Page10 Rural L ife


July, 2010


July, 2010 Rural Life


Page 11


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By NICOLA JACQUES


away within 30 acres of spectacular countryside is Stoneygate H o l i d a y Centre, a pri­ vate row of traditional cot­ tages, set to cater for any holiday need and with addi­ tional stable accommoda­ tion.


occupied. H i d d e n


wildlife and plenty of activities to keep them


the Kibble Valley is now a new secluded retreat offering tourists a different kind of break, with breathtaking views, impressive


break can be found on home turf - and there is no need to look further than Lancashire for idyllic scenery and real family adventure. Buried within the heart of


T


h e s e days you don’t need to jet off to find a great escape. With the British summer weather seemingly on side, the perfect,


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rounded by eve­ rything you can imagine.


___


. T h e new centre has been built by former hotelier Alan Davies, along­ side business partners father and son Ken and Mark Ainsworth. Alan says: “The land is a real


jewel in the heart.of the Kibble Valley.


“We realised what a beautiful place it was, a really good spot


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, “I t ’s perfect for walks, one of the best bridle routes and we realised we could build holiday cottages with a difference.” The th ree ,


Stoneygate Lane on the outskirts of Kibchester.


of the finest views of the Forest of Bowland and visitors arc just a short distance away from the


The cottages overlook some


two-bedroomed cottages with six private stone s t abl e s ar e situated just off


area’s famous sights, includ­ ing Jeffrey Hill and Beacon Fell Countiy Park.


Alan adds: “Stepping out onto


the heights of Jeffrey Hill on a clear day offers some truly spec­ tacular sights arid it’s quite simply mindblowing.” “We have some of the most fantastic scenery and wildlife not


easily seen anywhere else in the country.” Alan, who has a wealth of


experience in the hospitality trade having run a family hotel in Kossendale, moved to his farm Pinfold at Kibchester in 2004. But it wasn’t long before he


missed the hustle and bustle of the passing tourists and in 2006 opened his first holiday cottage within the grounds of the farm, with immediate succe.ss.


He says: “I always wanted a farm and after running a hotel for


so long and doing it 24/7 it gets quite tiring.


f


■ I “ issed meeting people. We have had people come to stay with us from all over Europe and as far away as New Zealand ” _ As a member of the Forest of Bowland organisation, Alan has also worked closely with many groups and the tourism board to help raise the area’s profile and attract more tourists.


One particular group the new


centre caters for is the equestrian community.


Right on the doorstep of the


cottaps is one of the area’s most popular bridle paths and Alan says plans are in place with the North Lancashire bridleways group to extend and connect all the routes


from Chipping to Lancaster.


• But Alan adds the accommoda­ tion, although ideal for riders is also suitable for those who enjoy exploring, walking and cycling or simply anyone looking for an idyl­ lic escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. He says: “We have already had


a group of riders to stay with us who said it was a fantastic spot, but this isn’t just for equestrians. We want to give lots of people


a different holiday experience, whether you like walking, cycling or just simply a place to relax. We are all about providing a


full package to cater for all groups with any need to come and hope­ fully explore the area.”


For more information visit the


website wwtv.stoneygateholiday centre.co.uk


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IDYLLIC ESCAPE: Scenes of Stoneygate Holiday Centre and the RibbleValley


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