Sawley Abbey is a quiet set of Cistercian ruins in the Ribble Valley, close enough to Clitheroe to make an easy historical detour. Low stone walls and surviving arches mark the outline of the medieval monastery, with open countryside doing much of the atmosphere.
It is the sort of ruin that rewards a slow wander rather than a checklist visit. Bring a little imagination, then combine it with the villages, river scenery, and castle country that make this corner of Lancashire so appealing.