To view the enlarged map of Downham please click on the map opposite. Clicking on any of the bullet points below will take you to information about places to visit in and around the Downham area, including:

Downham is one of the loveliest villages in Lancashire, quiet and unspoiled with a gurgling brook running past the village green and stone built cottages set in a rural idyll. Little has changed over the centuries. The church tower is a splendid example of 15th century architecture. Successive generations of the Assheton family have lived at Downham Hall since 1558, the present squire is Lord Clitheroe of Downham. The village was used as a location for the famous film Whistle Down the Wind (See Film & Television) and it also has associations with Old Mother Demdike and other infamous Lancashire witches.

The Downham Circular Walks offer routes through the village of Downham and visits various sites of interest such as part of the Ribchester to Ilkley Roman Road, a lime kiln on Twiston Lane and the top of Pendle Hill. The walks are approximately 3 miles in length each taking approximately 2 hours to complete. To download printer friendly maps of the routes; Click Here for Map 1 or Here for Map 2.

Pendle Hill is famously associated with legends of witches and magic, and the graveyard in Downham is the final resting place of several witches condemned to death in the 17th century, which was unusual for that time, as many were not buried in consecrated ground but on the roadside.

The Pendle Way is a 45 mile circular walk in 8 sections passing through villages like Barnoldswick, Earby and Newchurch-in-Pendle. There are also 6 smaller circular walks along the route.

The Forest of Bowland is an area of outstanding natural beauty situated in the North of Lancashire. The area includes picturesque countryside villages, high into the Bowland Fells and panoramic views with breathtaking scenery. Country walks and cycle routes run through the beautiful farm and woodland alongside the rivers Ribble, Hodder, Wyre and Lune, and the Lancaster Canal, with history and heritage at every turn.

Clitheroe Castle is set in lovely gardens and houses a museum relating to the history and geology of the Ribble Valley and Clitheroe. The Norman Castle and Keep crowns the bold limestone rock in the centre of town and has dominated its skyline for more than 800 years since being built around 1186 by Robert DeLacy to protect the administrative centre of his vast estates. It is said to be the smallest keep in England, since the rooms are only about 20 feet square. A unique sound system enables visitors to sample life in an Edwardian kitchen, discover how a printing press was used in Victorian days and listen to a Clogger describe his craft.

Whalley Abbey was a large and important Cistercian Monastery. It moved here in 1296 when Abbot Gregory of Norbury and 20 monks arrived. Serious construction began on the site about 1320. The ruins of the Abbey are protected as an important ancient monument and are now open to the public daily from 11am until 5pm. A visitor centre with exhibitions and a tea room can be found in the beautiful Abbey grounds. There is thought to have been a wooden church in Whalley as early as 600BC. Todays Parish Church is famous for its preconquest crosses and beautiful interior. The nearby railway viaduct was a triumph of Victorian engineering. The 49 arches are constructed from bricks hand made on site. It was completed in 1852.

Information about the various walks and landmarks is contained in special information packs available from Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre. Call 01200 425566. We hope you enjoy using Lancashires public rights of way network. Remember in poor weather some parts of the paths may become muddy and so walkers should be prepared to use boots or wellingtons.