Occasionally I get to go out alone, minus an exuberant three-year-old. And that’s when I head straight for the antiques emporiums, vintage shops or anywhere else with very pretty, old and breakable objects.

Holden Wood Antiques is housed in an old church, surrounded by hills and reservoirs, and boasts two floors of lovely things from secondhand books to kitchenalia, jewellery and linens. As you go through the big, heavy door and escape from the cold Pennine winds you immediately get the aroma of delicious baked things wafting through from the attached tea rooms.

The food is tasty and there’s a range of hot meals, salads and cakes as well as a daily specials board. You can sit and read a book quite happily whilst enjoying a toasted teacake and indulging in some truly wonderful hot chocolate. I’d recommend the dark variety, so good it’s sure to become a regular habit of mine.

After browsing the antiques booths and perhaps making a little purchase or two – there are treasures to found for all budgets – you can pull on your wellies and take a bracing walk around the nearby Calf Hey Reservoir. The perfect way to work off some of that cake!

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Breathtaking and imposing, and just a fraction short of a mountain, the 557-metre summit of Pendle Hill stands watch over East Lancashire. It’s an atmospheric peak, shrouded in tales of witches covens, and the perfect spot for a bracing walk. Albeit a challenging one.

Fell runners train on it and seasoned hikers have the sandstone in their blood. You don’t have to be fit as a fiddle to tackle Pendle Hill, though; embarking on the ascent at your own pace is all part of the fun.

As you tread the steeply-sloping trail, don’t forget to look up from the ground beneath your feet: the higher you venture, the more beautiful the view becomes. More fields, forests, reservoirs and towns appear with every step, until finally, with the wind whipping your face, you reach the summit.

As the ground flattens out, take the opportunity to catch your breath before the sweeping panorama of the county below rises to snatch it away again. On the clearest days you can see right to Blackpool tower, while misty, winter afternoons cast their own kind of magic.

Images by Andy Rothwell on Flickr & Charlotte Varela

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Callooh! Callay! is just the antidote to a cold, grey winter’s day – a charming and cosy Alice in Wonderland-themed tearoom tucked away in Clitheroe.

Upstairs dwells a rummager’s paradise filled with books, records and prints, while downstairs waits a whimsical escape. Mismatched vintage china, quirky wallpaper and the comforting smell of home-cooking make it the perfect hidey-hole for friends and families.

Good food and an exhaustive array of unique teas take centre stage. All named according to Lewis Carroll’s novel, you can enjoy blends from O Frabjous Day! (a bracing English Breakfast) to Borogroves Brew (a warming combination of ginger root, lemon zest and lemon grass). During my last visit I sampled Cheshire Cat’s got the Cream, a sweet black tea with notes of strawberry and marshmallow – reminiscent of hazy summer days.

Of course, it’d be a crime not to enjoy a pot of tea without cake, so after a rustic bowl of spinach, potato and cheddar cheese soup, I tucked into a slice of chocolate mousse cake that made my heart sing. Rich, gooey and drizzled with fruit coulis: I’d challenge anyone to try a piece without waving goodbye to their winter blues.

As the Walrus so rightly says: “Callooh! Callay! No work today! We’re cabbages and kings.”

Images by Charlotte Varela

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It’s rare to find an interiors shop that isn’t all ‘minimalist chic’ or cookie cutter design, least of all in an old cotton town in Lancashire. Live Like the Boy, however, is a veritable treasure trove of seventies style, industrial accessories and contemporary quirks.

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the shop is the rainbow of colour practically radiating onto the street. There’s an immediate feeling of warmth and happiness, owing in no small part to Ashley, the shop’s owner who’s always ready with a cheery ‘hello’ along with his adorable dachshund, Stanley.

Ashley sources and curates every piece himself, from vases to chairs, and is the perfect person to ask if you aren’t sure how something could work in your home. From Magpie cushions adorned with Britain’s best loved birds and vintage chairs upholstered in vibrant fabrics, to eclectic cards and Mini Moderns wallpaper, there is something to suit every style and desire. I guarantee you won’t be able to leave empty handed!

It’s hard to believe that, little over a year ago, Colne was seen as just another industrial relic that had passed its best. Live Like the Boy has proven the naysayers wrong; a diamond in the rough responsible for bringing trendy new shops, tearooms and eateries to this forgotten town, and the perfect place to escape to come rain or shine.

Images by Charlotte Varela

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We all remember the museums we visited as children; particularly those nearby which warranted repeat trips and whose exhibits became familiar to us. For me it was the Rossendale Museum at Whitaker Park. And the things I loved best? The stuffed elephant.

It was the kind of museum which was like a Victorian cabinet of curiosities on a grand scale; not much rhyme or reason to anything but exciting nonetheless. Sadly, the museum was deemed too expensive to maintain by the local council in 2013. The doors were closed and the future was uncertain; fortunately it was saved and is now The Whitaker.

I hadn’t set foot in the museum in decades but recently visited with my partner and little boy. I loved it, we all did. The natural history collection is intact and looks great (yes, the elephant’s still in residence) and there’s a truly lovely cafe with views out across the park. It’s very family friendly with facilities thoughtfully provided to make your visit a fuss-free experience.

Upstairs there’s a fine art gallery which hosts some great revolving exhibitions of contemporary work. The mix of old and new sits comfortably together and despite the building having received a much-needed makeover it still retains its architectural and historical integrity. The collections are displayed beautifully, the staff are welcoming and, being a smaller museum, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Outside, the park is perfect for a leisurely stroll. Children will love the play area, and there are raised beds housing fruit, herbs and vegetables which are available for visitors to pick from. The Whitaker is within easy walking distance of the East Lancs railway too so perfect for making a day of it exploring this little corner of the glorious Pennines.

Images by Sarah Hardman

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I firmly believe that there is nothing better for the soul than the great outdoors, which is why I’m filled with such boundless excitement every time I set a date for a trip to RSPB Leighton Moss. Even the journey down to the reserve is lovely, taking place along some of the North’s most picturesque stretches of motorway and, as you draw closer, a border of fields and woodland bursting with passing flashes of ornithological life. A taste of what’s to come.

The reserve itself is a haven for such diverse bird life that even the most disinterested visitor will find themselves turning twitcher. Friendly, chubby robins make regular appearances as you walk around the woodland, sitting no more than two feet away in hope of a scrap of food. Other birds aren’t quite so courageous, but can be spotted by the eagle eyed and keen eared; nuthatches, marsh tits, treecreepers, warblers of different varieties – just some of the talented songsters who call this beautiful reserve home.

Some of the most spectacular sights, however, can be found using the hides dotted around Leighton Moss’s famous reedbed. Amidst the peace and quiet kissing Grisedale Hide I watched a distant group of red deer, antlers dreamily backlit by the sun. Later on in front of public hide two marsh harriers soared gracefully above the din made by amorous black headed gulls, occasionally dropping into the reedbed before flying skyward again with barely a sound.

Sitting there with a humble sandwich and chocolate biscuit, I all of a sudden felt completely content.

Image by Charlotte Varela

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