Looking for a tasty break? Plan a nibble in the Ribble

ARE you feeling hungry? If so, head to Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, which has quietly become one of the best spots for foodies in Britain.

It’s home to three of the country’s top-ten gastropubs, according to the website Top 50 Gastropubs. Namely, the Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland, the Freemasons at Wiswell and the White Swan at Fence – the perfect trio for an indulgent gourmet weekend break.

Ribble Valley, named after the River Ribble, is mainly comprised of the fells and moorland of the Forest of Bowland. So it’s ideal for walkers, too – and those with a spring in their step may choose to take on part of the new 65-mile Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail, which meanders through untamed meadows and woods alongside the crystal clear River Ribble.

A map can be found at ribblevalley.gov.uk/mayorswalk.

Elsewhere, up in the wilds of Bowland proper, serious hikers can tramp through the Trough of Bowland to a point that the Ordnance Survey named Britain’s geographical centre: the Whitendale Hanging Stones – a rocky outcrop 1,800ft (550m) high, four miles north-west of Dunsop Bridge.

Ribble’s main town is Clitheroe, bustling with independent cafes and clothing boutiques. The surviving ramparts of its 12th Century castle sit proudly on a limestone mound and tower over the town. Its museum is located in an 18th Century former steward’s house within the grounds. Here, the history of the region is explained – beginning at the formation of the landscape 350million years ago .

Now to the gastropubs. Seven miles to the north of Clitheroe is the Parkers Arms (parkers arms.co.uk), with its creaky wood floors, log fires and legendary pies, as well as fantastic beef medallions with red wine jus and creamy mash.

The White Swan (whiteswan atfence.co.uk) is more experimental: egg yolk, eel chunks and dashi butter are an intriguing combination, while the damson souffles are superb.

Prepare for a new menu with each visit, as the food is created using the freshest produce available.

And the truffle-cheese hot dog, cod loin with tomato butter and lamb kofte meatballs at Freemasons at Wiswell (freemasonsatwiswell.com) were a delicious treat, particularly after enjoying a long walk.

Where to stay: Lisa GoodwinAllen, from the Northcote Hotel, was named Britain’s top chef in last year’s Cateys (known as the ‘hospitality Oscars’). About four miles from Clitheroe, the hotel is another foodie haven – this one with 26 opulent bedrooms, some of them vast suites with terraces, and all decorated in silvery hues. Hares scamper around in the kitchen garden and a cookery school runs all year. The hotel can also organise tours to meet artisan local gin or gelato producers.

But GoodwinAllen’s food is the headline act, thanks to a menu that features dishes such as aged beef tartar alongside sweet parsley jelly and rich mushrooms, venison meatballs with zingy Granny Smith crisps, and an Amalfi lemon and honey meringue, pictured above.

The hotel’s free app suggests 40 rambles, so you can walk it all off. B&B doubles priced from £240 (northcote.com).