Clitheroe by AS
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a historic market town in the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, located on the southern edge of the Forest of Bowland. It sits between the rivers Ribble and Hodder, with Pendle Hill rising prominently to the east. The town is a local centre for surrounding villages and rural communities, offering shops, schools, and public transport links, including a railway station with services to Blackburn and Manchester.
One of Clitheroe’s most distinctive features is its Norman castle, thought to be one of the smallest surviving stone-built castles in England. It stands on a limestone knoll at the centre of the town and dates back to the 12th century. Although much of the castle is now in ruins, the keep remains intact and is open to visitors. The surrounding park includes gardens, a playground, a bandstand, and a museum housed in the former Steward’s House.
Clitheroe has a long history as a market town, with a charter granted in the 13th century. The town grew steadily through the medieval and early modern periods, and the industrial age brought further expansion. Historically, it was involved in the textile trade, particularly cotton spinning and weaving, although much of that industry has since declined.
The town centre features a mix of independent shops, cafés, pubs, and traditional businesses, contributing to a strong sense of local identity. The market continues to run several days a week and remains an important part of town life. Events and festivals are held throughout the year, including a food festival that draws visitors from across the region.
Clitheroe is surrounded by countryside and is popular with walkers and cyclists exploring the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The nearby River Ribble and Pendle Hill offer scenic spots for outdoor activities, and the area is known for its wildlife and landscape diversity.
Despite its small size, Clitheroe is a well-regarded hub in rural Lancashire, balancing its historical heritage with a practical role in modern community life.
Created: 27 May 2021 Edited: 4 April 2025
Clitheroe
Shopping in Clitheroe
ALDI Littlemoor Road, Clitheroe
ALDI supermarket
Sainsbury's Moor Lane, Clitheroe
Sainsbury's supermarket
Lidl Shawbridge Street, Twin Brook Farm
Lidl supermarket
Booths Station Road, Clitheroe
Booths supermarket
Tesco Duck Street, Clitheroe
Tesco supermarket
Bowland Food Hall Mearley Street, Clitheroe
Bowland Food Hall supermarket
Local History around Clitheroe
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bellmanpark lime kilns and part of an associated tramway 180m north west of Bellman FarmPortfield hillfortBowl barrow 170m north east of Hacking Boat HouseBowl barrow 250m north of Hacking Boat HouseThe Old Lower Hodder BridgeEadsford (or Edisford) BridgeAshnott lead mine and lime kilnWhalley BridgeClitheroe Castle; medieval enclosure castleThree high crosses in St Mary's churchyardMoated site 50m NE of Holden Green Farm.Whalley Cistercian abbey.Wildlife in and Around Clitheroe
Mammals found in Clitheroe
There have been 35 species of mammals recorded in the clitheroe area.
| 45 Khz Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) |
| American Mink (Neovison vison) |
| Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) |
| Brown Long-Eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) |
| Common Shrew (Sorex araneus) |
| 55 Khz Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) |
| Badger (Meles meles) |
| Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) |
| Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) |
| Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii) |
Tap here for more mammals found in and around Clitheroe
Birds found in Clitheroe
There have been 50 species of birds recorded in the clitheroe area.
| Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
| Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) |
| Common Swift (Apus apus) |
| Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) |
| Black-Headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) |
| Buzzard (Buteo buteo) |
| Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
| Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) |
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) |
