Blacko Tower

You'll spot Blacko Tower long before you reach it - a squat stone structure rising from the Lancashire moorland like something from a Victorian fever dream. Built in 1898 by a local manufacturer with more money than sense, it sits on high ground above Nelson and serves absolutely no practical purpose whatsoever, which is rather the point.

The tower itself is modest in scale, but the walk up to it is what matters. The moorland setting feels genuinely wild, especially if you catch it on an overcast day when the clouds roll in. It's not a long trek from the nearby car park - thirty minutes of climbing if you're steady on your feet - but the views back across the Ribble Valley make it worthwhile. On clearer days you can see across to Pendle Hill.

History enthusiasts will find the backstory amusing more than profound: a vanity project that somehow became a local landmark. The tower itself is best admired from outside rather than explored within - it's not particularly thrilling inside. Families with young children might find the moorland walk more engaging than the tower itself, and it works well as a leg-stretcher between park stays at Parkdean Resorts Todber Valley or Holgates Ribble Valley, both within an easy drive.

Go for the walk and the views rather than the tower. It's honest moorland rambling with a bit of quirky Victorian eccentricity thrown in. Worth the detour if you're staying locally, though not a reason to travel miles.