Coast’s Choice: Lancashire

Our travels along the west side of England are reaching the northern tip, with this week’s Coast’s Choice looking at places to visit in Lancashire.

As our team of travellers know, there’s a lot more to this part of the country than hot pots and Blackpool pleasure beach. Here are some of Coast’s favourite tourist attractions

Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens



For a family day out, Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens offers natural beauty and animal encounters in one location.

Little ones will love the rare breed farm animals that live in the grounds including cows, sheep and chickens. Seasonal activities include lambing and chick feeding, while any leftover energy can be burned off in the adventure playground!

For grown ups, the country garden is a tranquil oasis of rockeries, lawns, flowers, summer fruit orchards and water features. There are trails for the adventurous and a patio for those visitors in need of a little peace and quiet.  After a wander through the countryside, guests can replenish their energy supplies at Cobble Hey’s award-winning tearoom, before visiting the on-site plant nursery.

Entry to Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens costs £4.00 for adults and £3.50 for children. The farm is open Thursday-Monday from 10.30am until 4.30pm between February and November. Click here to find out more.

Nearest caravan site:  1.8 miles

Gawthorpe Hall



It might be a predominantly industrial county but Lancashire also offers some fantastic examples of older culture, including the impressive Elizabethan stately home Gawthorpe Hall.

Home to the Shuttleworth family – a famous legacy of landowners whose ancestors first made money from wool weaving in medieval times – for more than 300 years, the building was remodelled by architect Sir Charles Barry in 1850. Visitors can look forward to Jacobean-inspired decoration, intricate panelling and the Long Gallery, which runs the length of the south front on the second floor.

Gawthorpe Hall houses more than 200 important pieces from Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth’s textile collection, while the pond and woodland surrounding the house is open year-round for exploration.

Admission to Gawthorpe Hall costs £4 for adults and is free for accompanied children. Visit the official website for further details and opening times.

Nearest caravan site:  2.9 miles

Lancaster Cathedral



St Peter’s Cathedral in Lancaster was built in the 1850s under the design and supervision of architect Edward Paley. Although at first it was a church constructed to showcase the rising affluence of the catholic community, it was awarded Cathedral status in 1924.

Its neo-gothic architecture fell into disrepair during the 20th century until a large restoration project over the last 20 years returned it to its glory days. This included a major refurbishment of the east end of the building, although architectural firm Francis Roberts maintained its original style.

Among the notable features of the Cathedral are the ‘Te Deum’ stained glass window dating from 1888, a replica of the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica statue by the main entrance, the ornately decorated Blessed Sacrament Chapel and a peal of ten bells in the tower.

In addition to opening the Cathedral for tourists, Lancaster Cathedral regularly welcomes visitors to Mass. Entry is free although admission may be charged to concerts and cultural events being held at the venue. Click here to visit the official website.

Nearest caravan site: 3.4 miles

Panopticons



Lancashire’s landscape is punctuated by a group of breathtaking 21st century art installations called panopticons. There are four unique panopticons in total, including the the ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ in Burnley – a musical sculpture made from stacked layers of galvanised steel, bent like a tree. Situated on Crown Point, the highest point above the town, it makes a low humming sound when the wind rushes past.

Colourfields at Blackburn’s Corporation Park, meanwhile, is a candy-striped pathway with raised platforms, while Wycoller Country Park hosts Atom, a ferro-cement shelter and viewing space.

The final panopticon is Halo, a steel lattice structure measuring 18 metres in diameter which is positioned in the hills above the Rossendale Valley.

These art installations are free to visit, click here to find out more about their locations.

Nearest caravan site: 7 miles (Singing Ringing Tree), 11.7 miles (Colourfields), 6.7 miles (Atom), 9.8 miles (Halo)

Queen Street Mill Textile Museum

Lancashire was an important manufacturing centre within the UK during the birth of large-scale industrial production, and Queen Street Mill is the last example of a commercial steam powered textile weaving mill in the world. It also recently experienced a brush with fame after being used as a location for Oscar-winning movie The King’s Speech!

Queen Street closed down in the early 1980s, however it has been preserved as a museum telling the story of the halcyon days of steam power. Visitors can take a close look at Victorian steam engines, boilers and the famous Lancahsire looms while learning about cotton production and the working conditions of the mill.

The museum is open from Tuesday-Thursday throughout the year, plus Fridays, some Saturdays and Bank Holidays during the summer. Tickets cost £3.00 for adults and £2.00 for children. Further information is available via the Queen Street Mill website.

Nearest caravan site: 6.8 miles

Before you set off for your holiday this season, check your touring caravan insurance or motorhome insurance policy is up to date. If you’re in need of a quotation on a new or existing policy, Coast can offer you comprehensive cover at a competitive rate. Call our UK based sales team on Freephone 0800 614 849 or visit our Quotation Page.