Discovering Ormskirk
A short hop away from Liverpool’s vibrant city get a taste of real rural Lancashire in the quaint town of Ormskirk, West Lancashire and it’s beautiful surrounding villages.
As the cruise ships pull into the Port of Liverpool passengers are welcomed by the sight of The Three Graces. It’s a fabulous place to arrive in the great North of England.
Once you’ve soaked up what the city has to offer, take a leisurely detour and follow in the footsteps of traditional trade routes experiencing a taste of a quaint English town and unspoilt treasures.
Just a short train or car ride takes you a world away. As the rolling countryside springs into view and the tall buildings fade into the distance, the sense of calm descends as you start to relax into the peaceful surrounds.
When you arrive in Ormskirk and stroll down the pedestrianised streets, you’ll come to the clocktower, the ticking centre of the town. Before the clocktower was built, this was home to the market cross and a former two-tier water fountain that was once used by livestock and humans alike. This point still plays the central role in the twice weekly dance of hustle and bustle with traditional market traders selling their wares every Thursday and Saturday.
Ormskirk is a delight by day and, come winter, as the dwindling sunlight falls away from the clocktower, the day gives way to a magical eve. Festive catenaries sparkle across walkways and in to welcoming doorways, filled with light, warm faces and bursting with appealing possibilities for festive gifting and festive drinking.
Fringed by quaint villages that emerge from the beautiful open countryside and rolling fields. These views unearth a spoil of fabulous produce grown throughout the seasons, that make its way into quintessential farm shops and onto the dining tables of some wonderful dining establishments.
Seekers of fine dining will undoubtedly have heard that West Lancashire is still home to the UK’s best restaurant. Awarded two Michelin Stars amongst a whole host of prestigious awards not only is the food tantalising but the stunning lakeside setting amplifies the expertly produced dishes on offer at Moor Hall’s Restaurant with Rooms. With Michelin chef, Tim Allen, also moving to the area this autumn to open his Sōlō venture, there’s the very exciting possibility of seeing a gourmet cluster emerge.
Whatever senses you choose to indulge, whether it’s your taste buds, indulging your creativity with workshops and crafts, enjoying the sights and sounds at local galleries or mother nature’s own art in the wonderful nature reserves that call this charming place home. The laid back pace allows you to soak it all in and get back to experiencing the simple joys of life.
Should you visit the Wetland and Wildfowl Trust’s Martin Mere in Burscough to enjoy the wildlife there, you can take to the water in rented canoe. If your preferences lie with a bigger boat you’re perfectly placed to cruise the canal with Lancashire Canal Cruises that dock nearby, not far from Burscough Wharf.
Burscough Wharf is also home to a number of bars and eateries. You’d have think the pandemic may have ravaged some of these small places, but whilst they undoubtedly struggled they’ve also adapted, and the added outdoor seating in the Wharf’s courtyard pulses with life an in atmosphere many of us have missed with every fibre of our souls.