As property prices soar in the south of the country, affordable retirement homes can be snapped up in counties such as Lancashire, offering a quiet pace of life, yet with plenty to see and do.
AdvertisementSo here are seven things to see and do in Preston and Lancashire if you are retired
1 – Brockholes Nature Reserve
Enjoy the great outdoors at Brockholes, a nature reserve created by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust which provides a safe haven for many varied wildlife. Near Preston, this 250 acre reserve features a network of trails and hides, giving plenty of scope to explore properly.
2 – Gawthorpe Hall
If history is more your thing, a trip to the stunning Gawthorpe Hall in nearby Burnley is a must. This former Elizabethan home features paintings from the National Portrait Gallery and period rooms to browse.
3 – Bowland Wild Boar Park
Treat yourselves to a visit to Bowland Wild Boar Park, a family run affair which offering visitors close encounters with llamas, wallabies, red squirrels and of course wild boar. After feeding the lambs, enjoy a picnic in the Forest of Bowland.
4 – Museum of Lancashire
A great way of getting a broad view of all things Lancastrian, this Preston museum celebrates the county and its famous residents with a series of interesting and thought provoking galleries.
5 – Ribble Steam Railway
Have your own Brief Encounter on board the Ribble Steam Railway. Though the line is only one and a half miles long, you can travel alongside the River Ribble and visit workshops and the museum, all run by volunteers.
6 – Hoghton Tower Farmers’ Market
Lancashire’s largest local farmers’ market offers up a delicious selection of the best local produce and was featured on Radio 4’s The Food Programme. It takes place the third Sunday of each month.
7 – Samlesbury Hall
Built in 1325, stunning Samlesbury Hall features local exhibitions, antiques and collectables. It is also haunted, they say, by the ghost of Lady Dorothy Southworth.
So take advantage of these fantastic sites and enjoy your retirement home in Lancashire. But make sure to enjoy and explore your county too.