Slaidburn and The Forest of Bowland

Situated in the Forest of Bowland Area of outstanding natural beauty the Hark to Bounty is the ideal holiday location. The area is packed with things to do and places to visit. For walking the area is superb with open moor, rolling fields, quiet lanes and tracks as well as riverside walks all on the doorstep. For cycling Gisburn Forest has some of the best off road riding in the country and our quiet roads and leafy lanes are ideal for more leisurely cycling. It goes without saying that the area is a haven for wildlife. The scenery and local villages especially our own Slaidburn will leave no artist or photographer short of inspiration.

For walking, Cycling and Gisburn Forest Mountain Biking click here

Bowland Wildboar Park web site

Holden Clough Plant Nursery web site

Slaidburn Village Hall web site

Browsholme Hall Historic House visitor attraction web site

Foresf of Bowland

The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (A.O.N.B.) website provides information for visitors to the area.

Forest of Bowland AONB Map (PDF 4,589kb)

Forest of Bowland AONB General Information (PDF 4mb)

Forest of Bowland AONB Access Land (PDF 6.4mb)

Forest of Bowland AONB Treading Carefully (PDF 268kb)

Fishing

Stocks Fly Fishery Stocks Reservoir the largest Fly fishery in the North West of England web site

Stocks Reservoir on youtube

Permits and Licences for fishing on the River Hodder can be obtained from Slaidburn Village Stores and Post Office.

Bird watching and wildlife

Stocks Reservoir and Gisburn Forest, Plenty to see circular walk two hides. Great Crested Grebe, Waterfowl, Woodland Birds, Deer

Stocks Reservoir Walk (PDF 610kb)

Dunsop Curlew, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Dippers. Higher up Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon. Parking and Toilets in the village.

Slaidburn to Dunsop Bridge (PDF 1.8mb)

Birding in Bowland Leaflet (PDF 5.5mb)

Bowland Wildlife Information about the nature and wildlife of the Forest of Bowland web site

Golf

Clitheroe Colf Club A beautiful, 18 hole parkland course Designed by James Braid in 1932 and located in the heart of the Ribble Valley. , it has been improved steadily over the years, has a standard scratch of 71 and a length of 6,323 yards. It presents a searching test of golf without being too demanding physically, or too intimidating for the longer handicap player.

Please tell us of any broken links.

Slaidburn at the heart of the Forest of Bowland

Photo galleries from Flickr (please allow time to load)

Forest of Bowland

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Slaidburn

Slaidburn Village has an old world charm with warm sandstone and limestone buildings and cobbled pavements. The village has views of the Hodder valley and the Bowland Fells and a large village green on the bank of the river. The village has a Post office and village store, two Craft shops a cafe and a vibrant Village hall.

Near to the war memorial and Post office is a what looks like a sentry box but in fact is a first aid box that once contained a stretcher for injured fell walkers. A roadside well in the village comemorates the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Slaidburn Local Attractions & Activities (PDF 4.8mb)

St Andrew’s Church Slaidburn

Dating from about 1450, the Church stands proud at the Southerly entrance to the village and holds services at 11.00am every Sunday morning. It is an architecturally interesting, listed building with fine interior woodwork including some separately listed pews and one of the few triple deck pulpits in the country.

Brennands Endowed primary school Slaidburn

John Brennand died in 1717 and left money so the school could be built and endowed. The school was built soon after his death but little is known of John Brennand himself except that he was a bachelor who has been described as a “gentleman” and a “collector of excise”.