Abbeystead, Lancashire

There's lots to see and do in Lancashire. A hot air balloon flight may be perfect for a birthday gift or special celebration.

The picturesque village of Abbeystead is situated within the Forest of Bowland. The rivers Tarnbrook Wyre and Marshaw Wyre join close to the village and become the River Wyre which enters the Abbeystead Reservoir. The reservoir was built in 1885 by Lancaster Corporation to enable the mills lower down the valley to have a supply of water at times when rainfalls were sparce. The content of water passing from the reservoir into the River Wyre is regulated at the impressive curved overflow weir. The monks’s house (or abbey) is said to have been located beyond the confluence of the two rivers and to the north of the reservoir. The surrounding woodland area is a haven for walkers who are informed of scenic ventures and local wildlife on several information boards around the village. The traditional stone building of Cawthorne Endowed School stands alongside Smithy Brow Strait Lane opposite Holme Farm whose farm buildings are clustered together near the fast flowing Tarnbrook Wyre. Further to the south the River Marshaw Wyre relies for its content on streams from the heather clad slopes of Hawthornthwaite Fell. The heather is home to moorland birds and becomes a blaze of colour in the autumn. Many feeder streams as well as the Rivers Grizedale and Calder flow from its north-west and west facing slopes into the River Wyre throughout the year. The summit of Hawthornthwaite Fell (479m) lies less than 3 miles to the south whilst Abbeystead, Dunkenshaw and Tarnbrook Fells, are located to the north of Tarnbrook Wyre valley are situated to the north of Abbeystead.

Click here to buy a flight voucher online.