A Perfect Weekend in Lancashire: What to See, Do and Taste
““There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, there is a rapture on the lonely shore.””
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There are weekends when you want to do everything. And there are weekends when the world feels better slowed down to a walking pace—better viewed through a window, better tasted on a plate. The Lancashire countryside tends to encourage the latter.
Set on the edge of the River Wyre, The Cartford Inn offers just that kind of weekend. A quietly luxurious base with food worth travelling for, rooms you’ll remember, and enough nature and culture in arm’s reach to keep things interesting—but never overwhelming. Whether you’re the sort to bring walking boots or a good novel (ideally both), here’s how to make the most of a few days in our corner of the North West.
Friday: Arrive at Your Own Pace
Most guests arrive late afternoon—after the traffic, before the gin and tonic. The drive winds past hedgerows and farms, across the old iron toll bridge, and then the inn appears, almost accidentally, with its low-slung roof and wide estuary views.
There’s no check-in counter. Just a warm welcome, a key, and likely a suggestion to relax first, unpack later.
Dinner is served in the glass-fronted dining room, with the landscape still visible behind your wine glass. The menu changes with the season and the catch, but a few staples remain for good reason: calamari with tomato and parmesan relish, hand-rolled crackers with house-made dips, or oysters and champagne, if the occasion calls for it (it often does). The French onion soup has long been a quiet favourite—deep, savoury, and exactly what you want after a long week.
Saturday: Coastlines, Country Lanes and Good Food Along the Way
After a leisurely breakfast—coffee strong, sourdough crisp—you’ll want to get out and explore, but not too fast.
Start with the coast. Just twenty minutes west lies the lesser-known stretch of beach at Rossall and the surrounding saltmarshes. It’s all big skies, shifting light and, often, nobody else around. Walk the dunes or sit with a thermos and let the tide do its thing.
For something inland, the villages of the Forest of Bowland offer slow pleasures: a heritage cheese shop, a stone bridge with ducks, a lane lined with wild garlic. Towns like Garstang and Scorton are worth a potter—with independent shops, galleries, and cafes that serve a proper cup of tea.
If you prefer to stay put, the Wyre estuary walk runs directly from the inn. Flat and peaceful, it's a favourite among guests who like to earn their lunch but still be back in time for a glass of wine.
When hunger calls, head back to the inn—something warm, generous and unhurried. Or if you’re venturing further afield, the kitchen can always fix you something to take with you.
Saturday Evening: Time to Linger
There’s something about the light here in the evenings—especially as it moves across the floodplain and disappears behind the hills. It slows everything down a notch.
Dinner again? Of course. This time, maybe something to share: a Côte de Boeuf carved at the table, or the Grand Fruits de Mer for two—a seafood platter so decadent it might as well come with a linen napkin and an early bedtime.
Guests staying in the treehouse lodges or riverside rooms often speak about the quiet—the feeling of being close to the land, without giving up any of the comforts. There’s a sense of being connected to the world outside, rather than removed from it.
Sunday: Easy Does It
Sundays at The Cartford Inn are not designed for rushing. Breakfast drifts into morning papers. Morning walks turn into second coffees. You may find yourself inspecting the garden, or wondering whether three nights might have been better than two.
If you do decide to head out, nearby Lytham offers a well-heeled stretch of promenade, boutique shops and one of the best sausage rolls in the county. Or make a cultural stop at the nearby Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool, which often surprises visitors who thought they were just popping in to escape the weather.
Return in time for a late lunch, a final walk along the estuary, or one last seat by the fire.
Before You Go
A weekend away doesn’t have to be far-flung or frantic to feel like a proper escape. Sometimes, it’s found in the detail: a good bed, a thoughtful plate of food, the hush of a river at dusk. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
So whether you’re planning your next staycation, marking a quiet celebration, or simply looking for a place where everything’s been considered—you’ll find Lancashire has its own way of making you slow down and look again.
We’re here when you’re ready.