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From the 14th century Cisterican abbey to the 48-arch Victorian viaduct, not to mention its Tudor cottages and Georgian architecture. All nestling beneath Whalley Nab, the spectacularly steep, wooded hillside which overlooks the village. No wonder this picture-postcard village is loved by both residents and visitors, as reports Lancashire Life magazine
Whalley has always enjoyed a reputation as a home for thriving independent businesses, including fashion boutiques, gift shops and several thriving cafes and restaurants. But quirky venues like The Whalley Wine Bar, with its street-side drinking using giant beer barrels as tables, have helped give King Street a popular cool edge, bringing visitors into the village and boosting the night-time economy.
Events like the Whalley Monthly Artisan Market ensure daytime visitors have something to keep coming back for.
Popular local butchers SR Hallworth on Accrington Road, is loved as much for its life-sized cow permanently on display outside the shop as it is for its produce, while the local library is a hub for the community, including hosting the occasional theatre performance by rural touring organisation Spot On Lancashire.
The River Calder, which runs past the historic abbey ruins, is the starting point for a glorious walk up Whalley Nab. Although steep, this is a great opportunity to get some spectacular views of the village and the viaduct, which stretches across part of the stunning Ribble Valley. Time it right and you may even see a steam train on the tracks.
While walking is popular - either up the nab or through the ancient woodlands of nearby Spring Wood, Whalley is also a well-known starting point for cyclists who love the village's country roads as they venture off towards the Trough of Bowland.
Whalley enjoys easy access to nearby towns Clitheroe and Blackburn while the A59, which bypasses the village, puts Preston in the west and Skipton in the east in easy reach. Both journeys take approximately 30 minutes.
The village's population of 4,000 has almost doubled in 20 years, emphasising its popularity as a highly sought-after location to live. However, it has retained its village feel despite this recent expansion. New housing developments built in the past 20 years include Calderstones on the site of the former hospital in the north, to more recent developments at Abbey Farm Whalley Manor. These developments offer a diverse range of housing in the village, from country cottages to various-sized new builds.
According to Rightmove, the average cost to buy a house in Whalley stood at £358,636 over the past year. The majority of properties sold during this time were detached properties, selling for an average price of £471,346. Terraced properties sold for an average of £210,812, with semi-detached properties fetching £327,150.
Sophie Howell photographed in the village of Whalley
What the locals say
Sophie Howell has lived in Whalley since she was three years old and loves village life as much now as she did as a child.
In the summer months, she often comes down to Vale Gardens, the immaculately kept small green space in the heart of the village with its timeless Clare Bigger-designed stainless steel three fishes sculpture, to sit on one of the park benches and enjoy her lunch.
Check out fabulous homes and gardens in the latest edition of Lancashire Life magazine
The quaint park is one of several beautiful green spaces in the village, which include the abbey and its ruins, the children's playground next to the library and, of course, the nab itself which dominates the skyline and gives Whalley its unique appeal.
'All my family live here. I think it's a really beautiful place to live. It's got a really nice mix of shops and green spaces, like this little park,' she says.
'The houses are quite expensive, but I think that's because everybody wants to live here. There are some lovely restaurants and wine bars too.'