Check out Chorley this Summer
Summer in Chorley is blooming great! It’s the perfect time to enjoy plenty of days out with activities, attractions and events galore. So what are the best things to do in Chorley this summer?
Family-friendly parks
A day at the park has never been so good and you have three to choose from in Chorley as well as plenty of play areas to keep the little and big-ones entertained from morning until early evening.
Check out Yarrow Valley Country Park’s adventure play area and explore over 700 acres including woodland pathways, lodges and the weir. Astley Hall, Coach House and Park also offers a complete day out with everything from the Royalists and Roundheads themed play area, Pets Corner, exhibitions and exploration in Astley Hall and delicious food and drink in Café Ambio.
Cuerden Valley Park is another fantastic green space hidden away to the north of Chorley. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic, walk the dog, splash in the river, explore the Pinetum, visit the walled orchard, explore the many valley and woodland walks or take part in the various events throughout the year.
Big events for all
No matter what your age or interest there’s an event for you in Chorley this summer and even into early autumn and we’ve rounded up the highlights to make sure you don’t miss out.
Enjoy outdoor theatre performances in the Walled Garden at Astley Park in July and September and at Hoghton Tower throughout the summer. Be part of history at The King Returns events on 8 and 9 July at Hoghton Tower celebrating the 400th anniversary of King James I visit.
Immerse yourself in everything floral at the award-winning Chorley Flower Show on 29 and 30 July in Astley Park, celebrate Chorley’s waterways at Botany Bay Canal Fest on 27 and 28 August and see Chorley town centre come alive with music and performance with Chorley Live on 6 and 7 October.
Unlock the waterways
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal – the longest canal in the country – runs through the heart of the Chorley borough, offering all of the family a great day out, especially on a sunny day.
Whether it’s a walk along the waterways, the opportunity to watch the narrow boats negotiating Johnson’s Hillock Locks – a series of seven consecutive locks or steering a hired Ellerbeck Narrowboat on a nice relaxing cruise along a lock-free stretch, the waterways in Chorley promise plenty of fun and relaxation.
Ice cream
Whether it’s sunny or not, Chorley has some of the oldest and best ice cream parlours in the country with people travelling from miles around to enjoy the area’s more imaginative and traditional flavours.
Be sure to call into Frederick’s Ice Cream parlour on the A6 Bolton Road or Massa’s on Cunliffe Street in Chorley town centre to try one of their famous ice creams. With almost 120 years of family experience, Frederick’s Ice Cream is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the country, serving over 100 delicious flavours that range from unusual honeycomb, cinder toffee and sangria sorbet to the more traditional vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.
Inside Botany Bay, you’ll also find Tootsies Ice Cream Parlour and Coffee Shop with every flavour of ice cream you can think of as well as crepes, sundaes and more!
