Reporters Jamie Diffley and Lisa Martland try out Lancashire's Love Trail

THE place to find love is Lancashire -- or so the county council would have you believe.

It has launched a 'Love Trail' around Lancashire where courting couples can take in the breathtaking views as well as being dazzled by each other.

Tourism officers recommend those of the amorous persuasion start the Love Trail at Hoghton Tower.

The dramatic stately home positively reeks with romance and even the coldest of hearts could be warmed, not just by its setting but its rich romantic history.

William Shakespeare stayed here as a teenager and tutored the de Hoghton children -- members of a family which has owned the home since William the Conqueror.

Some believe that the great Bard based some of his plays on his time here. The "castle of considerable proportions" as mentioned in Macbeth is apparently Hoghton Tower and while staying here Shakespeare was wowed by and eventually joined a travelling theatre company.

Even the hardest cynics would fail to find romance at Hoghton Tower....providing they search for it during July, August and September -- the only three months it's open!

Next on the trail is Dunsop Bridge -- officially noted by Ordnance Survey as the nearest village to the exact centre of Great Britain and its 401 associated islands. Located at grid reference SD 63770 56550 Dunsop Bridge comes highly recommended by the Love Trail as the place "where any would be Prince Charming could pledge his undying love to the person at the centre of his universe."

But I didn't get off to the most romantic of starts. Even taking a female colleague from the office to hold my hand didn't help.

as we parked the car next to a mobile chiropody clinic we were struck by the lack of courting couples. Most of the visitors are, how can I put it? -- from the more mature end of age spectrum -- such as Charles Smith, of Barrow, and Keith Newmark, of Sabden. The retired pals are keen ramblers and have been coming here for more than 10 years -- but have yet to see a romantic couple.

Undeterred we strolled along the bank of the River Dunsop, a rather off-coloured River Dunsop if the truth be told, and as thirst grabbed us we searched for the nearest pub.

But the only watering hole in the village however is the local Working Men's Club. And it was shut.

It only opens on Thursday evenings and -- women are not allowed in.

Any thoughts of romance were beginning to flow away quicker than the river itself and it wasn't just us outsiders who failed to see the love-link in Dunsop Bridge.

Becky Kapp works in the post office run by her mum Kathleen. The 23-year-old has recently become engaged but cupid's arrow was not fired here, they met in Chipping some seven miles away. "When I was growing up there was only one person my age and that was a girl," said Becky. "Courting couples don't stop round here and I only started going out when I started driving." Garage owner David Leedham agreed.

"I had to go out of here when I courted my wife Brenda," said 55-year-old David, who was born here. "I can see that it's probably romantic to others but not when you live here."

With his words ringing in our ears we set off back to the car when we spied a telephone box which proudly boasts that it stands in the exact centre of the UK and was the 100,000th booth to be installed.

But rather than being used to calling to say I love you, most people in Dunsop Bridge use it to call a taxi. To get out!

After failing to find love on the official Lancashire Love Trail we have come up with an alternative route around East Lancashire.

You could start on Lovers Lane, in Haslingden, where courting couples can stroll hand-in hand. From there a short bus ride takes you to Market Place, in Ramsbottom, where romantics could feast on the food of love at the aptly named Valentine's Butchers. Armed with a pound of sausages and a couple of pork chops your next trip could take you to Lover's Walk, Accrington, where lovers can do just that. Walk. When the mood is right your amorous antics could lead you to Marsden Park, in Nelson, and the famous Kissing Arch where pairs can pucker up together.

And if things take a serious twist where better to propose to the one you love than over a drink in the Gretna Green Hotel, in Coal Clough Lane, Burnley?

Then along to Accrington where couples -- drunk on love and full on those pork chops from Valentine's -- can discuss the perfect day they have just had as they stroll along Paradise Street!