Introduction
What is it ?
Where is it ?
Why do it ?

GREAT HARWOOD
and approximate positions of
some other towns in

Within sight of Pendle Hill and easy reach of the Ribble Valley Great Harwood has always been just off the main road. Lying over the hill to the south of the Ribble Valley and a mile to the north of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal the early east-west trade routes passed it by. A railway branch line did eventually reach the town but that has long since vanished. Even the major roads connecting Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley to the south with the Ribble Valley somehow conspired to pass the town. Today the building of the M65 means it has never been easier to visit Great Harwood. Although still off the main roads it is only a matter of five minutes from the Blackburn East or Accrington junctions of M65 to the centre of Great Harwood.