Rawtenstall - does anyone know the area?

[Cheeseandlobster]

We are going there for a long weekend soon. Gorgeous cottage in the middle of nowhere. We always like to spend an afternoon ambling around the local town so can anyone tell us what Rawtenstall is like or if there is another town that is nicer?

About an hours drive away is Skipton, which has a great castle, did have a fab market pre Covid, and lots of lively places to eat. www.welcometoskipton.com/
Again an hour away is Haworth - Bronte country. www.yorkshire.com/places/west-yorkshire/bradford/haworth

I would honestly drive over to Hebden Bridge tbh. Rawtensrall and Ramsbottom aren’t very interesting places at all imo!

If you want a meal out in Ramsbottom there are 2 pubs pretty much in the centre that have won multiple awards The Eagle and Child and The Hearth of the Ram.
Worth checking out and booking.
Parking free in Ramsbottom as well plus supermarkets if you need to pick up bits.
There is Aldi Morrisons and Tesco so take your pick plus an award winning butcher on Bridge Street and a couple of independent bakeries

Bury Market is fine if you need to buy some black pudding or a pie. A tourist attraction otoh, it certainly isn’t.

@MangosteenSoda

Bury Market is fine if you need to buy some black pudding or a pie. A tourist attraction otoh, it certainly isn’t.

Years ago someone raved about Bury market and recommended it highly. So we went. It was just horrible. Grotty, tacky and overcrowded all in one. Never again.

The two pubs mentioned are fine and the butchers are ok . Parking is free but sparse.
An Aldi is just an Aldi.
Ramsbottom had charm 25 years ago . It's now just meh .
Get yourself to Hebbden bridge . It's lovely.
If you want a nice walk go to Entwhistle res and stop off at The strawberry duck for refreshments. Dogs are welcome.

Strawbury duck is lovely! A good recommendation. Also there is a loop around 3 reservoirs you can do, Entwistle with the strawbury duck, wayoh with edgworth village and possibly Turton tower then on to jumbles with a stop at the railway in Bromley cross then train back to Entwistle.

I realise supermarkets are what they are but if OP needs milk dog food or anything else to know they are there would be handy.

Whittaker Park is lovely and the Temperance Bar in Rawtenstall is worth a visit.

Supermarket info is always useful and appreciated

We are going for 3 nights so 2 full days. Potentially we could Hebden Bridge AND Ramsbottom and some of the walks too. Tell me about the chocolate cafe 😋

Chocolate cafe is again right in the centre of Ramsbottom.
Not sure if it's open at the moment but it usually has proper food as well as chocolate drinks and pastries.
It does take away bars of proper (expensive) chocolate and coffee beans.
Hope it's survived covid as no opening hours showing on Google

Chocolate cafe is open .

The chocolate cafe is disappointing. Slatterys on the other hand is amazing!!!

Slatterys is the best !

Think I would head North to Whalley, Clitheroe. About 30 mins from Rawtenstall. Nothing wrong with Bury market. Voted best market in UK. Out of Rawtenstall over to Todmorden, Hebden Bridge.

Hike up Pendle Hill, start in Barley.
Towneley Hall and Gardens - total hidden gem (in Burnley).

I too would head up to Whalley and Clitheroe - much nicer countryside and more bars/cafes/restaurants etc. I would say they are a little bit more sophisticated, if that is the right word. I've lived in both areas and know which I prefer.

Lots of lovely suggestions. I really am so grateful- thank you

Agree forest of bowland is lovely.
Nice cheese cafe in rammy, not sure if it's still there.
Hebden bridge, lovely walk round Hardcastle Craggs (NT), Heptonstall up the very steep hill, so atmospheric, there's a little guide book you can buy to walk around the village.

I see someone’s already beaten me to mentioning Fitzpatrick’s Temperance Bar. The Firepit is good for food too, and there’s a Turkish restaurant (La Turka) on Bank Street that will feed you until you pop. There’s lots of little independent bars like the Buffer Stop at the railway and Northern Whisper is a brewery/pub that sells good beer.

The Whitaker is nice but check if you go as they’re having lots of expansion work done at the moment but the park is lovely. Ski Rossendale is good too.

If you cycle they’ve opened up the old railway tunnels from Waterfoot down through the valleyl which is really interesting to walk or cycle through.

Cronkshawfold farm is in Rossendale - the farm that does goat yoga and was doing the zoom calls with goats over lockdown.

Someone upthread described the Rossendale valley as a hidden gem and I agree.