Lying to the east of Lancaster, this is Lancashire at its most rural and unspoilt. Also known as the Bowland Fells, the Forest of Bowland has few trees and is not really a forest at all, rather a land of barren hills and heather moorland. Quiet and uncrowded, Bowland forest offers some of the most remote and rugged walking in the North West of England.There are pretty villages like Downham and Abbeystead to explore on the outskirts, but the central part of this area is largely uninhabited. Pendle Hill is a famous landmark, while the ruins of Whalley Abbey are also a popular destination. The town of Clitheroe, with its castle set in lovely grounds, is also well worth a visit.