Marles Wood to Dinckley Footbridge - River Ribble Walk

River Ribble at Marles Wood

Taking a chance with the showery weather, I took my eldest three off for a walk along the River Ribble from Marles Wood down to Dinckley Footbridge.  Marles Wood is a quiet and beautiful piece of woodland close to Salesbury Hall, to the west of the Roman village of Ribchester.

Platform Gallery, Clitheroe

The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe

The Platform Gallery, housed in former railway station buildings in Clitheroe, is an art gallery specialising in contemporary crafts produced by artists working locally and nationwide.  It is a good option for those looking for some free rainy-day entertainment.  The gallery has two current exhibitions, both with a recyling theme.

Precious: Reclaiming Art and Craft, in the main gallery, is on tour from Hove Museum and Art Gallery, and features the work of nineteen artists (listed below) produced from recycled and found objects.  Precious runs until 4 September 2010.

The Wits Playspace at Witton Country Park

The Wits Playspace, Witton Country Park

Witton Country Park is a large area of open parkland, woods and farmland lying to the west of Blackburn, crossed by the Rivers Darwen and Blakewater.  Witton Park is free to visit, and is popular with walkers, dog owners, cyclists, horse riders, wildlife watchers, athletes (there's an outdoor running track) and families with children.

Stonyhurst College Gardens

Stonyhurst College

Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic boarding school near the village of Hurst Green on the Longridge to Clitheroe Road.  The school has an interesting history, being originally founded in France to educate English Catholics when that kind of this was frowned upon at home.  Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien was a frequent visitor to the area, as his son taught at Stonyhurst, and is said to have found inspiration for his novel The Lord of the Rings here.

Ribble Steam Railway

Ribble Steam Railway Museum

The Ribble Steam Railway lies within the redeveloped Riversway Dockland area of Preston, just off the A583 heading west out of the city.  Staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who restore, maintain and run the collection of steam engines and trains, it offers indoor museum and workshop areas, a small cafe, and a short train ride.  The line runs through the dockland area, passing through a marina then running alongside the River Ribble for around a mile and a half before returning the same way.  The engine changes ends at the half-way point, and the children enjoyed watching through the guard's compartment as it rejoined the train with a bump.

Goosnargh and Longridge Agricultural Show 2010

Bullock at the Goosnargh and Longridge Show

It was a bit drizzly and overcast first thing, but feeling optimistic I headed over to the show ground on Lower Lane, Longridge for this years show, with wife Maggie and littlest child Megan for company.  Our gamble paid off as it soon stopped raining and warmed up nicely.

Clitheroe Castle Museum

Clitheroe Castle Museum is a recently redeveloped local museum forming part of the castle in the heart of the thriving market town of Clitheroe, which lies between the two sections of Bowland just off the A59.  The museum offers exhibits on the social and natural history of Clitheroe, Bowland and the Ribble Valley from pre-historic times through the Norman invasion (when the castle was established), the industrial revolution, to the present day including the wildlife supported by the area.

Brock Valley Picnic Site and Brock Bottoms

I made a flying visit to Brock Bottoms yesterday, leaving the car at the Brock Valley Picnic Site and following the well maintained path (pushchair and wheelchair accessible, cycling not allowed) which forms part of the Brock Valley Nature Trail.

Goosnargh and Longridge Agricultural Show 2010 Preview

It's Goosnargh & Longridge Agricultural Show next Saturday (10th July), promising the usual array of farm animal and pet exhibits, vintage tractors and other vehicles, kids crafts and bouncy slide, jazz band, farmers market, craft and food stalls. I've been before and it's a great day out whether you are taking kids or not - I hope the weather holds out this year!

Full details are available on the official Goosnargh and Longridge Agricultural Show website.