The County of Lancashire

Lancashire is a county in North West England. It has an area of 5,000 square km and a population of two million people. Lancashire is bounded by Greater Manchester and Merseyside, by Cheshire and by Yorkshire.

As well as Lancashire County Council, there are several other organisations that cover parts of Lancashire such as Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool unitary authorities; Pendle Borough Council; Burnley Borough Council; Hyndburn Borough Council; Rossendale borough council and South Ribble borough council.

Lancashire History

The county of Lancashire was formed in the 12th century. It takes its name from Richard I, who adopted the title ‘Count of Lancaster’.

Lancashire was divided in its early days with parts being governed by the Lords of Bowland, Furness Abbey and other religious bodies.

The Duchy of Lancaster is a private estate which provides income to the British monarch. It covers about one quarter of Lancashire including most of Merseyside, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, South Ribble and the City of Lancaster.

Lancaster Castle

Lancaster Castle is a medieval castle in Lancaster, Lancashire. It was founded in 1150.

The present structure is half ruin but it has been transformed into one of Britain’s leading museums and art galleries. Visitors are able to climb the motte or walk around the battlements which offer views over this historic city.

Lancashire Geography

The county of Lancashire is known for its open countryside, coastal areas and towns. It also includes the Forest of Bowland which forms part of a national park with parts in Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Lancashire Places to Visit

Blackpool is one place you can visit in Lancashire which has many attractions for tourists including The Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle Waterpark Aquarium etc. There’s also a lot of history here! This famous seaside resort has been welcoming holidaymakers for over 150 years. As well as being a top UK destination, Blackpool is also very popular across the world!

Lancashire Towns & Villages

Pendle Hill is another must-visit place in Lancashire that has lots of history and stunning views.

Blackburn is also a must-visit town in Lancashire, if you’re looking for history and culture. It’s famous for Blackburn Rovers FC (a professional football club) which has won six league titles. There are many historical attractions here such as Queen Street Mill Textile Museum along with modern ones like the Grand Theatre.

Part or all of Lancashire is in Forest Of Bowland AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Part or all of Lancashire is in Arnside & Silverdale AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lancashire's Surrounding Counties

Other counties neighbouring Lancashire include: Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Merseyside, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire .

Retail in Lancashire

Lancashire is a county with a great selection of places to visit including towns, villages, parks, waterfalls, woodlands, rivers and streams, old mines, ruins, historic buildings, ancient sites, historic monuments, hiking areas, hills, round cairns, lakes, bluebell woods, geological features, gardens, country parks, nature reserves, historic sites, canals, roman sites, museums, caves, limestone pavements, sssis, beaches, shopping centres, cities and castles.

Don't miss Darwen, Chorley, Leyland, Nelson, Blackburn, Burnley, and Blackpool's towns if visiting Lancashire.

Lancashire is home to some unmissable villages like Ryal Fold, Tockholes, Brinscall, White Coppice, Heath Charnock, Higher Wheelton, and Ribchester.

Lancashire is home to some unmissable parks like Bold Venture Park, Sunnyhurst Wood, Astley Park, Worden Park, Cuerden Valley Country Park, and Ball Grove Park.

There are a number of waterfalls in the county of Lancashire including Bold Venture Waterfall, Sunnyhurst Waterfalls, Hatch Brook Waterfall, Holts Flat Waterfall, Lead Mines Clough Waterfall, Sheep Pen Waterfall, and Old Brooks Waterfall.

Lancashire features a number of interesting woodlands including Sunnyhurst Wood, Wheelton Plantation, High Bullough Wood, Back Plantation, Spen Wood, Duxbury Woods, and Longworth Clough.

The county of Lancashire boasts some of the best rivers and streams including Sunnyhurst Brook, Hatch Brook, Dean Black Brook, Eller Brook, River Yarrow at Duxbury Woods, Ease Gill, and River Roddlesworth.

Lancashire's best old mines can be found at Old Lyons Colliery (ruin), Lead Mines Clough Lead Mines, Coppice Stile Lead Mine Trial, White Coppice Lead Mine, Duxbury Park Colliery (ruin), Ellerbeck Collieries (ruin), and Sykes Mine.

Don't miss Old Lyons Colliery (ruin), Higher Pasture Barn (ruin), Ripping (ruin), Wheelton Plantation, Blackhurst (ruin), Heatherlea (ruin), and Shop Fold (ruin)'s ruins if visiting Lancashire.

Don't miss Church of Saint Stephen at Tockholes, Astley Hall, Chorley Lodge, Blacko Tower, The Wishing Well at Hollinshead Hall, Hoghton Tower, and Stonyhurst College's historic buildings if visiting Lancashire.

There are a several good ancient sites in Lancashire county like Church of Saint Stephen at Tockholes, The Quernmore Burial, Standing Stones Hill, Pikestones Chambered Long Cairn, Jepsons Gate Cairn, Black Coppice Chambered Cairn, and Dog Holes Cave.

There are a several good historic monuments in Lancashire county like Jubilee Tower, Bevis and the Ruined Summerhouse, and Cromwell's Bridge.

Lancashire features a number of interesting hiking areas including Anglezarke, Lead Mines Clough, High Bullough Wood, Stronstrey Bank, Lister Mill Quarry, Great Hill, and White Coppice.

Standing Stones Hill, Great Hill, Healey Nab, Spitlers Edge, Will Narr, Warton Crag, and Parlick are great places to visit in Lancashire if you like hills.

There are a number of round cairns in the county of Lancashire including Jepsons Gate Cairn.

There are a several good lakes in Lancashire county like High Bullough Reservoir, Anglezarke Reservoir, White Coppice Mill Pond, Big Lodge Water, Top Lodge, The Blue Lagoon, and Lower Ogden Reservoir.

High Bullough Wood, Duxbury Woods, Hill Top Wood, Warton Crag, and Roddlesworth Woods are some of Lancashire's' best bluebell woods to visit Lancashire.

There are a number of geological features in the county of Lancashire including Stronstrey Bank, White Coppice Quarry, Warton Crag and Grisedale Wood Limestone Pavement, and Sykes Mine.

Lancashire features a number of interesting gardens including The Evaders' Garden, Astley Walled Garden, and Hoghton Tower.

Lancashire features a number of interesting country parks including Yarrow Valley Country Park, Worden Park, Cuerden Valley Country Park, Witton Country Park, Beacon Fell, Langroyd Country Park, and Wyre Estuary Country Park.

There are a several good nature reserves in Lancashire county like Top Lodge, Longworth Clough, Leighton Moss, Brockholes Nature Reserve, Ball Grove Park, Upper Ball Grove Lodge, and Mere Sands Wood.

Lancashire's best historic sites can be found at Black Coppice Mill Stone Factory.

There are a number of canals in the county of Lancashire including Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Heath Charnock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Higher Wheelton, Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Summit to Wigan Section, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Adlington, Lancaster Canal at Bolton-le-Sands, and Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Rufford Branch.

Ribchester Roman Bath House, and Ribchester Roman Museum are great places to visit in Lancashire if you like roman sites.

Don't miss Ribchester Roman Museum, The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, and Harris Museum - Art Gallery and Library Preston's museums if visiting Lancashire.

Lancashire is home to some unmissable caves like Dog Holes Cave, Fairy Hole, and County Pot.

Warton Crag and Grisedale Wood Limestone Pavement is one of Lancashire's best limestone pavements to visit in Lancashire.

Lancashire is home to some unmissable sssis like Warton Crag S.S.S.I, and West Pennine Moors.

A short walk with a bit of woodland, beside the reservoirs at Roddlesworth with optional bridge over waterfall cascade - weather and water-levels permitting.

Length: 3Km (approx.)

Difficulty: Easy

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