vividventures

Hotel Review 

Location: 

The Alma Inn is located in an idyllic moorland setting high above the village of Laneshawbridge on the East Lancashire/ North Yorkshire border. Although seemingly remote, it lies within 5 miles of the M65 motorway and less than an hour from Manchester.  The inn is also convenient for exploring North Yorkshire and Lancashire, including Skipton, Clitheroe or for those working in Burnley or Blackburn.

Arrival and check-in: 

We followed a narrow, winding country lane from the village centre to the inn’s rural location which is identifiable with distinctive blue road signs placed in each direction.  The inn has two large car parks so I’m certain there would never be any problems finding somewhere to leave the car.

Unlike many country inns where guests check-in at the bar, there’s a reception desk located just inside the oak entrance door where we were greeted by David, the assistant manager who had us checked-in speedily.  He then helped us with our luggage up to our room at the far end of a corridor on the first floor.

Our room key was attached to a cricket ball which was a novel idea and quite useful as there would be no need for searching in the bottom of my handbag to look for it.

The Room:

We had been booked into a superior double room which was really lovely with three windows, all with rural views looking out across the rolling hills of this picturesque corner of east Lancashire.

Each of the windows had seats to sit and gaze out at the views.  It was so peaceful that the only sounds we could hear aside from the occasional passing car were the sounds of sheep bleating in the surrounding fields.

Our room had a king size bed with such a comfortable mattress that we were asleep in seconds after turning off the light snuggled beneath the lightweight duvet dressed in high quality cotton bed linen.  The oversized bedhead, armchair, window seats and cushions were all upholstered in a matching woollen check fabric which complimented the countryside feel of the room and blended well with the crushed velvet curtains.

A tray of high quality teas, coffee, hot chocolate and Farmhouse biscuits was placed on the dressing table with additional fresh milk available from the bar if required.  A large wall mounted television was positioned at the foot of the bed with a Bang & Olufsen speaker system below.  The room also came equipped with a hairdryer, iron and board, safe and complimentary bottled water ensuring we had everything at hand for a comfortable stay.

A nod to the locality was a pile of books written by the Bronte sisters as they resided nearby.

Moving into the spacious bathroom, this boasted a double sized jacuzzi along with a separate walk-in shower.  Luxurious Temple Spa toiletries and large bath towels completed the picture.

Dining:

Meals can be enjoyed in either the inn’s wood panelled restaurant or its large adjoining garden room which is equally attractive with its exposed beams, high ceiling and feature lighting.

We had reserved a table for 7.00 p.m. and were shown into the main restaurant which was beautifully furnished with its oak tables and comfortable leather backed chairs.

After studying the menu whilst sipping glasses of Merlot I settled on a starter of devilled chicken livers covered in a cayenne cream sauce and served with toasted sourdough which was very flavoursome.  Across the table, my son ordered the prawn cocktail, a retro classic now back in fashion and filled with large, juicy prawns.

Moving onto mains, there’s a varied selection of pub classics ranging from fish and chips through to steaks and pot pies which all looked very tempting but we both decided to opt for seafood dishes for which The Alma is noted.  The daily menu contains a range of seafood dishes with additional daily specials making the most of the best of the catch of the day as it arrives at the inn.

I adore fish pie and couldn’t resist ordering one of these which exceeded my expectations as it was loaded with smoked haddock, king prawns and salmon served in a creamy parsley sauce and topped with Wookey Hole mashed potatoes.  My son selected grilled sea bass from the specials board which was accompanied with egg fried rice, a vegetable spring roll and hot and sour sauce.  I was reliably informed that the sea bass tasted extremely fresh and its firm, meaty texture was very flavoursome.  We accompanied our mains sharing a side of seasonal vegetables which comprised a generous portion of broccoli, green beans and peas.

Naturally we couldn’t resist a dessert and our choices of sticky toffee pudding served with salted caramel ice cream and mango and passionfruit sundae decorated with a brandy snap rounded off our evening meal perfectly.  Service was relaxed with friendly and attentive servers.

Breakfast is also served in the same restaurant and is included in the room rate.  A large oak table was set out with fresh fruit, cereals, juice, bread and preserves with a cook to order menu with a selection including smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, smashed avocado on toast, eggs benedict and a full English with vegetarian options available.  We both ordered the full English which comprised dry cured bacon, Cumberland sausage, free-range eggs cooked any way you wish, black pudding, hash browns, grilled tomato and mushrooms.

We were offered the option of having toast served with our food or preparing it ourselves when we were ready.  We both prefer ending our breakfast with toast and preserves so opted to prepare this ourselves so that it was hot when we were ready to eat it.  We accompanied our breakfast with large cappuccinos prepared by Audrey, our lovely waitress.  She was very friendly and gave us some good tips of local places to visit in the area.

The Facilities: 

The Alma Inn has nine bedrooms of differing sizes and all attractively furnished to a  high standard.  Please bear in mind that due to the age of the building there isn’t a lift but I feel sure that the staff will do all they can to assist with luggage and help where necessary.

Alongside the dining areas mentioned above, there’s a characterful bar serving a wide range of local ales, wines and spirits.  Dogs are welcome in the bar area and in some of the bedrooms with a treats jar of in the entrance porch filled with doggie biscuits.

Wi-Fi worked well throughout the inn and just needed connecting to once, mobile phone reception was a little patchy but by moving to the window we managed to connect.

Out and About: 

There are so many lovely things to see and do within a short distance of the hotel.  Here are my suggestions:

Walking: A short way down the lane from The Alma Inn follow way-mark posts along a field edge to cross farmland and take in the stunning scenery.  The walking trail forms part of the 45 mile Pendle Way but we just continued as far as the local golf club.

Golf: Visitors are welcome to play on the nine hole course at Colne Golf Club, with its backdrop of Pendle Hill, tree lined fairways and undulating greens, it’s a beautiful course and suitable for all abilities.

Colne is the nearest town to Laneshawbridge located just a couple of miles away.  Along its high street look out for the memorial to Wallace Hartley who was born and raised in the town.  At 33 years of age he was violinist and bandleader on the infamous Titanic.  He is remembered for leading the eight members of the band who continued playing whilst the ship sank on its maiden voyage.

Boundary Outlet located on the edge of Colne at Junction 14 of the M65.  This large outlet has fashion, luggage, footwear, homeware and beauty departments arranged over two floors.  There’s also a Marks & Spencer outlet, cafe and restaurant on site and it’s worth popping in for a look round to see what’s on offer.

Barrowford is a small town situated close by with a range of shops and an attractive park with a lake and wetland area populated with coots, moorhens and ducks.  On the edge of the park lies the Pendle Heritage Centre.  The museum covers the heritage of Pendle Hill and the story of the Pendle Witches.

Wycoller Country Park is a historic settlement and conservation area with close links to the Brontë sisters.  Charlotte Brontë is thought to have been a frequent visitor to the 16th century Wycoller Hall and this is believed to have been the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre.

Explore the manor ruins and wander around the tiny village where time has stood still.

Atom Panopticon rests on the hillside above the village.  It’s a striking viewpoint from where you can enjoy Pendle’s stunning countryside.

Ball Grove Park is just a few minutes drive from the inn and was once the site of one of the largest light tanneries in Europe.  It’s now a nature reserve where we followed a footpath around the lake and along a woodland path beside the river.  There’s free parking and the aptly named attractive Lakeside Cafe.

Foulridge is a pretty village just outside Colne.  Follow road signs to The Wharf, a restored lime kiln and former canal side warehouse that is now home to a delightful cafe/restaurant overlooking the Leeds Liverpool canal.

Enjoy a walk along the towpath a short distance to the Foulridge Tunnel to watch narrowboats pass through.  The tunnel is almost a mile in length with a traffic light system as it’s not wide enough for boats to pass.

Overall:

The Alma Inn is a gorgeous country pub offering comfortable high quality accommodation.  With its friendly staff, good food and scenic rural location it’s the perfect get away yet not far off the beaten track.

Details: The Alma Inn, Emmott Lane, Laneshawbridge, Colne, BB8 7EG

During our stay we were guests of The Alma Inn and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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