Three Mini-Adventures to Discover in Lancashire

Lancashire is a beautiful little area in northern England. It is often skipped by backpackers, in favour of seeing Manchester, Oxford, Bath and London. But should you smartly add it to your travels, you will be rewarded with endless green rolling hills full of sheep and cattle, friendly locals always ready for a brew in the local pub, and dozens of quirky towns, each with a distinct vibe and endless opportunities for a slowed sense of pace; where the word ‘urgency’ doesn’t exist, and there is nothing more important than a coffee with a stranger-turned-friend, or a meander through the village square. 

Of course, to satisfy the backpacking mentality, there are also endless activities to do. Here, I will mention my top three that I believe are quite undiscovered, yet really should not be missed! 

1. The Singing, Ringing Tree

This large, metal-tube sculpture can be found just to the south of Burnley, Lancashire. Be sure to go on a fairly windy day, otherwise it will disappoint. 

The sculpture has a variety of tubes in every direction, and depending on the wind direction, each will produce a different pitch, and together, will create a melody, or harmonies with other tubes.

While my music background made this a very exciting outing, anyone can enjoy and appreciate the somewhat earie sounds the tubes produce. 

The singing tree is located about 400 metres off the main road, and there is a parking lot for vehicles. There is a small hill and the path is mostly gravel and rock, so it may be difficult to take strollers/wheelchairs to the tree itself. 

Public transport doesn’t appear to go out to the tree, however a taxi from Burnley would cost no more than 10-15£, depending on the length of time spent at the tree. 

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Another highlight is the incredible view of the surrounding area, as the sculpture is located on a hill. 

2. Longridge ‘The Palace’ Cinema:

This is one of the U.K./Europe’s oldest cinemas, dating back to the 1860’s, when it was first used as a weaving shed. It became a music and dance hall shortly after until early 1910, and the first moving pictures were shown here in as early as 1912. 

There is only one theatre, but it shows first run, modern movies and at a fraction of the cost of seeing them in modern theatres. The movie changes weekly, usually from Sunday to Sunday. 

Adding to the experience, staff come into the theatre between the previews and the start of the feature film to sell ice cream and frozen treats. 

There are a variety of seat styles, including ‘double seats’ (great for date night!) and regular single chair style. There isn’t a lot of legroom, so if you happen to require this, make sure to sit on the aisles. 

By far the quirk that I found most amazing, is that when the movie is about to start, the whole audience rises and sings the national anthem (God Save the Queen). Child and adults, locals and foreigners, it is a tradition dating back over 100 years, and the owners are in no hurry to stop now! 

3. Ingleton Waterfall Hike

It would be a terrible thing to talk about Lancashire and not mention any outdoor activities. Though Ingleton is not technically in Lancashire, it is well-connected by public and nation-wide transport. The waterfall hike is right in the centre of town, and there are plenty of places to have a brew and toilet break before entering. 

The trail is a circuitous route where you’ll pass hundreds of stunning waterfalls, pass countless gurgling streams and view beautiful plant and animal life under a canopy of towering trees. 

While not for the fully-able, it is a hike that is very doable with a basic level of fitness. The trail is about 4 miles long and there are over 700 steps to ascend/descent, however there are many breaks in the steps, and many flat parts, including a grassy field perfect for picnics. The trail can be slippery at times, so good footwear is essential, and it would be smart to go on a day when no rain is predicted (if possible, in this area!). 

Plan to spend at least half a day enjoying the trail and the beautiful surroundings. 

While there are plenty more activities to do, these are three that I feel don’t get enough mentions, and really should not be missed! 

Have you traveled to the area? What are some of your ‘can’t miss’ highlights?