Discover Great Harwood

Great Harwood combines traces of history with green paths and community-focused experiences. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage can choose the location based on whether culture, walks, cycling tours or nature observation should be the main focus of their stay. The sights and paths offer different points of focus without prescribing a uniform itinerary.

Historic buildings and places of remembrance

The Church of St Bartholomew is one of Great Harwood’s notable historic landmarks. Parts of the church date from the early 16th century, while the tower was built as early as the 15th century. The church also contains a baptismal font dating from 1662. This gives travellers interested in culture several specific historical details to discover in one place.

At Town Gate, the Mercer Memorial Clock Tower commemorates the life and achievements of John Mercer. Its opening ceremony took place on 20 June 1903. The town hall also tells the story of the town’s development: it was completed in 1900. The former goods station still has the stationmaster’s house and two gate pillars.

Park views and paths through the landscape

Memorial Park is situated on elevated ground and offers views north towards Pendle Hill. Anyone looking for an open landscape experience during a trip to Great Harwood can make this park a focus of their stay. Another connection with nature is the “Memorial Park Biological Heritage Pack”. It includes a nature trail and insect-hunting activities, adding an observational and experience-oriented perspective to the park.

Several paths, described in different ways, are available for those looking to get active. The Martholme Greenway is a walking and cycling route that runs through woodland along a reclaimed former railway line. The White Path section follows the former railway line in a straight course along the edge of the outlying areas of Great Harwood. The North Lancashire Loop, also known as the Great Harwood Loop, follows the trackbed of the former railway. Depending on how you wish to spend the day, you can choose between a walking and cycling route, a straight section and a path described as a loop.

Events and community life

Great Harwood also demonstrates its local sense of community through recurring community events. The annual Horticultural & Craft Show has been held for more than 25 years. The Boundary Walk is also an annual community event. Both examples represent different forms of local life: the show combines horticulture and crafts, while the Boundary Walk, as a community-organised event, allows visitors to experience the town from a different perspective.

Choosing the right starting point

When looking for accommodation, you can first decide on your preferred travel rhythm. For culture-focused days, the church, the Clock Tower, the town hall and the preserved elements of the former goods station provide specific points of interest. If exercise and nature are more important, Memorial Park, the nature trail, the Martholme Greenway or one of the surviving former railway paths can be included in your personal plans. A holiday apartment in Great Harwood is therefore particularly appealing if you would like to put together your stay from a range of independent experiences.

Discover more destinations

For further orientation, you can also view the following places at the same navigation level: West Bradford, Penwortham, Lea, Scorton, Lytham Saint Annes, Fleetwood, Clitheroe and Whalley.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lancashire.