If you’ve visited us before here at Holgates Ribble Valley, you’ll know that it’s a beautiful and relaxing area to live in and visit, but did you know that it’s also officially the happiest place in the UK?
That’s according to recent research released by the Office for National Statistics which asked local residents to rate how happy they felt on average, with residents rating the area 8.3 out of 10, compared to 7.56 for the UK on average.
So what exactly is it that makes the people of Ribble Valley so happy?
Natural Beauty
It goes without saying that the Ribble Valley is a beautiful place to live, which is no doubt a large part of what makes the people here so happy.
The area is sometimes referred to as the ‘Cotswolds of the North’ and even England’s answer to Tuscany thanks to its unspoilt beauty, picturesque villages and quaint countryside.
From swathes of heather moorland and fells to bogs, valleys and rivers, the landscape is truly one of the most beautiful in the UK.
Around half of the Forest of Bowland falls within the Ribble Valley’s boundaries, as does Pendle Hill, which you may know from the notorious story of the Pendle witches (but don’t let that put you off!) and you can even see out to the Fylde coast on a clear day.
Places to Eat and Drink
For a relatively rural area, there’s a great foodie scene to enjoy in Ribble Valley, as well as some wonderful places to sit down and enjoy a drink or two, whether that’s a nice cup of coffee or something a little stronger.
There’s a selection of award-winning eateries and pubs in the area, with Clitheroe having five pubs named in the UK’s Top 50, an impressive feat for a town of just 15,000 people. You may even have even spotted the Inn at Whitewell in the popular BBC series The Trip.
Clitheroe actually hosts its very own food festival too, which is one of the most successful of its kind in the North West.
Good Links to Nearby Areas
While the area itself has plenty going on, it’s also very well situated to visit the surrounding areas too.
The mill towns of Burnley and Nelson are just half an hour or so away, while Blackburn and Preston aren’t much further afield, and you can also catch the train to Manchester in just over an hour too if you wish.
It all means that you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of village life, without feeling like you’re a million miles from civilisation.
Community Spirit
One of the best things about the Ribble Valley is the people. The locals here are all warm, friendly and down to earth, with a real community spirit that will ensure that you and your friends and family are made to feel at home during your time here.
This being said, Ribble Valley is also a very quiet area and doesn’t feel as much of a tourist trap as other UK beauty spots such as the Lake District.
The pace of life in Ribble Valley is much more relaxed than city life, which is surely a big contributor to the happiness of the locals.
In addition, Ribble Valley is also an exceptionally safe place to come and visit, with a lower crime rate than the rest of the county as a whole.
So if you want to visit the happiest place in the country for yourself and see what all the fuss is about, be sure to check availability here at Holgates Ribble Valley or even take a look at the option of owning your very own holiday home here.
