Longridge is a Town in the county of Lancashire.
Longridge is a charming market town located in the borough of Ribble Valley, Lancashire. Nestled on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Longridge enjoys a scenic setting with sweeping views across the Lancashire countryside. Its position on the western slopes of Longridge Fell, the highest point in the Ribble Valley, makes it a popular spot for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, who come to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
Historically, Longridge was a rural farming village, but it expanded significantly during the 19th century due to the growth of its quarrying industry. The local quarries, famed for their high-quality sandstone, supplied stone for many notable buildings across the North West of England, including parts of Liverpool’s docks and Preston’s Harris Museum. The town’s heritage in quarrying is still visible today in the stone-built houses and structures that give Longridge its distinct character.
The town has a lively and welcoming atmosphere, with a strong sense of community. Longridge’s historic centre is home to a range of independent shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants, making it a vibrant place to visit. A weekly market is held, maintaining the town’s tradition as a trading centre and offering a selection of local produce and goods. The local arts scene is also flourishing, with the Longridge Gallery and various arts and crafts events showcasing the creativity of the area.
One of the highlights of Longridge is its proximity to some of the most beautiful countryside in Lancashire. The town serves as a gateway to the Forest of Bowland, offering numerous walking, cycling, and hiking opportunities. Popular trails such as the Longridge Fell walk provide panoramic views of the Ribble Valley and beyond, including as far as the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales on clear days. The nearby Stonyhurst College, a historic and prestigious institution, also adds to the cultural richness of the region.
Longridge has retained much of its small-town charm while benefiting from modern amenities, making it a desirable place to live for both families and retirees. Its excellent transport links to nearby Preston and the M6 motorway mean it is well-connected to larger urban centres, yet it retains a peaceful, rural atmosphere. Whether you’re visiting for its natural beauty, its rich history, or its welcoming community, Longridge is a quintessential Lancashire town that blends tradition with modern living.
There are great places to visit near Longridge including some great towns, villages, parks, waterfalls, woodlands, rivers and streams, old mines, ruins, historic buildings, ancient sites, historic monuments, hiking areas, hills, round cairns, lakes, bluebell woods, geological features, gardens, country parks, nature reserves, historic sites, canals, roman sites, museums, caves, limestone pavements, sssis, beaches, shopping centres, cities and castles.
The area around Longridge features a number of interesting towns including Darwen, Chorley, Leyland, Nelson, Blackburn, Burnley, and Blackpool.
Longridge has some unmissable villages nearby like Ryal Fold, Tockholes, Brinscall, White Coppice, Heath Charnock, Higher Wheelton, and Ribchester.
Longridge has some unmissable parks nearby like Bold Venture Park, Sunnyhurst Wood, Astley Park, Worden Park, Cuerden Valley Country Park, and Ball Grove Park.
Bold Venture Waterfall, Sunnyhurst Waterfalls, Hatch Brook Waterfall, Holts Flat Waterfall, Lead Mines Clough Waterfall, Sheep Pen Waterfall, and Old Brooks Waterfall are some of Longridge best waterfalls to visit near Longridge.
The area around Longridge boasts some of the best woodlands including Sunnyhurst Wood, Wheelton Plantation, High Bullough Wood, Back Plantation, Spen Wood, Duxbury Woods, and Longworth Clough.
Longridge has some unmissable rivers and streams nearby like Sunnyhurst Brook, Hatch Brook, Dean Black Brook, Eller Brook, River Yarrow at Duxbury Woods, Ease Gill, and River Roddlesworth.
There are a number of old mines near Longridge including Old Lyons Colliery (ruin), Lead Mines Clough Lead Mines, Coppice Stile Lead Mine Trial, White Coppice Lead Mine, Duxbury Park Colliery (ruin), Ellerbeck Collieries (ruin), and Sykes Mine.
There are a several good ruins in the Longridge area like Old Lyons Colliery (ruin), Higher Pasture Barn (ruin), Ripping (ruin), Wheelton Plantation, Blackhurst (ruin), Heatherlea (ruin), and Shop Fold (ruin).
There are a several good historic buildings in the Longridge area like Church of Saint Stephen at Tockholes, Astley Hall, Chorley Lodge, Belmont Paper Mills (Derelict), Blacko Tower, The Wishing Well at Hollinshead Hall, and Hoghton Tower.
There are a number of ancient sites near Longridge including Church of Saint Stephen at Tockholes, The Quernmore Burial, Standing Stones Hill, Pikestones Chambered Long Cairn, Jepsons Gate Cairn, Black Coppice Chambered Cairn, and Dog Holes Cave.
The area around Longridge boasts some of the best historic monuments including Jubilee Tower, Bevis and the Ruined Summerhouse, and Cromwell's Bridge.
There are a several good hiking areas in the Longridge area like Anglezarke, Lead Mines Clough, High Bullough Wood, Stronstrey Bank, Lister Mill Quarry, Great Hill, and White Coppice.
The area around Longridge features a number of interesting hills including Standing Stones Hill, Great Hill, Healey Nab, Spitlers Edge, Will Narr, Warton Crag, and Parlick.
Jepsons Gate Cairn is one of Longridge's best, nearby round cairns to visit in Longridge.
High Bullough Reservoir, Anglezarke Reservoir, White Coppice Mill Pond, Big Lodge Water, Top Lodge, The Blue Lagoon, and Lower Ogden Reservoir are great places to visit near Longridge if you like lakes.
There are a number of bluebell woods near Longridge including High Bullough Wood, Duxbury Woods, Hill Top Wood, Warton Crag, and Roddlesworth Woods.
There are a several good geological features in the Longridge area like Stronstrey Bank, White Coppice Quarry, Warton Crag and Grisedale Wood Limestone Pavement, and Sykes Mine.
Longridge's best nearby gardens can be found at The Evaders' Garden, Astley Walled Garden, and Hoghton Tower.
Don't miss Yarrow Valley Country Park, Worden Park, Cuerden Valley Country Park, Witton Country Park, Beacon Fell, Langroyd Country Park, and Wyre Estuary Country Park's country parks if visiting the area around Longridge.
Don't miss Top Lodge, Longworth Clough, Leighton Moss, Brockholes Nature Reserve, Ball Grove Park, Upper Ball Grove Lodge, and Mere Sands Wood's nature reserves if visiting the area around Longridge.
Longridge is near some unmissable historic sites like Black Coppice Mill Stone Factory,
There are a several good canals in the Longridge area like Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Heath Charnock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Higher Wheelton, Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Summit to Wigan Section, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Adlington, Lancaster Canal at Bolton-le-Sands, and Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Rufford Branch.
The area around Longridge boasts some of the best roman sites including Ribchester Roman Bath House, and Ribchester Roman Museum.
Longridge has some unmissable museums nearby like Ribchester Roman Museum, The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, and Harris Museum - Art Gallery and Library Preston.
Don't miss Dog Holes Cave, Fairy Hole, and County Pot's caves if visiting the area around Longridge.
Don't miss Warton Crag and Grisedale Wood Limestone Pavement's limestone pavements if visiting the area around Longridge.
The area around Longridge features a number of interesting sssis including Warton Crag S.S.S.I, and West Pennine Moors.
Longridge's best nearby beaches can be found at Blackpool, Half Moon Bay, The Shore (Bolton-le-Sands), and Hest Bank Wharf.
Shopping Centres to visit near Longridge include The Concourse Shopping Centre.
Longridge has some unmissable cities nearby like Preston, and Lancaster.
Clitheroe Castle is a great place to visit close to Longridge if you like castles.
Longridge History
There are some historic monuments around Longridge:
