Review of Ribby Hall Village, Lancashire

>> For contact details and to check availability, see our full listing of: Ribby Hall Village

Ribby Hall Village is a family-owned holiday village on 106 acres of landscaped land, with lots of sport and leisure facilities, a handful of eateries and a Spa Hotel - all tucked away in the rolling Lancashire hills.

Ribby Hall's brand new Hotel Spa. Photo: Tom Watts

The accommodation
Ribby Hall Village  opened in 1994 and has some 200 types of accommodation, from a cozy collection of cottages that surround a small fishing lake to luxurious interiors of the Hotel Spa suites. There are also specific cottages for disabled guests. My family and I stayed in ‘Poppy Cottage’, a comfortably modern cottage overlooking the Spa Hotel, which sleeps up to 6 people in two twin rooms (ideal for children) and one spacious double room. There was a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious open plan living and dining space – the ideal setting for a family night in. While we were quite near the top end of the village, it was still only a quick walk to most of the facilities.

Spacious double room in Poppy Cottage. Photo: Tom WattsMost of the village’s accommodations are clustered together in small groups just off the main road that leads from the village entrance to the Spa Hotel and the layout of the site may seem daunting at first, but you’ll soon get your bearings after a quick wander around. Since we were visiting at Christmas, Ribby Hall Village was impressively festive with trees wrapped in Christmas lights and Santa’s Grotto all set up and ready to receive young guests.

The activities
Ribby Hall Village caters exceptionally well for families. There are several swimming pools, a sport & leisure centre, tennis courts and treehouse (which becomes Santa's Grotto at Christmas), plus an equestrian centre and the 'Island', which has a climbing wall as well as bike and boat hire. For the adults there's the new Spa Hotel with 42 bedrooms, 12 suites, 2 penthouses, 14 treatment rooms and a brasserie. We sampled the Spa's 'aqua thermal journey', which involves making your way through seven different heat experiences including a saunarium, a Balinese salt inhalation room and an ice fountain (not nearly as scary as it sounds). Perhaps the best experience of all was getting to gaze out over the Lancashire hills from the comfort of the outdoor hot tub. 

The view from the back of Poppy Cottage. Photo: Tom WattsIf this all sounds a little too removed from the great outdoors, there's also a nature trail that'll take you right around the grounds of Ribby Hall Village, giving families the chance to wander through woodland and spot several species of bird (as well as the wooden sculptures hidden in the tree tops). There are also plans to create a treasure trail for children. In fact, the region is surprisingly rich in protected landscapes. There's Brockholes, Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s reserve near Preston and the Ribble Estuary, which stretches from Preston to Lytham St Annes and boasts an RSPB visitor centre on Fairhaven Lake.

The food
Ribby Hall Village's accommodation is mostly self-catering, and guests can opt to have a welcome pack ready for when they arrive. We chose the £35 'essential' pack (there's also £20 'basic' and £40 'luxury' packs), which contained local 'Pink's' sausage and bacon, local cheese, eggs, milk, fresh bread, cereal, tea and coffee etc – basically everything a family could possibly need for a hearty breakfast or two! There's also a handful of eateries on site, including a Bar and Grill, a Bistro and a Restaurant. 

There's also a strong emphasis on local produce, with most of the meat sourced from 'Penny's, a family business in nearby Clayton le Moors, while Ribby Hall Village's own garden provides much in the way of fruit and veg. It may be the most expensive option on site (around £17 for main courses), but the meals are truly top notch – be sure to try the tandoori lamb main and the hot raspberry soufflé dessert. If you find yourself further afield, nearby Wrea Green is home to the 'Grapes' pub, which had an impressive Winter Game menu offering up plenty of local produce, plus a number of locally brewed ales. 

Ribby Hall's Village Garden. Photo: Tom Watts

What makes Ribby Hall Village green
Ribby Hall Village has been awarded Gold from the Green Tourism Business Scheme for its self-catering and conference facilities, and Silver for its visitor attractions. Just how a holiday village with around 200 cottages, three restaurants and a Hotel Spa has managed to win such accolades is intriguing. Having opened in 1994, Ribby Hall Village’s drive towards sustainability is gradual, but one which is already bearing fruit. For example, the accommodations are kitted out with low energy light bulbs, low-flush toilets and surprisingly powerful eco showers (also present in the conference facilities), while plenty of information is provided on recycling alongside the welcome pack’s sustainability message.

The fruit and veg grown in the garden is provided in the restaurant, while the flowers decorate the tables. There’s also plenty being done to minimise waste consumption within the sports and leisure facilities. A new ‘rocket composter’ quickly composts all of the site’s food waste, enabling the new Village Garden to flourish. Plus there is a growing concern regarding the protection of local wildlife (they've undertaken surverys with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust) and the cultivation of a nature trail. There are plenty of other green initiatives planned and we'll report back when these are launched.

How to get there by public transport
Take the train to Preston then change to the train for 'Kirkham and Wesham'. From here, it is only around a 20-minute walk (or quick taxi journey) to Ribby Hall. For taxis, there's Macs (01772 685658), Kirkham (01772 683003), Wesham (01772 673737). To buy train tickets, go to the trainline.com's website: Train to Preston. While most guests drive to Ribby Hall, there's so much on site, you can easily park up and leave your car alone for the duration of the holiday. 

Top tip
Put the flashing lights and pleasure beaches to one side and revel in Lancashire's natural heritage by visiting either Brockholes or the Ribble Estuary. Perhaps try your hand at bird spotting along Fairhaven Lake before heading back and indulging in some wonderful cuisine at Ribby Hall Village's restaurant. 

Verdict
This is the ideal family getaway. There’s so much on offer here in the way of activities that children will never be stuck for something to do, while parents can take the opportunity to treat themselves at the brand new Spa Hotel. There’s also the added bonus of having Lancashire’s beautiful landscapes right on your doorstep.

Santa's Grotto lit up at night. Photo: Tom Watts

>> For contact details and to check availability, see our full listing of: Ribby Hall Village