Chatburn

Chatburn makes a peaceful base for exploring the Ribble Valley and the southern edge of the Forest of Bowland, with accommodation ranging from village cottages and bed and breakfasts to a wider choice of hotels and inns just down the road in Clitheroe. Walkers heading for Pendle Hill or the riverside paths along the Ribble tend to favour a cottage or farmhouse stay that lets them start early and finish with a proper meal close by, while those touring the wider Ribble Valley — taking in Clitheroe Castle, Downham and the Sawley Abbey ruins — often prefer a hotel base with a bit more choice of facilities. Rooms in and around Chatburn are generally limited in number, so it pays to book ahead, particularly around the summer walking season and during the Clitheroe Food Festival and other regional events. Pubs with rooms in nearby Downham and Clitheroe add a characterful alternative, combining a good meal with a bed for the night, while a scatter of self-catering cottages across the valley suits families or groups wanting more space and flexibility. Whichever option you choose, Chatburn's position just off the A59 means everywhere in the Ribble Valley, from Clitheroe's shops and markets to the trailheads for Pendle Hill, is within a few minutes' drive, making it a practical and quiet base for a Lancashire countryside break.

Chatburn works best as a base for gentle riverside walks, fell rambles and short hops to some of the Ribble Valley's prettiest villages, with plenty within a few miles for a longer stay.

• River Ribble at Ribble Lane — a short walk down from the village centre brings you to the riverbank, a favourite spot for a quiet stroll, picnic or paddle on a warm afternoon.
• Downham village — one of the most photographed villages in Lancashire, with no overhead cables or road markings by design, sitting directly beneath Pendle Hill and reachable on foot or by bike from Chatburn.
• Pendle Hill — the famous 557-metre summit associated with the Pendle witch trials of 1612 offers one of the best panoramic views in Lancashire, with the classic ascent starting from nearby Downham or Barley.
• Clitheroe Castle — a compact Norman keep on a limestone knoll in the neighbouring market town, with a museum telling the story of the Ribble Valley below the walls.
• Forest of Bowland AONB — the wild gritstone fells and valleys begin virtually on Chatburn's doorstep, offering some of the best walking and cycling country in the North West.
• Brabin's shop — reputed to be one of the longest continuously trading shops in the country, with roots going back around 350 years, still serving the village today.
• Roy Porter's Butchers — a local institution whose pork pies have been singled out on BBC Radio 2, well worth a stop for a picnic supply run.
• Hudson's ice cream — a popular parlour trading from the village's old toll bar building, a favourite finish to a walk on a sunny day.

The village itself keeps things simple but satisfying: Roy Porter's Butchers for its celebrated pork pies and local produce, Brabin's historic village shop for essentials, and Hudson's for ice cream in the old toll bar building. For a sit-down meal, the short walk or drive to Downham brings you to the Assheton Arms, a well-regarded gastro pub with rooms at the foot of Pendle Hill, and the tearoom at Greendale View on the Chatburn to Downham road. Clitheroe, close by, has a much broader choice of pubs, cafés and restaurants, including its long-running Tuesday and Saturday markets for local produce.

Chatburn and the surrounding Ribble Valley offer some lovely countryside for a camping trip, though it is worth being clear from the outset that wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, unlike in parts of Scotland, so any stay needs to be on a proper campsite or with explicit consent. The terrain here is a gentler introduction to fell country than the high Yorkshire Dales or Lake District further north: rolling limestone ridges, the River Ribble's water meadows, and the long whaleback of Pendle Hill rising to the east, all within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Established campsites in the wider Ribble Valley area range from simple farm-based pitches with basic facilities to more developed sites with electric hook-ups, showers and family-friendly extras, and a number sit within easy reach of Chatburn, Downham and Clitheroe for those wanting to explore on foot or by bike. Glamping has taken off across Lancashire in recent years, with shepherd's huts, pods and safari tents offering a more comfortable alternative to a tent while keeping the same views over the valley and fells, a good option for a first camping trip or a family wanting extra weatherproofing. Spring and summer are the most forgiving seasons for camping here, with long evenings for sitting out and drier ground underfoot, though the changeable Lancashire weather means good waterproofs and a sturdy tent are sensible whatever month you visit. Autumn can also be rewarding, with the bracken turning gold on Pendle Hill and cooler, clearer nights good for stargazing away from town light pollution, while winter camping is really only for the well-equipped and experienced given the exposed nature of the higher ground. Whatever the season, the reward for camping in this part of the Ribble Valley is easy access to some excellent walking straight from the pitch, along the riverbank, over to Downham, or up onto Pendle Hill itself, without needing to drive anywhere first.