Clitheroe. 217 



grand old gateway. The row of ancient yew-trees is not 

 the least impressive part of the spectacle. 



When at Whalley, of course we ascend Nab's Hill, an 

 elevation which, though of small account compared with 

 several others in the neighbourhood, gives from the 

 summit a most admirable view. The plain, the river 

 Calder, Longridge Fells in the distance, the pinnacles 

 of princely Stoneyhurst, Clitheroe, and many other stu- 

 pendous or beautiful expressions of nature and art, are 

 taken in by the eye almost at once. 



Returning to the Whalley station, in a few minutes we 

 reach CLITHEROE itself, distant from Manchester 35 miles. 

 Supposing that the journey thither be made direct, it 

 will be noted that the latter half of the ride is through 

 scenery of singular beauty and great expanse, a ridge of 

 mountains rising in the distance upon either hand. 



Clitheroe is a neat little place, and one of considerable 

 antiquity. There is much in it deserving of notice ; the 

 special feature, however, and that to be recommended as 

 offering invitation to the day-visitor, is the fine old Castle, 

 or rather, the mural skeleton of it that alone remains, 

 and which forms a striking and conspicuous object upon 

 the summit of a precipitous limestone crag, something 

 after the manner of Beeston. The stronghold now in 

 ruins was built in the time of William Rufus, or about 

 700 years ago : but it is highly probable that a fortress 

 existed here in the time of the Saxons, or coevally with the 



