'HIDDEN gem', 'absolutely stunning', 'gorgeous'. Those are just some of the words used to describe the fantastic countryside that helps make Pennine Lancashire what it is.

As part of the Lancashire Telegraph's 'Pennine Lancashire - Where great things happen' campaign, we are taking a look at what makes our area special.

And few areas of the country can match Pennine Lancashire for its diverse range of countryside.

The area has one official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the Forest of Bowland/Pendle Hill, but that is just one small part of the area's breathtaking, jaw-dropping landscape.

Cllr Bridget Hilton, the mayor of Ribble Valley, said: "It's absolutely stunning, it's an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can see why.

"You only have to go for a drive in the area to see how gorgeous it is.

"I had family over from Northern Ireland recently and they simply couldn't believe how beautiful the Ribble Valley is.

"I love this area and I'm keen to promote the Ribble Valley. We had some tourists over from the USA as well recently and they were big fans of our countryside.

"People have an old-fashioned image of Lancashire of mills and the smoke from chimneys, which it was, but the countryside in this area is as good as anywhere in the country."

The West Pennine Moors around Darwen, Chorley and Ramsbottom present a 90-square-mile area of wild, unspoilt countryside which acts as a rural haven and presents a stunning contrast to the nearby towns.

Hurstwood, just a short distance from the bustle of Burnley town centre, is one of Lancashire's finest hidden gems, with the unspoilt hamlet full of history.

And perhaps most famous of them all, Pendle Hill is a walkers dream. The hill and its surrounding villages are a bewitching area of Lancashire with simply stunning countryside, and the odd story to tell as well.

Cllr Ian Tweedie, Pendle Council's executive member for communication and tourism, said: "The countryside in Pendle is a hidden gem. It is fantastic for walkers and cyclists.

"We put on guided walks around the Pendle countryside on regular occasions with three grades to cover beginners and more experienced walkers.

"The scenery in the area is lovely and with Pendle Hill and Blacko Tower we have some really iconic areas for people to explore.

"Pendle Walking Festival is a big event for us, there are over 50 guided walks during the week and we get enthusiasts from across the country attending to sample our countryside.

"There is also the cycling festival. Pendle is perfect for cycling and that is something we are really keen to capitalise on.

"Pendle Hill is great to have in the borough, and the story around the Pendle Witches is something we can use. To have the story of the witches to promote the area is fantastic. It is all part of Pendle myth and legend."