Stunning Photography Snapped Up by New Visitor Guide
Some of the best landscape photography in North West has been snapped up by the 2024 Ribble Valley visitor guide, Love Ribble Valley.
The 100-page guide, one of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s most popular publications – is flying off the shelves at tourism outlets, where demand has been high.
The glossy guide showcases Ribble Valley’s many attractions, including its award-winning food and drink, art, heritage, countryside and even its best dog- friendly Walks with Taste, one of which – a three-mile circular pub walk from the Inn at Whitewell taking along glorious riverside paths and pastures – is showcased in the publication.
As well as dog-friendly walks, top-notch eateries and places to stay, the guide features dedicated articles on the borough’s outstanding cycling routes, heritage attractions, such as the multi-award-winning Clitheroe Castle, and family days out, such as Mrs Dowson’s Farm Park and the Bowland Wild Boar Park.
And the popular publication is bursting with outstanding photography submitted by local snappers for a competition organised by Ribble Valley Borough Council’s tourism team on their Facebook page ‘Love Ribble Valley’.
This year’s competition invited entries with the themes, landscapes and landmarks, taste, people together and events, and the quality of imagery was outstanding.
David Birtwhistle, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s economic development committee, said: “Tourism is a key part of our economic strategy and we recognise its potential for growth.
“Our challenge is to develop the visitor economy, while ensuring it does not detract from the beauty of the borough, or adversely affect the local community, which is why we target key markets, such as food and drink, walking and weddings.
“Our visitor guide is a key part of our tourism strategy and the latest edition is a splendid publication by any standards.”
The council’s tourism and events officer, Tom Pridmore, added: “Love Ribble Valley focuses on businesses with a real story to tell offering authentic visitor experiences around themes that the borough is famed for, such as food, outdoor pursuits and weddings.
“This year’s guide features some outstanding local photography and has been enthusiastically received by tourism outlets, where demand has been high.”
The visitor economy – comprising day and staying visitors – generates over £260million for the Ribble Valley economy, along with 3,454 full-time equivalent jobs.
Many visitors are attracted by the borough’s food and drink, which has been championed by Ribble Valley Borough Council for many years through several successful initiatives, particularly the Clitheroe Food Festival, now in its 11th year and considered one of the best in the UK.
Love Ribble Valley is available from the Visitor Information Centre and Platform Gallery in Station Road, Clitheroe, and as an online or downloadable magazine at visitribblevalley.co.uk.