With Snowdonia, the Peak District and the Lake District all within striking distance of the North West’s big cities, it’s no wonder the Ribble Valley gets overlooked. But this part of Lancashire, east of the M6 and just north of Preston, deserves to be a destination in its own right, particularly for those who enjoy pairing good food with a stomp across the hills and stunning views.
It’s home to an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty); the Forest of Bowland. And a Michelin star restaurant; Northcote. There’s also a dozen or so highly-rated pubs, restaurants and inns that base their menus on the abundant local produce from the region’s rich farmland. And as it isn’t a tourist hotspot, you can expect a much quieter experience than you’d get in the Lakes. Tables are easier to come by, the roads are emptier, and the walking routes aren’t as well-trodden.
The Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland make for a great alternative weekend break and are close enough to do as a day trip from Manchester or Liverpool. Plan your visit around lunch or dinner at one of the places listed below and you’ll be wondering why you didn’t visit sooner.
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Book Now Clitheroe
Assheton Arms
The Assheton Arms is a classic country pub – perfect for a stop off after a walk in the Ribble Valley. Given that its wine selection is so good, perhaps you should take advantage of the accommodation – many of the bedrooms have views of Pendle Hill – and turn lunch into a weekend getaway.
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Clitheroe
Eight at Gazegill
Eight at Gazegill is the epitome of farm to fork dining. Dishes showcase the organic farming methods and the beautiful British pigs and cattle who roam the land. It’s a truly sustainable venture powered by 100% renewable energy and everything tastes wonderful.
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Longridge
Fell Bistro
Fell Bistro is the gastronomic endeavour of not one, but two MasterChef: The Professionals finalists. It stands to reason that the food should be very, very good. Foraging is a big part of the menu but it’s a pared down offering focusing on quality rather than fancy-pants cheffy twiddles. Serving the sort of food you really want to eat, Fell Bistro is big on flavour. Could this be the ultimate neighbourhood restaurant?
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Clitheroe
Freemasons at Wiswell
Cooking goes from strength to strength at the Freemasons at Wiswell in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley. Roaring fires, cast-iron fireplaces and pictures of fantastically proportioned livestock lend a cosy vibe to the renovated cottages which make up what’s been described as the original gastropub.
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Clitheroe
The Higher Buck
Reliably good dinners are served at The Higher Buck, a pub meets gastro eatery where respected local chef Michael Heathcote’s menu is a Ribble Valley favourite. It’s also a regular in Good Food Guides and was named in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK list in 2021.
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Holmes Mill
Located in the heart of Clitheroe, Holmes Mill is a bountiful food, drink and entertainment venue as well as a lovely place to stay in Lancashire. Featuring its own beer hall, bar & grill, hotel, food hall, bowling alley, cinema and much more, this former textiles mill is the gift that keeps on giving.
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Forest of Bowland
The Inn at Whitewell
It was the TV series The Trip starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon that made The Inn at Whitewell a celebrity in its own right. The setting, an area of outstanding natural beauty, is still as bucolic as it was in the show. And the food from long-serving head chef Jamie Cadman is still more than worth the car journey.
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Clitheroe
La Locanda
La Locanda in Gisburn just outside Clitheroe is a fantastic restaurant that transports you to Italy. The award-winning spot is a proponent of the slow food movement and dishes are rooted in traditional values. Expect exemplary seasonal cooking using a mix of local produce and Italian ingredients from dedicated small-scale producers.
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Langho
Northcote
Northcote is where chef-patron Nigel Haworth earned his stripes as an instigator of contemporary British fine dining. Today, Michelin star chef and one of BBC2’s Great British Menu winners, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, heads up the kitchen.
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Clitheroe
Parkers Arms
The Parker’s Arms is a homely pub, serving and baking extraordinary, modern European food.
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Clitheroe
The Rum Fox
The Rum Fox is a new dining destination with all the charm of an old one, housed in the former village pub. The tap room keeps the feel of the local alive with a good range of ales and the clean decor is that of a posh inn but the food is more ambitious than any pub grub.
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Clitheroe
The Three Fishes
The Three Fishes at Mitton is in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley in Lancashire. Expect an immaculate whitewashed listed building, a cross between an Inn and a country pub, a welcoming bar and an original slate floor all warmed by open log fires.
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Copster Green
Yu Copster Green
Yu Copster Green (formerly known as Yu and You) is an established, upscale Chinese restaurant serving British favourites and house inventions in the heart of the Ribble Valley.