Whitelea nestles in the village of Trawden, on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The wonderful cottage is easily reached by motorway. There are stunning uninterrupted views across our “infinity” lawn over the valley and Boulsworth Hill. You can watch the changing landscape without even getting up from your chair! When it’s time to stretch your legs with a walk or car/cycle ride you have a wide choice of fascinating places to explore.
Although there are no shops in the village, take a short drive by car or even hop on the regular local bus to take you the mile and half to Whitesides bakers shop (their pies, bread and cakes are excellent) and a corner shop with newspapers.
From Whitelea there are many local walks; from a short wander around the ancient village, to a longer ramble via the Pedlars path to the picturesque hamlet of Wycoller, where there are ancient clapper and packhorse bridges.
Walking through Wycoller Country Park towards the Panopticon will give you glorious views of Pendle, Boulsworth and the surrounding countryside.
For a longer walk head for the Bronte Way or Pendle Way (Witches) trails or even the Pennine Way. You might like to try the three Lancashire peaks, Pendle, Boulsworth and Weets Hills.
There are delightful villages such as Newchurch-in-Pendle renowned for its links to the Pendle witches, Downham, and Heptonstall to explore and larger towns; Colne, Barrowford, Skipton and Hebdon Bridge where you will find supermarkets, pubs, shops and restaurants.
Trawden village hosts an annual show, summer scarecrow festival, and artist studio weekend.
Colne's St Bartholomew's Church dates from before 1122 when the town's market was located in the churchyard. The churchyard used to house the market cross and wooden stocks on wheels and people were placed in these on market days. The stocks are now located in the nearby library. The market cross is in Market Street. During the Industrial Revolution there were 30 cotton mills in the town. The mill workers wore wooden clogs with iron reinforcements on their soles and were housed in the many rows of terraced houses which ran along cobbled streets up and down the steep slopes on either side of the main thoroughfare. Although the mills and millworkers have gone, you will still find their houses and cobbled streets in the town. Colne has many events each year including the Beer festival and Blues festival.
Skipton (Sheep Town) is a thriving market town with quaint cobbled streets a famous pie shop, a castle and canal walks and boat rides. The town has a busy calendar of events, including Woolfest, International Puppet Festival, sheep Day, the Car Show and Waterway Festival to name a few.
The area has literary links;
- Robert Neill’s Mist Over Pendle (visit the witch Alice Nutter's "grave" at St Mary's church in Newchurch, the sculpture at Roughlea and walk up Pendle Hill)
- The Bronte sisters at Howarth ( visit the Parsonage, walk to Bronte Bridge, the Bronte waterfall and visit the family vault at the church)
Cyclists can head off to try their chances on the Tour De Yorkshire route or watch the Colne Grande Prix cycling races. If you are an off road enthusiast, head north for the Gisburn Forest trails.
A short drive by car can take you to the towns of Colne, (take a look at the steep cobbled roads) Skipton (visit on market day and don’t forget to visit the castle) and Clitheroe (another castle here and the renowned sausage shop!). For days out head towards the Trough of Bowland, Grassington, or visit the Worth Valley Railway at Oxenhope, or the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway.
When in Lancashire head to the mills at Boundary Mill Colne for a wide range of “Label” clothing, shoes and household goods at reduced prices. Whilst you are there pop in for coffee and cake at the café or lunch or dinner at the restaurant or even afternoon tea. If none of these appeal there’s the famous Banny’s fish and chips too. Still eager for bargains then head off for Pendle Village at junction 12 M65, stopping at their Chocolate Strawberry teashop for refreshments.
Whatever your passion be it walking, cycling, driving, history or shopping there is plenty around Whitelea to keep you occupied.