reserved. rights All 2020. rights database or / and copyright Agency Environment Smith. H. Photography: Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2020; 2020; right database and copyright Crown © data Survey SUGGESTED START: Ribchester car park, off Church Street, WHAT TO EXPECT: Ordnance Contains PR3 3ZH (SD 6491 3520). route. the trialling and developing in support for Council Parish Beginning in Ribchester, the walk route passes the Roman Baths Ribchester and Society History Ribchester Taylor, Lesley Smith, DISTANCE: 10.1 km / 6.3 miles before joining a section of the Ribble Way. The route then climbs Patricia Penny, Mrs & Mr Museum, Roman Ribchester to and towards Dutton and follows Duddel Brook, then crosses Stydd project the funding for Fund Heritage Lottery National the To TIME: 3 hrs (plus sightseeing) Brook before returning into the village. Conditions under foot can TERRAIN: This route predominantly crosses farmland with be wet and muddy, particularly after rain. Wellies or boots are you! Thank some riverside footpaths. The ground conditions can be a little recommended for this walk. There are numerous stiles on this iPhone. and Android on route app to accompany this this accompany to app Life Ribble boggy after rainfall. In Ribchester village, some of the route is route, it is therefore best suited to walkers with good mobility. the Download www.ribblelifetogether.org on or close to roads: please take care around traffic. Livestock are present in some of the fields, so please keep dogs visit or more on a lead. If cattle get too close or become excitable, let the dog out find to code QR the Scan project. Together You are here are You DIFFICULTY: Moderate off the lead. Please leave all gates as you find them. Life Ribble the for routes circular of series OS MAP: It is advisable to use OS Explorer 287 with this guide. a of part as Trust Rivers Ribble by created been has walk This LOOK OUT FOR: users other and wildlife consider Code: Countryside the Follow • 1. St Wilfrid’s church is predominantly a drinks and food spare Carry 5 (Chipping - Clitheroe) • 45 (Preston - Blackburn) medieval building. The chancel and parts Take a charged mobile phone, first aid kit, map and compass compass and map kit, aid first phone, mobile charged a Take St Wilfrid’s • of the nave and vestry date back to the Church conditions forecast for suitable clothing and boots sturdy Wear 1220s. The oak beamed roof was repaired • Car park off Church Street (pay and display); in 1527 and it’s likely that the tower was on-street parking available in Ribchester safely Enjoy built around this time. The sundial in the churchyard is 17th century, however the Ribchester Walks: Lancashire • steps up to it are more likely 13th or 14th Catchment Ribble The Ribchester Trails: Geo Valley Ribble Ribchester car park century. • Trail History Ribchester • 2. On the left, after the church, is the Spar, Ribchester Roman Museum. The idea of a museum trails Nearby in Ribchester was conceived by Margaret Greenall, a member of the local brewing generations. future for legacy positive a leave to aim we science, on based family. The objective was to keep precious White Bull, Black Bull, Ribchester Arms Roman action, environmental practical Through educate. and inspire artefacts in the village after it was Museum to river the using and access improving rivers, the of heritage the recognised as a site of special historic system by 2020 for people and wildlife. The project celebrates celebrates project The wildlife. and people for 2020 by system Follow us: us: Follow interest. is working to create a healthier river river healthier a create to working is Potters Barn Café, Ribchester Taste Buds by Janis, Together Life Ribble Stydd Gardens 3. The Roman Baths were built in around AD 100. The site consisted of a number of rooms including: a changing room, THE RIVERS: Ribchester is situated on the banks of the River sauna and furnace. The baths were no longer used after AD 225, Ribble, before it flows on through Preston and out to the but the remains weren’t discovered until 1837, when a Mr estuary. Ribchester has a rich Roman history and was the site Patchett was digging in his garden. An River Walks of a Roman fort, Bremetennacum Veteranorum. The earliest Roman excavation in 1978 discovered brooches, Roman fort in Ribchester was established in the early 0070s beads, gaming counters and stones from Baths (anno Domini) as part of a network of defensive forts across rings. northern Britannia. At this time, the River Ribble was known as Ribchester ‘Belisama’. The proximity to the river and Roman roads made 4. The Ribble Way is a long the location of the fort strategically important. distance walking route of just over 70 miles. Starting at the By the time the Ribble reaches Ribchester, the Calder and the mouth of the River Ribble, the route follows Hodder have already joined the river. Downstream near the watercourse to its source at Gayle Moor River Preston, the Ribble is joined by the River Darwen, before near Ribblehead. This walk route follows a Ribble continuing its journey to the Irish Sea. short section of the Ribble Way. 5. Dutton Hall was built by the Towneley family WILDLIFE: Herons can who rented land here from as early as the 14th frequently be spotted century. When the hall was sold to the Rothwell Grey along the Ribble in family in the 1760s, the estate included a water wagtail Ribchester. If you are very lucky powered mill in neighbouring woodland. When and patient, you may even spot an Dutton the mill closed in the early 20th century, the stone was used to build the Roman Museum. otter! Hall The hall has belonged to the Penny family for Once on the Ribble Way over 30 years and is now home to a Plant Heritage National section of the route, keep Collection of roses. Oyster - an eye out for Enjoy part of the Ribble Way catcher oystercatchers and grey wagtails. 6. St Saviour’s church was built during and discover a village Norman times, and there is a record of rent steeped in Roman history The farmland on this route lends itself from 1338. The building belonged to the to spotting wading birds such as right on the banks of the Knights Hospitallers, a fighting religious River Ribble. lapwing and curlew. Buzzards may be order who ran hospitals for pilgrims in Distance: 10.1 km / 6.3 miles spotted soaring up high. St Saviour’s the Holy Land. The church was restored church in 1925 by the Rector of Ribchester. Difficulty: Moderate ROUTE DIRECTIONS In the next field, head diagonally left, round the right-hand side of the copse of trees. Follow the Ribble Way A. Ribchester Village fingerpost (part-way up the hill) to a From the car park, facing the playing fields, turn right stile. Once over the stile, cross the onto the track and follow it along. At field towards the fingerpost on the the right-hand bend in the track, go opposite side. Go through the gate through the small wooden kissing and turn left onto the track. Go Views of gate straight ahead, on the bend. through the farmyard and follow the track to Dinckley Follow the stone wall on your left the main road (roughly 1 mile). and go through the metal gate into the churchyard. Continue past the D. To Duddel Wood village hall and Roman museum, Cross the main road when safe to do so and head left. River turning left onto the road. Enjoy the Stay on the main road, ignoring the turning for Gallows River Ribble to your right. Take the Ribble Lane. Keep an eye out for a stile in the hedge on the left, riverside path down the right-hand side of before the row of houses. Take the stile, then head in a the primary school. Follow the path until the brown slight diagonal left direction towards the woodland ahead. sign to the left for the ‘Roman Bath House’. Walk Find the stile in the corner of the field. Once over the stile, through the site of the former Roman baths and keep the fence to your right and follow the fence line to through the wooden gate at the other side. Turn right the stile at the end of the field. onto the road and follow it round to the left to the main road. Cross over towards the Ribchester Arms E. Crossing Duddel Brook where safe to do so and head right. After the pub car Once in the woodland, take the well-trodden path to your park, take Stydd Lane to the left. After the small stone left and continue to follow it as it leads down to Duddel bridge, take the track off to the right. Follow the right- Brook. Look out for a small stone waterfall (picture inset) hand boundary of the field, crossing the stream at the and when you reach this, continue left until the brook is concrete slab and continue towards the gateway. shallow enough to cross (take care as some stones may Continue straight through the next field. At the white be slippery). Continue to follow the well-worn footpath sign, head right over the stile in the hedge. path left and uphill. Cross two footbridges and Duddel Follow the path round and over the footbridge. Go after the second bridge, take the path over the stile ahead and follow the right-hand fence to the right. Continue to follow the Brook line. Go over the stile and continue to follow the fence brook until you reach another on your right to a small wooden stile.