingden and decided to have a wander up to Halo , one of the East Lancashire Panopticons.

View from Halo.

Halo is an 18 metre diameter Steel Structure that stands on tripod legs. At night it is lit up an otherworldly shade of blue. 🛸 Hmm, what on earth does it resemble??

Next we had a quick look around Rawtenstall, this is a lovely rejuvenated old Lancashire town, with lots of independent businesses. I especially love visiting Mr Fitzpatricks Temperance Bar . 😊

The Town Square Rawtenstall.

Mr Fitzpatricks Temperance Bar.

Inside Mr Fitzpatricks.

Scrumptious !

Mr Fitzpatricks is the last surviving Temperance Bar from it’s era. Established in the 1890s by The Temperance Movement as an alternative to Public Houses, Fitzpatricks sold teetotal tonics such as Dandelion & Burdock, Sarsaparilla sodas & Blood Tonic Cordial. Temperance Bars were probably always going to lose out to Pubs though weren’t they. As others floundered Fitzpatricks marched on and today those vintage tonics are still there, along with Lancashire Hotpots, marvelous milkshake creations & home baked cakes.

Fauna Graphic Street Art above a Rawtenstall bar.

East Lancs Heritage 🚂 Railway Station.

East Lancs Heritage Railway Station.

After a coffee at Buffer Stops ( East Lancs Heritage Railway) we headed to Deanclough Reservoir near Great Hardwood, to try out my new boots. We parked on the roadside near woodland at the top of the reservoir and found our way down to the water. There are several hiking routes here. It’s a beautiful place for a wander.

Woodland near Dean Clough.

Spot the Great Crested Grebe.

Heading back to the car.

My new boots hurt on the walk but happily I’ve settled into them now.

Holland’s Pie, anyone…..

Afternoon Tea at Hindelinis, Gisburn, Lancashire.

Down the rabbit hole we go for an Afternoon Tea inspired by Alice In Wonderland. 🐰

Hindelinis Bar & Restaurant situated at The Ribblesdale Holiday Village on The Gisburne Park Estate is where The Mad Hatters Tea Party currently resides.

All through the Summer, The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea is available here at Hindelinis. Fancy a seat by the cosy fireplace on a blustery day or when the sun shines, there’s a lovely dining area outside, the parks resident peacocks and sika deer are occasionally known to visit.

We were given a table in the comfortable conservatory. Sarah and I chose herbal teas which came served in attractive glassware, the other ladies ordered coffees.

The sumptuous savouries and delectable desserts were prettily presented on slate cake stands. A selection of finger sandwiches, sausage rolls and a smoked haddock arancini to start, whilst the vegetarian option included wild mushrooms on sourdough bread. The striped tea cup contained healthy salad leaves. Maybe to hand out to a passing White Rabbit. 😊

I’m sure the Mad Hatter himself would have approved of the tempting array of sweet treats. These included meringue mushrooms , Queen of Hearts jammy dodger, lusious lemon posset , chocolate brownie, macaroons and a Grenadine Drink Me potion.

There were of course the obligatory scones with clotted cream and jam. As you can imagine, as delicious as the afternoon tea was, doggy bags were definitely needed! The lovely staff provided us with take out boxes for our left over goodies.

Thanks to Sarah for contributing her photos.

Have you ever tried a themed Afternoon Tea?

♠️🐰♦️🍰☕🫖

Sunday Lunch Walk To Mitton.

This tree has an all seeing eye!

I’m blogging a walk I’ve most probably blogged before, but sometimes don’t you notice things that you haven’t previously, like the tree above with its magnificent eye. 😊 The tree by the River Ribble in-between Clitheroe and Mitton has several eyes in fact. But one really does stand out!

Hugo and I met my Sister and Niece for a walk to Mitton ,where my sister had booked us Sunday lunch at the The Aspinall Arms, a favourite countryside pub of all of ours. It’s dog friendly , spacious , does great pub grub, and on a sunny day it’s riverside beer garden is deservedly popular. On this occasion we would be seated inside though, it’s still a bit nippy out there.

This cheerful robin chirped away as it posed for a photo, reminding us of the friendly robin from ‘ The Secret Garden’.

I met my sister and niece at the car park on Edisford Road in Clitheroe , we would then follow the Ribble Way to the pub. This is a pleasant stroll alongside the River Ribble and through some farmers fields.

The River Ribble.

Along The Ribble.

It didn’t take us as long as we thought it might to get to the Aspinall. In fact we were half an hour early. I’m glad we were booked in though as it soon got very busy. Lots of dog customers too, including 2 Basset Hounds and a Cocker Spaniel Pup.

We washed our boots, but only managed to wash one of Hugo’s paws. He’s not a fan of the Dog & Boot wash!

The Aspinall looking dressed for Spring.

Sunday Roast. Yummy!

Beautiful pot of primroses in Ukrainian colours.

Lunch was lovely and not to massive either, we were pleasantly full but not so much that we couldn’t bare the thought of walking back. I had decided on a different route that would eventually bring us out on the opposite side of the river.

We walked over the bridge and past Great Mitton Hall which is a private home, with some unusual guards.

And down past All Hallows Church , a place of worship since 1270.

Looking back at the road lined with Snowdrops.

We saw some black fungi called King Alfred’s Cakes. Also known as Cramp Balls!

We passed through several fields, most with Stiles. Hugo the Labrador, now aged eight and a half, has recently decided he doesn’t like stiles anymore. So between us we managed to hurl him over one, the others he ingeniously found gaps in fences to squeeze under. Dogs hey!

Lambing time has begun.

On the Bear Chair.

It was good to see the Bear Chair is still going strong. We originally discoverd it during lockdown walks.

Into the Woods.

Edisford Bridge.

The Ribble at Edisford Bridge.

A nice ending to our walk. But then…..

As I was heading home I got a phone call off my sister saying she had lost her purse and thought she may have dropped it somewhere. After checking at the pub we ended up retracing our steps , but with no luck. Somewhat disheartened ( and knackered! ) we all gave up the search. Happily though later that evening a nice couple got in touch, they had found the purse whilst out walking. Phew!

A Happy outcome after all.

Thanks for reading. 🌸

Two New Years Walks In Lancashire.

The New Year 💕 brings in new possibilities. One I hope, is more Lancashire walks on this blog. We’ve recently purchased two new pocket walking books, so here are our first two walks.

Lock Keepers Cottage, Barrowford.

Barrowford and the Canal.

Lancashire 40 Favourite Walks by Alastair Ross. Distance 9.5km, Map OS Explorer Ol21.

We started this walk from The Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford, a museum and cafe ( completely Dog Friendly apparently 🐶) which was unfortunately closed on our visit. Parking is available on an inexpensive Pay & Display Car Park opposite.

I enjoyed parts of the walk more than others. It’s always nice to amble by the canal side, imagining who lives or holidays in the brightly painted barges. The route also takes you under the noisy M65 Motorway and crosses over a busy Dual Carriageway.

The Florence. Go With The Flo.

Foulridge Tunnel.

Slipper Hill Reservoir. We were greated here by a Springer Spaniel called Martha. Hugo completely monopolises this photo though. 🤪

Follow the sign to Colne.

Through Alkincoates Woodland. The peace is disturbed after here though, with busy roads to cross.

And back to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

A gushing wier on Pendle Water.

The Pendle Heritage Centre.

Witchy Tercet Poem at Pendle Heritage Centre, this one is for convicted Witch John Bulcock. The centre has a Pendle Witches exhibition inside.

Chipping ~ Deer Park Below The Fells.

Lancashire Year Round Walks by Nick Burton. Distance 6.4 Km. OS Explorer Map OL41 Bowland & Ribblesdale.

We parked on the free Village Hall Car Park. This walk takes in the historic village of Chipping , soon heading into lovely pastoral countryside. A former Deer Park, Small Hill and well preserved limestone kiln are featured. The hike appears in the Spring Walks section of the book ,was still a good one to do in Winter, though was quite wet underfoot.

Chipping selfie.

Chipping has a couple of dog friendly pubs serving food and a couple of cosy cafes . We enjoyed a brew and sausage roll , sat outside the Farm Shop in the village.

Open Parkland.

Shadow photography.

Crooked Tree.

Footbridge over Leagram Brook.

Approaching Knot Hill.

Lime Kiln.

Old Tree.

St Bartholomew’s Church in Chipping.

Brabins Store is England’s oldest trading village shop.

Thanks for dropping by. 🐾

Weekend Away ~ South Cumbria.

When people think of the Southern Lake District, perhaps they think of Windermere, Amblesde and Grasmere. I love those places but it’s nice to escape to a less touristy part of Lakeland too. I did just that a couple of weeks ago , when Wil booked us a weekend away in Grange-Over-Sands.

Grange – Over – Sands is a peaceful town, somewhere to stay if you really just want to relax and take life slowly. Without Mr Hugo ( our bouncy black Labrador was on his own little holiday) ,we planned a quiet time. Grange is on the coast , but I don’t think I’ve ever seen much sand. Salt Marsh stretches out towards Morecambe Bay , far into the distance.

Grange~over~sands.

Twinkly lights of Grange.

Grange Plant Centre is a handy little place for plants, pots and gifts. Grange Plant Centre.

Salt Marsh.

The promenade.

Whilst in Grange we had bracing walks along the promenade ( Winter Woolies were needed) , looked for Christmas presents, ate out once in a bay view bistro, once in a little Indian restaurant ( take your own booze) and we also had a couple of drinks in the towns two pubs.

The Estuary Bistro is a nice place to dine on Main Street.

Chocolate Heaven in Choco – Lori on Main Street. This Chocolate Shop is also a Chocolate Bar and Chocolate Cafe!

Chocolate Martini.

A toasty fire in The Keg & Kitchen Sports Bar.

Our accomodation for the weekend was in a lovely B&B on the outskirts of town. Wil had found us a room at Corner Beech House , which was such a relaxing and homely place to stay. The interiors were bright and fresh, the owners were friendly and helpful and the breakfasts were delicious. Not bad considering the couple who run it had only been doing so for 3 weeks!

Corner Beech House.

Loved our sea view.

Bright and fresh room.

Breakfast Room.

On our way to Grange-Over-Sands , we had dropped into RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve at Silverdale. I had dragged Wil around looking for a Winter Visitor, Bearded Tits. These darling little birds can be seen amongst the reeds or pecking at grit ( it aids their digestion) from the specially provided trays. Unfortunately they were a no show for us, though we did see a Marsh Harrier hunting over the water.

Reeds provide a home for Bearded Tits.

An obliging comerant.

The inland village of Cartmel is not to far from Grange, so we bobbed there on the Saturday morning for a little look around. Cartmel is famous for its race course, it’s priory, it’s rather nice restaurants and it’s Sticky Toffee Pudding.

The Village Store is the home of Cartmels famous Sticky Toffee Pudding and other good stuff.

Bridge over the river Eea.

A 17th century pub.

Norman Priory.

Another lovely pub.

Delicious Apple & Parsnip Soup in The Square.

I loved this gifts and interiors shop.

Cartmel is home to The Friesian Experience , you can actually pay to have a sleepover with these gorgeous black horses.

On Sunday we said our goodbyes to South Cumbria, though not before calling at Levens Hall Deer Park for a Riverside walk, sadly the hall and grounds themselves are closed over Winter. We caught a glimpse of the parks herd of Dark Fallow Deer , though missed out on seeing the local Bagot Goats.

Gnarly trees.

Dark Fallow Deer females.

All in all we had a very relaxed weekend , though we were certainly happy to be reunited with a certain black Labrador. 😁

A Festive Venue Opens In Clitheroe for Christmas. 🎄❄️

A Christmas Styled Cafe Bar has opened in Clitheroe for Christmas!

Miracle On Shawbridge Street is located in the former Smug Fox interiors shop on Shawbridge Street, just a little further down from and opposite the Dog & Partridge Pub.

The Cafe Bar is family friendly and festive themed, perfect for snapping snuggly selfies with Santa’s reindeer and a giant Nutcracker Soldier.

On the menu are various winter warming drinks such as mulled cider, mulled wine and fancy pants hot chocolates, , coffees, cocktails and milkshakes.

Image via Facebook.

Local delicatessen Georgonzola provides tempting cheese and charcuterie boards and Finch Bakery cakes are always a delicious treat.

Miracle is open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 11pm and well behaved dogs are welcome during the day.

I did wonder what might happen to the venue once Christmas is over? Well the owners are hoping to style the space to coincide with the different seasons. Beach bar in the Summer maybe??

But for now, why not head on down to Miracle On Shawbridge Street 🎄 for festive tunes and cheer.

❄️❄️☕ ❄️❄️🎄❄️❄️🍻❄️❄️☕❄️❄️🍰❄️❄️🍸❄️