Regular updates and any changes will be displayed here and other parts of the CRL website and via the Community Rail Lancashire Facebook Page.
REGULAR EVENTS
Every Saturday – Yorkshire Dales Explorer, a twice a day Saturday’s only service between Rochdale, Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, the Ribble Valley and Ribblehead. Full details on Yorkshire Dales Explorer or via a weekly news item on the website.
Please note that on 5 & 12 April 2025 the YDE service is affected by engineering due to work between Settle & Kirkby Stephen. Click here for details of how this affect the service.
Every Tuesday – Clitheroe Country Market, in the Church Hall on Moor Lane, Clitheroe BB7 1AZ, 09:30 – 12:00 – a country market with quality home-baked, hand-made and home grown produce. A wide selection of goods from a co-operative of local producers. Home-made cakes, pies and jams also handicraft items such as cards, knits and textile gifts. More details on https://www.facebook.com/Clitheroe-Country-Market-307301586087846/
First Thursday of every month – St. Anne’s Farmers Market, in the main square in St. Anne’s a monthly farmers market with locally and regionally produced food and drink on sale. Meet the people who grow, rear, make and bake your food. More details on www.visitlancashire.com/
Third Saturday of every month – Clitheroe Piano Meet Up, would you like to meet fellow players, share knowledge and develop your performance skills on a Bechstein grand? Then get along to Clitheroe Library on the third Saturday of the month 12:45 – 15:30 for more details contact Janet or Liz on clitheroepiano@gmail.com or download the poster on this link Clitheroe Piano Meet Up
Last Saturday of the month until October – Darwen Artisan Market – a celebration of creativity and community on the last Saturday of the month, at Darwen’s Monthly Artisan Market on the vibrant Darwen Market Square. Immerse yourself in the charm of this lively town and experience a delightful event that celebrates local creativity and craftsmanship.
Fourth Weekend of each month – Whalley Monthly Artisan Market, located in the heart of Whalley, this weekend market brings together art, design, fashion, vintage and much more from over 35 local North West creators, makers and curators. 10:00 – 16:00. Full details on this link: Whalley Artisan Market
Clitheroe Castle Museum. Opening hours are 11:00 to 16:00 daily. Details of this over 800 year old castle can be found on this link: lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/clitheroe-castle-museum/
Blackburn Library & Museum
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 – 16:45 with free admission. Please visit blackburnmuseum.org.uk/plan-your-visit/ for details.
OTHER EVENTS
Sounds in the Palace – A series of concerts in the Palace, 18 Garden Street, St. Annes – concerts hosted by St. Annes Town Council roughly twice a month and full details can be found on this link: Palace concerts. The Palace is just a few minutes walk from the railway station.
Now and until 6 April 2025 – Industries of Lytham – a celebration of the local industrial heritage in the Lytham Heritage Centre, Henry Street, Lytham FY8 5LE. The Heritage Centre is just a few minutes walk from the railway station and is free entry, nut donations are welcomed. Opening times are Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 – 16:00.
Now and until Easter 2025 – Spring Selection – an exhibition of artworks at the Beach Hut Gallery & Station Library, Kents Bank Station. Artists Rebecca Darbishire, Sally Bamber & Rachel Wright showcase their work – open Fridays to Sunday (and bank holidays) 11:00 – 16:00. Click here to download the poster with more information Spring Selection Poster
Today and until 31 March 2025 – Lancashire in 50 Objects (Roman gemstones) – Clitheroe Castle Museum, Castle Hill, Clitheroe is hosting an exhibition of Roman artifacts found in the excavation of the bathhouse at Ribchester (Bremetenacum). Every day 12:00 – 16:00, normal admission applies of £5 per adult but children up to 18 go free. Full details on https://events.apps.lancashire.gov.uk/w/webpage/event-details?eventid=1474379
Now and until Friday 30 May 2025 – Sunshine, Soca and Spice – 50 years of Preston Caribbean Carnival and exhibition at the Lancashire Archives, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 2RE. Monday to Friday 09:30 – 17:00 – free and no need to book.
Saturday 5 April 2025 – Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks – two walks in the Buxton area, led by volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, Walk 1 is a strenuous 13 miles starting and finishing at Buxton. Walk 2 is a moderately easy 8.5 miles starting at Whaley Bridge and returning from Buxton. Full details of these and other walks on this link Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks January – May 2025 or visit the Lancashire Rail Rambler website on https://railramblers.wordpress.com/about/
Monday 7 April 2025 – Burnley Mechanics Family Fun Festival – a day of free art activities, workshops and performances for all the family. Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley 11:00 – 15:00. More details on Burnley Mechanics Events.
Tuesday 8 April 2025 – A CRL Guided Walk – a walk led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, the walk is a moderately easy 7 miles. The walk starts at Entwistle (10:10) and finishes at Darwen. Full details of this and other walks on Community Rail Lancashire Guided Walks (Winter & Spring 2025)
Saturday 19 April 2025 – Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks – two walks in the Kirkby Stephen area using the Yorkshire Dales Explorer service and led by volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, Walk 1 is a moderate C walk of 10 miles and Walk 2 is a moderately easy E walk of 8.5 miles. Both walks start and finish at Kirkby Stephen. Full details of these and other walks on this link Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks January – May 2025 or visit the Lancashire Rail Rambler website on https://railramblers.wordpress.com/about/
Saturday 26 April 2025 – A CRL Guided Walk – a walk led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, the walk is a moderate 10 miles. The walk starts (09:50) and finishes at Burnley Manchester Road. Full details of this and other walks on Community Rail Lancashire Guided Walks (Winter & Spring 2025)
Explore Lancashire By Rail
A series of films is being made for Community Rail Lancashire by a local creative film company Huckleberry Films which are designed to encourage people to Explore Lancashire by Rail. Details of this exciting project that covers the four CRPs across Lancashire can be seen on this page Lancashire-by-Rail/
Places to Visit
Click on the link here communityraillancashire.co.uk/local-places-to-visit/ to see a host of interesting places to visit that are close to CRL’s community rail stations.
Destinations
Click on the link here communityraillancashire.co.uk/destinations/ for a page of suggestions for places and towns to visit – all suggestions and content considered.
Make a Beeline for the Station
‘Make a Beeline for the Station!’ is a community marketing project, that combined the vital elements of local education and wider group engagement with tourism attractions and professional marketing. The project, funded by a Northern Seedcorn Grant and by the Community Rail Development Fund is designed to encourage use of Northern’s hourly weekday service from Preston to Ormskirk and then on into Liverpool using Merseyrail services.
The project is supported by a video that can be seen on this page: Make a Beeline for West Lancashire and a leaflet that can be downloaded here: Make A Bee Line
Discover the South Fylde Line
Discover the South Fylde Line is a brand-new line guide launched by the South Fylde Line Community Rail Partnership (SFLCRP) and Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) during Community Rail Week 2022. The leaflet takes you along the South Fylde Line from Preston to Blackpool South highlighting many things you can do along the line. The full leaflet can be viewed by clicking on this link: Discover the South Fylde Line.
Discover Amazing Women by Rail
Discover Amazing Women by Rail is a project initiated by the Mid Cheshire Line CRP and invites people to leave their car at home and use the train (along with buses and trams) to explore the fascinating, and often hidden, histories of women who lived and worked in areas along the Mid Cheshire and Calder Valley railway lines, including the Blackburn to Manchester via Todmorden route.
The project is supported with a website (www.amazingwomenbyrail.org.uk) by an A5 booklet available from local stations, tourist information offices and libraries. The booklet can also be downloaded using this link: Amazing Women by Rail