Close Attractions

During your visit to Foxfields, the local area is perfectly equipped to cater to your golfing preferences. There are two clubs within close proximity of the hotel who are very happy to accommodate our guests. Whalley Golf Club (www.whalleygolfclub.com), a beautiful nine hole course, is a short five minute drive away. Likewise, Wilpshire Golf Club (www.wilpshiregolfclub.co.uk) is equally accessible, and is noted for having been designed by renowned Scottish golfer and course architect James Braid. We can be flexible to suit you. Prices range from £85.00 per person. This price includes a three course dinner, accommodation in one of our Superior Suites, a Full English Breakfast and two rounds of golf, either on the same course or one round on each (tee times will be checked on booking stage). We will tailor make the package around the individual needs and requirements of the guest.

Located on the top of Castle Hill, Clitheroe Castle is one of the Ribble Valley’s most popular historical landmarks. The castle was built in 1186 by Robert de Lacy, and has been owned by the people of Clitheroe by subscription since 1920. The Museum re-opened in 2009 following a major restoration of the Keep and now takes visitors all year round. Surrounded by 16 acres of parkland, the grounds of the castle are contain a variety of facilities including an extensive children’s playground, a bandstand, a bowling green and the community rose garden. The grounds of the castle remain very central to the local community, with events including the Clitheroe Community Bonfire and Fireworks Display being held there on an annual basis.

Stonyhurst College is a public school of the Jesuit tradition located in Hurst Green, near Clitheroe. On a seasonal basis, the school does allow groups of visitors to book places on tours of the historic site, to view the chapels and the historic rooms. Within the Great Hall, visitors will see the table upon which Cromwell reportedly slept on the eve of the Battle of Preston in 1648. Notably, having been inspired by the local landscape, R. R. Tolkien wrote part of The Lord of the Rings at the school whilst visiting his son who was studying for a priesthood there. Today, the Tolkien Trail allows visitors to explore the landscape around the college and the surrounding areas.

Covering 312 square miles in Lancashire and across the Yorkshire border, the Forest of Bowland has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1964. There are many walking routes across the region. With a population of only 16,000, locals reside in historic villages or isolated hamlets across the area. One of the villages of note is Dunsop Bridge, the geographic centre of Great Britain, which is part of the Duchy of Lancaster estate. The village is well equipped for visitors, with the local café, Puddleducks, being a great place to stop for a cup of tea or a sandwich on your journey. In 1992, Sir Ranulph Fiennes unveiled a commemorative phone box in the village, marking BT’s 100,000th payphone.

Located on the banks of the River Ribble, Ribchester is a village and civil parish in the Ribble Valley, a short ten minute drive from Foxfields. Ribchester is possibly best noted as the site of a significant Roman fort, and the home of the Ribchester Roman Museum. The museum is open to the public all year. The museum re-opened in 2001 following an extensive and ambitious redevelopment, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Union. Within the museum, a replica of the famous Ribchester Helmet is on display. The original helmet is housed in the British Museum, and was back on display in Ribchester as part of their centenary year in 2014. When venturing further into the village, you will find the ruins of the Roman Baths behind the White Bull pub.

Whalley is just a short trip from Foxfields, and is easily accessible from the hotel by car, bus, train or foot. The village was ranked in the Sunday Times’Top 50 Places to Live in Britain in 2016. The award recognized Whalley’s strong reputation for its independent retailers, which today includes gift shops, a florist, a jeweller’s, men’s and ladies outfitters and a very highly regarded wine shop in the centre of the village. Whalley Abbey is also a popular draw for the area, with ruins that date back to the 14th century. Annually, in December, Whalley hosts Pickwick Night which attracts several thousand visitors per annum. Pickwick Night has been running in Whalley since the 1980’s, driven by a core group of local volunteers. During the event, individuals dress up in Victorian costume in order to raise money for charity to be reinvested in the local community. The event is named after the Charles Dickens novel, The Pickwick Papers.

The village of Downham lies three miles from Clitheroe. The Assheton family have resided in the manor house at Downham since 1558, and they retain responsibility for all the properties in the village. Well-protected and unspoilt, Downham has proved to be a back drop popular with film makers. Possibly most notably, one of the early shots from the film adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights was filmed in Downham. Other films created there include Whistle Down the Wind. The village has also featured in several TV programmes, and was used extensively in Born and Bred. Downham is also a good location for walkers.