There’s No Place Like Colne
by Northern Life
MAKE YOUR HOME IN BONNIE COLNE
Situated on the edge of the Pennines and surrounded by stunning scenery, Colne, in Lancashire, is a place of contradictions and surprises. Take some time to explore this quaint, eccentric town, packed with unique stores and enterprises that provide expertise alongside true craftsmanship. Colne’s High Street and side streets host a treasure trove of places to discover, with some of the county’s most friendly taverns, cafés, and restaurants ranging from micro pubs to cocktail clubs…
The restaurant and bar culture has ramped up considerably in recent years
Known as ‘the bonnie town on the hill’, Colne is packed with independent stores as well as a wide variety of great eateries – making it a real foodie ‘hotspot’, hosting numerous butchers and bakeries, including one inventive artisan baker who uses fresh ingredients from her own garden! The Market, with its deli, is also home to their renowned local dish stew n’ hard, making it a must stop and shop venue!
Packed with independent shops, as well as some food chains, there is much to delight the foodie in Colne
On Saturdays throughout the year, regular outdoor markets with a food focus are also held attracting a plethora of different foodie options from local producers. Colne’s authenticity threads throughout the town with its array of independent stores that line its attractive High Street, along with business extending down the characterful side lanes, and in the magnificent arcades branching off. The town is sprinkled with artisan bakers, upscale interiors, professional services, an old-fashioned sweet shop, a bookshop, and real cobblers. It’s also home to Boundary Outlet department store which offers customers great saving on designer brands. Given all of this, and the fact that there’s free parking throughout the town, it’s easy to see why Colne placed second in The Great British High Street Competition a few years ago.
Colne’s position on a hill guarantees you magnificent views wherever you look
Pendle, Lenches, Boulsworth, Mire Ridge, and Noyna Rocks, which form an exquisite backdrop to the town, are virtually impossible to overlook at any time. There are also surrounding charming villages to visit, such as Foulridge, Barrowford, Wycoller, and Winewall, to name a few. With engineering marvels such as the amazing milelong tunnel on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, and Bronte connections in historic Wycoller. For those who love a wander the Primet Conservation Area is a must-see with its mills, foundries, and a magnificent Grade II Listed chimney at Greenfield Mill.
Colne’s location on a hill, guarantees you spectacular views everywhere you look.
A vibrant, diverse music scene can be found in one of the startling 19 live music venues. There are excellent pubs and restaurants that mix eccentric décor, numerous drink selections, and fantastic food to guarantee your stay is memorable. The town offers something to satisfy everyone’s preferences, whether you’re a local or a travelling beer expert! Home to three theatres, makes it the perfect destination to wine, dine and then catch a show. Who needs London? As a result of all these amenities, many claim that Colne is a better place to socialise than much larger towns and cities with its variety of nightlife for a town with fewer than 20,000 residents.
At night, Colne offers a really amazing variety for a town of fewer than 20,000 residents
For those who love to keep active, Colne is a community with access to miles of beautiful walks and cycle routes, as well as the amenities such as a swimming pool, sports hall and plenty of parks. There are even some unexpected leisure facilities such as a cycling pump track in addition to the Trawden moor’s six-mile cycling and bridle trail. On one of the reservoirs, there is a sailing club, a nine-hole golf course, a tennis club, and a shooting club. Plenty to ensure you keep active and healthy.
Reflections of its Victorian heritage is evident throughout the town. The workers in the cotton mills once housed in serried columns of stone terraces descending down the slopes of the ridge.
The mills may have vanished, but much of the architecture has survived, allowing Colne to offer a diverse choice of dwellings at surprisingly low prices.
With its history, stunning scenery, friendly folk and affordable accommodation – it’s easy to see why there really is no place like Colne.
Why would you choose to live anywhere else? Come to Colne!
NorthernLife Nov/Dec 2022
