Little Hoole is a Civil Parish in the district of South Ribble. The village of Walmer Bridge sits within Little Hoole and across the roundabout are the villages of Much Hoole and Longton.  The population in Little Hoole is estimated to be in the region of 2,000 and is home to myself, my family and my dog, Daisy.

The rural setting is ideal for me and Daisy and we often take long, rambling walks through the fields and marsh-land and the well-trodden public footpaths.  The views and the wildlife suit me and Daisy though rabbit chasing is really not allowed!!.

Little Hoole is home to some lovely, local pubs such as Th’owd Smithy Inn, The Walmer Bridge Inn and the newly renovated Ego at the Fox Cub; all local, friendly pubs with familiar and new faces, as a lot of dog walkers like to pop in for a pint on a sunny day.  Not only are there pubs in Little Hoole, there is also the very popular Ice-cream parlour, Tootsies Ice Cream & Coffee Shop.  Selling homemade ice cream of all different flavours, it’s a great place to stop for a family lunch out to sample their ever-popular lunch menu.

Within walking distance is the beautiful Brick Croft where many locals like to walk their dogs, or take their children to play and run around, or feed the swans and ducks or just have a quiet, saunter around the pond.  Another lovely walk is along the banks of the River Douglas as it passes through the marsh land, ending up at Longton and The Dolphin Inn, locally known as The Flying Fish.

I love living in Little Hoole and, being a semi-rural area, it is home to quite a few different types of farms, ranging from dairy and equestrian to fruit and vegetables.  As well as the farms, Little Hoole has a variety of properties including detached, semi-detached, barn conversions, bungalows and cottages, all with their own unique history.   We even have a few new-builds in the area that bring another dimension to the parish.

What I love most about living in Little Hoole is the feeling of living in a small community yet I am able to travel further afield to Preston, Liverpool and access the motorway network for the bigger city experience.

By Bethany Holmes

Business Administrator – North Lancashire Office