Simonstone, Lancashire
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The village of Simonstone lies in the south-east corner of the Ribble Valley, a part of North-west England. At the foot of Pendle Hill in a picturesque area of Lancashire, Simonstone is a desirable place to live - many of the residents work in larger towns and cities in the region, for example; Burnley, Blackburn, Preston and often Manchester.
Along with its neighbouring village of Read (with which it shares a Parish Council and two council seats) it is conveniently located on a busy A-road (known locally as 'Whalley Road') and the towns of Clitheroe, Accrington and Burnley can be reached in about 20 minutes in varying directions along this road.
The village has roughly 800 residents. The majority of the houses are located around the main A-road at the southern tip of the village. Larger and often older properties lie to the north, the two areas linked by 'Trapp lane' and numerous public foot paths and separated by a series of farmer's fields.
[edit] Amenities
St Peter's CE Primary School is the village's only school, with around 120 pupils. The school is friendly and has an excellent teaching reputation - it also hosts several village events throughout the year, the most popular being the 'School Gala' (or Summer Fair) held late on in June.
St Peter's CE Church - the church building is modern inside and doubles up as the school hall and gym during the week (parts of the church are not accessible to the school) and is a very welcoming place in the village. The parish priest, the Rev. Doctor Alan Sowerbutts, also serves as incumbent at St John's CE church in the neighbouring village of Read.
The Simonstone Hotel and The Stork. The first is located on Simonstone Lane - which leads to the smaller village of Altham. The Hotel provides a meeting place for villagers and also plenty of refreshment -both alcoholic and non! The Stork is situated in the centre of Simonstone and is also a very popular establishment.
The Petrol Station and 'Read' Car Sales. Petrol Station - unusual for a place so small, but invaluable - it is the only seller of newspapers and basic grocery items in the village. Despite being called 'Read' Car Sales, this garage is actually in Simonstone and, surprisingly, sells used cars!
The Higher Trapp Hotel. Now part of the 'Best Western' chain of Hotels, the Higher Trap is a popular site for wedding ceremonies and receptions, christening parties, birthdays and even funeral wakes. The Hotel provides great en-suite rooms, functions rooms, several bars and a restaurant bar, which is open to the general public. The Hotel has a reputation for good quality food and a generous selection of drinks.
Walks. The best thing about Simonstone has to be its position in the hills. Within 5 minutes of leaving your home anywhere in the village, you can be walking in the surrounding hills. Public footpaths make it possible to walk almost anywhere you like - through fields, woods or up Pendle Hill and take in some of the Ribble Valley's breath-taking scenery.
It is an area often overlooked by many. Frankly, that is a good thing -it means the area is left calm and peaceful and is able to be enjoyed by the people who live there. Still, if you're in the area - near the Preston/ the M6 then do pop over - it's really worth it and you'll definitely want to come back!
