Trains first came to Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, in 1850, but the station was moved a few hundred yards to its current location in 1894. In 1962, it was closed for over three decades, but reopened in 1994 when a full service started running to and from Blackburn again. The Ribble Valley line does continue north from Clitheroe to Hellifield, which is on the Leeds to Morecambe line, but that section is only used for two passenger services on a Sunday and the occasional special tour, so most of the time Clitheroe station is the last stop on the line.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the station along King Street brings you to the centre of this market town with its wide range of shops and eateries. Turn right into Castle Street, and up on the hill you’ll see the 12th-century Norman keep – the views from the top are worth the climb. Also on Castle Street is the town’s famous sausage shop, which sells more than 60 varieties and has been in business for over 120 years.