A village tucked away in West Lancashire has been popular with people from Liverpool for decades.
Parbold is just north of Skelmersdale and is a picturesque area that boasts local shops, pubs, beauty spots and an ice cream van overlooking the Pennines. The earliest reference to the village was made in the 12th century, according to Parbold Online. At the time Parbold was owned by Robert de Gresle, the old baron of Manchester who died in 1230.
The oldest surviving buildings are from the 17th century, which include stone houses and manor cottages. One of Parbold’s main attractions is Fairy Glen, a popular walking spot which is perfect for hikers, locals and tourists who want to get lost in the beauty of the English countryside and spot a secret waterfall along the way.
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Within the serene forest there is a beautiful woodland area and extensive walking paths suitable for all age groups. Another beauty spot is Parbold Hill, which overlooks the Pennines and much of Lancashire. It is a hill so high it hosts an annual 'fell race' - a type of running that increases with difficulty due to the challenging incline.
Maria, who has been serving ice cream from the same plot at the top of the hill for 25 years, told the ECHO: “This is the best job in the world. People come here from miles away... we’re here every day other than Christmas and everyone knows it. We get different generations on different days and they can all enjoy an ice cream on the hill.”
Across the road sits the popular chain restaurant Miller and Carter and during our visit on a weekday it’s busy and bustling with hungry diners.
Deputy manager David McGreery said: “We’re a big brand and we were the 12th Miller and Carter in the country. There’s now 140 of them. Lots of people come here. Location wise, we are right next to a beauty spot with many walkers coming in.
In his opinion, he says they are "the best steak house in the country".
Nestled between the woodland of Fairy Glen and the River Douglas is the village centre. It has a handful of pubs, a Morrisons, railway station, local deli and a fish and chip shop.
Winnie Huang, 58, owner of Parbold Chippy told the ECHO: “We’ve been open for one, maybe two years now. Business has been tough because of the cost of living. The price of oil, fat and our products have gone up.
"The one good thing about living here is that everyone is very friendly around here. We’re still very busy on a Friday and Saturday.”
A stone’s throw away from the chip shop is The Windmill pub. Opened in 1794, it was set up to service thirsty farmers after a long day's work. Bartender Reece Oxland, 26, told the ECHO: “I’ve worked here for a year, it’s a lovely place to work, all the locals are fantastic.
“Parbold has a nice community feel, the regulars and the team are great and there are lots of opportunities for younger people. We have music nights on the last Friday of every month and we’ve got plans for the Jubilee weekend.”
The village has a popular deli which is swamped at lunchtime. Amanda Turner, who has worked at Parbold Deli for 22 years said: “It’s a nice atmosphere and a nice village. If we get any grumpy customers they stand out as everyone is so nice.
“We have about nine or 10 staff and we have been operating from the same plot of land since the 1990’s. I must have liked the job if I have been here for this long.”
House prices in the village range from the tens of thousands to the millions. The average house price in the village is £341,208, according to RightMove, compared to England as a whole which is £274,000.
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