Whitworth Valley

One main road links Whitworth, Facit and Shawforth together. These small, narrow towns are wedged in the valley bottom, flanked by steep valley sides with quarries dotting the skyline.

If you are feeling adventurous and love making waves, at Whitworth Water Ski Centre you can water ski or wake board. They cater for both able bodied and disabled water skiers of all abilities and don’t worry if you’ve never water skied before, a training boom can be attached to the side of the boat so you can’t fail!

Fudge Village at Facit is not just a place to buy fudge but you can see fudge and chocolate being made on their organised theatre tours and afterwards choose from any one of the 23 different flavours of fudge. Bistro Fudge @ Fudge Village serves lunch and high teas. The house speciality is not surprisingly chocolate fudge cake and cappuccinos to die for.

If you fancy a pub meal The Red Lion, set in the heart of Whitworth Square and dating back to 1674, has all the charm and character you would expect from such a historic building. For Real Ale fans, Tetleys’ Cask, plus other guest beers are on tap along with a great bar snack menu.

Whilst you are in this Conservation Area check out St Bartholomew’s Church, a grade 2 listed building with lots of interesting gargoyles and Whitworth House, previously occupied by the famous Whitworth Doctors who were bone-setters and treated many famous people in their day.

Get in touch with nature at Healey Dell Nature Reserve, the only designated reserve in Rossendale. There’s an excellent network of footpaths and cycleways with some access for wheelchairs. There’s a recently extended, 6km cycleway running from Rochdale through Healey Dell and on up to Britannia; look out for the signs for Route 92.

For those seeking an adrenaline rush Cowm Leisure have the ideal site for an army of off-road activities: Trials Bikes, Road Legal 4 x 4’s, Pit Bikes, Remote Controlled Cars and Cyclo Trials Bikes can tackle the challenge of the natural terrain in a 150 acre, disused quarry.

Lobden Golf Club is located high on the moor-tops above Whitworth. This 9-hole course provides incredible views of the surrounding countryside and although it may not be long by today’s standards, at 5250 metres, it is without doubt a challenge for all golfers.

Some of the wildest scenery in Rossendale can be found at near-by Brown Wardle Hill, which is popular with hang-gliders and para-gliders. If you fancy giving this a go, Airborne UK can get you off the ground with this thrilling sport; they use Brown Wardle Hill as their training site.

For something more sedate, on Tuesdays and Saturdays Whitworth Heritage Museum opens its doors, where you can find out all about the lives of ordinary Lancashire folk through a collection of objects, tools and clothes of their everyday existence.

Conservation Area: Whitworth Town Square.

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