Longridge

Peel Tower

Holcombe · 17 miles

Rising 128 feet above Holcombe Moor, the stone monument known locally as Holcombe Tower marks the spot where Robert Peel, the former Prime Minister and founder of the modern police force, was commemorated after his death in 1850. Situated near Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, the tower sits at an elevation of roughly 1 100 feet (335 metres) and forms a prominent landmark on the moorland that separates the town from the surrounding countryside. Construction began shortly after Peel’s passing, driven by a public appeal and overseen by a committee chaired by industrialist William Grant. The gritstone used for the structure was quarried on-site, leaving a visible pit beside the base. The tower’s crenellated base bears the name “Peel” above its entrance, and the four-stage shaft features mullioned windows and battlements that support a viewing platform. In 1929 the original wooden staircase was replaced with iron, and a marble panel bearing an excerpt from Peel’s 1846 speech to the House of Commons was added. During the Second World War the tower served as a lookout post; later corrosion led to its closure until a new concrete staircase was installed and the monument was rededicated in November 1985. Today the structure is owned by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, holds Grade II listed status (designated 1984), and is occasionally accessible to visitors on Sundays when the flag at its summit is flying, the flag being maintained by volunteers.

Smithills Hall

Smithills · 17 miles

Set on the slopes of the West Pennine Moors, about 500 feet above Bolton and three miles north-west of the town centre, Smithills Hall commands views over the surrounding valleys. The Grade I-listed manor and scheduled monument occupies a defensive site near the Astley and Raveden Brooks, and its earliest surviving elements – notably the great hall – date from the 15th century, with later extensions forming a west wing. The original structure was partly timber-framed, built on a formal terrace and once surrounded by a moat, while the 19th-century additions display coursed stone and decorative timber work. The hall’s name derives from Old English terms meaning “smooth hill”, recorded as Smythell in 1322. Ownership passed from the Radcliffe family in the 14th century through the Bartons, Belasyse, Byroms and Ainsworths before the Bolton Corporation acquired it in 1938. A museum opened in the oldest parts in 1963 and was expanded in the 1990s; the west wing was restored in 1999 and the Devey Room refurbished in 2018. Since 2017 the ground floor hosts “Poppins at Smithills”, a Mary Poppins-themed tea room. The estate also features 48 hectares of gardens and pleasure grounds, including formal lawns, a steep wooded valley and a lake. Admission is free and opening times are published by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, which owns the property. Visitors can explore the historic interiors, the museum displays and the restored Victorian spaces, and enjoy refreshments in the tea room. The surrounding parkland offers walks among the formal gardens and the moorland edge, making the hall accessible for both cultural and outdoor interests.

Hall i' th' Wood Museum

Bank Top · 17 miles

Hall i' th' Wood is an early 16th-century manor house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It is a Grade I listed building and is currently used as a museum by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council. It was the manor house for the moiety of the Tonge with Haulgh township held by the Brownlows in the 16th century. The original building is timber framed and has a stone flagged roof; there were later additions to the house, built from stone, in 1591 and 1648. The name represents "Hall in the Wood' spoken in the local regional English dialect and is pronounced.

Grimsargh Wetlands

Grimsargh · 1.9 miles

Made up of three decommissioned reservoirs, the former United Utilities site use to provide water for the local community and industry.

Stonyhurst Bathing Huts

Great Mitton · 6.2 miles

These unusual structures were used by the boys at Stonyhurst College as changing rooms when they were permitted to swim in the River Hodder close to the school

Museum of Lancashire

Avenham · 6.2 miles

Currently closed due to funding issues.