Situated in the picturesque Ribble Valley and located close to the Forest of Bowland, Clitheroe is surrounded by some of Lancashire’s most stunning landscapes.

This little market town offers a traditional town centre with a mix of independent retailers and a castle which has one of the smallest Norman keeps in the UK; it’s also one of Lancashire’s oldest buildings. If you fancy taking your exploration of its heritage further pay a visit to the renowned Cowman’s Sausage Shop, for sausages as they should be!

The region has some of the UK’s finest unspoilt countryside; move out of town and you have a wealth of stunning landscapes to explore, some of which inspired a visiting JRR Tolkien when he spent time at Stonyhurst College. In the author’s time at Stonyhurst there was a ferry over the River Hodder that strongly resembled the ‘Buckleberry Ferry’. Similarly, the grey stone New Lodge is often thought to have inspired Tom Bombadil’s home from the famous saga. Of course, the best way to find out how much Tolkien was inspired by the region is to explore the delightful ‘Tolkien Trail’.

Your self-catering cottage is also perfect for exploring the legacy of another literary great; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also spent time as a pupil at Stonyhurst, eventually encountering a classmate named Moriarty who, we suspect, he didn’t really get on with!

If you’re ready to explore this beautiful region take a look at Clitheroe holiday cottages today.