The Parish Church of Saint Peter Lane Side Haslingden

You'll find this Victorian church tucked away on Lane Side in Haslingden, just a short drive from Bury. It's a proper solid piece of 19th-century architecture - all stone and serious intent, the kind of building that tells you something about the people who built it and what they valued. The interior's worth a look if you manage to catch it open, with decent craftsmanship in the woodwork and windows that do that lovely thing Victorian churches do with light.

Honestly, it's not a destination in itself. But if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Dearden Wood is barely two miles away, or Rossendale Holiday Cottages if you prefer something with more glamping options - it's a worthwhile twenty-minute detour on a quiet morning walk. Haslingden itself is a real working town, not a tourist trap, so there's something appealing about wandering up here without crowds.

The church tells you something about the area's industrial past and nonconformist heritage if you're into that sort of thing. Families with older kids who actually like looking at buildings might get something from it. Younger children will probably find it a bit slow unless they're into a good stone-hunt.

You'll need to check locally for opening times - it's not the sort of place with a website or regular hours posted. Worth ringing ahead rather than turning up hoping. Free to look around if you find it open, naturally.