There’s so much scope for enthusiastic foodies to embark on a gastronomic tour of this productive corner of Britain.
The fertile valley floors of Bowland are dairy farming country and the western edge of the National Landscape is where the vast majority of the county’s distinctive Lancashire cheese is made.
Local cheeses are a speciality, and you’ll also find artisan pies, award-winning sausages, higher welfare grass-fed meat, bread and confectionary in the many local shops and cafes.
And in recent years, local cheese-makers have innovated to produce a wider variety of cheeses than ever before. These days, alongside the tangy traditional Lancashire, you’ll find robust blue cheeses, delicate goats milk cheeses and unique ewes milk variants.
The Forest of Bowland is home to two of the top five venues in the UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs, with another two local establishments in the top 50 list.
The chefs behind award-winning establishments like the Parkers Arms, the Higher Buck, the Freemasons at Wiswell and the Michelin-starred the White Swan are unanimous about the reasons for this: the availability of outstanding local produce right on their doorstep.
Combine an active day exploring the gorgeous little villages with an Epicurean odyssey through this mouth-watering corner of England – or time your visit to coincide with the Clitheroe Food Festival in August.
You’ll find a mouthwatering selection of cafés, cosy pubs and welcoming country inns in the pretty villages of the Forest of Bowland.
Bentham Golf Course
Bentham Golf Course is a picturesque, family-run 18 hole golf course situated at the foot of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Previously described as ‘a Diamond of the Dales’, Bentham offers a challenge to golfers of all abilities and visitors are ...
As the Forest of Bowland’s reputation for artisan food spreads across the country, Katie Wilson at Bowland and Bay is showcasing some of Lancashire’s best artisan food and drink After 30 years in various tourism and buying roles, the pandemic ...
The Beer Hall is Bowland Brewery’s flagship tasting parlour… and what a flagship it is! One of the longest bars in Britain – 105ft 4”- is home to 42 hand pulls and hosts a minimum of 24 individual cask beers ...
Bowland Food Hall is the most wonderful showcase for the very best of Lancashire’s food and drink producers. We work with passionate food and drink producers across the northwest, to bring the finest fare to your plate. Most of them ...
A beautiful small garden centre located in a rural location. Lovely tearoom serving homemade traditional food, dogs welcome. Easy access for limited mobility. Gift shop and reclamation shop in our onsite barns also gives interesting things for our home and ...
Nestling beside the River Hodder in a remote valley beneath the rugged ridgeline of the Bleasdale Fells, Bowland Wild Boar Park maintains a tradition dating back to the middle ages – along with a host of fun activities for the ...
Bustling café beside the bridge over the River Roeburn at the heart of Wray village that's popular with locals, cyclists and waters. Excellent coffee and cakes and more substantial meals on an extensive menu prominently featuring local produce. The stunningly ...
Michelin-trained chef Dominique Ashford has tuned into the slower rhythms of nature after swapping the top end restaurants of London for wild food and foraging in the Forest of Bowland For a really wild adventure in one of the most ...
In the heart of historic Settle, Falcon Manor is a glamorous restaurant, hotel and wedding venue that combines classic sophistication with contemporary chic. Our 16 boutique bedrooms are furnished to the highest standards with traditional touches and sumptuous styling, each ...
Located in the Bowland Fells in Bleasdale, Farm on the Fell is a dairy farm that does dairy differently. They farm as naturally as possible, as they believe farming should work with nature and not against it. The farm is ...
Richard and Rachel Trenchard were quietly building a widely admired brand of artisan gin, distilled and rooted in the landscapes of Bowland – and then the Hairy Bikers dropped in for a quick G&T… After developing an interest in handcrafted ...
Located in the picturesque village of Hurst Green, The Shireburn Arms is a 17th Century hostelry offering stunning views, beautiful accommodation and locally produced food. Original architectural features cosy, up to date contemporary fittings and fabrics to create a unique ...
An award-winning community hub at the heart of the village, where locals and visitors alike can pick up a whole range of items - from drinks and snacks to take away to household essentials. Maps and guidebooks also available - ...
A luxurious large hotel in a rural setting in the shadow of Pendle Hill making it a convenient base from which to explore the Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley and Yorkshire Dales. The original Stirk House was built using stone ...
The Assheton Arms is perched on a hill looking over the picture postcard village of Downham in Lancashire's beautiful Forest of Bowland. This renowned country inn is open all day every day during the summer months for drinks, light snacks, ...
The Coach and Horses is a traditional country inn set in the idyllic village of Bolton by Bowland in the heart of the Ribble Valley. Recently restored to its original glory, this Grade II listed building includes a cosy bar ...
The finest cheese - delivered to your door. It's no wonder The Daily Telegraph lists The Courtyard Dairy as one of the Top 10 Cheese Shops in the World. The Courtyard Dairy is a truly special cheese maturer and shop. ...
Housed in an imposing former chapel in the heart of town, The Emporium is a unique setting of unique interior design and delicious food. Whether it’s a latte or a lunchtime glass of fizz, this elegant old building has been ...
The Fleece Inn is a traditional country inn, situated in the idyllic and historic village of Dolphinholme, near Lancaster. With its stylish charm, our traditional English Inn offers a wonderful and relaxing location for you to drink, eat and sleep ...
For big skies, wide open spaces and the perfect environment for rewilding yourself, head over to the windswept salt marshes of the Lancashire coast, where the Forest of Bowland meets the sea! After travelling the world with a high-powered job ...
A luxury country house hotel in the pretty village of Austwick on the border between the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Traddock Hotel is a small country house hotel in the village of Austwick on the ...
Located beside an ancient stone bridge over a babbling brook at the heart of the picture postcard village of Waddington, the Waddington Arms is the hub of this vibrant little community. It’s the perfect place to eat, drink, relax and ...
Deep in the heart of the Forest Bowland’s famed ‘Lancashire cheese triangle’, a traditional dairy farming family are ploughing their own furrow by producing a distinctive artisan gin with deep roots in the local landscape Founded in 2019 as part ...
