RIBCHESTER is a village famous as the site of a Roman fort, Bremetennacum, close to a fording point of the River Ribble, at the centre of a hub of Roman routes stretching in all directions to the Fylde, Bowland, Yorkshire and Manchester.

This walk takes in the excavated Roman baths and a section of the Roman Road heading north. It also visits the hamlet of Stydd, with its almshouses and simple church of St Saviours, acquired by the Knights Hospitallers in the 13th century. The walk includes a section of the Ribble Way, a long distance path following the river from sea to source.

Facing the playground opposite the car park turn right and follow the lane - also a public bridleway - which soon swings left heading towards the parish church. Keep to the tarmac drive which is signed as a private road and heads towards Parsonage Farm. After crossing a second cattle grid look out for a waymarked footpath on the left as the lane bends right. This path starts at a stile/gate.

Join this field path heading towards a line of pylons. It passes through a gate in a hedge on the other side of the field and then runs along a field edge keeping the hedge on the left. Keep to this hedge side and cross a series of stiles along the edge of several small fields until a gate/stile overlooking the river on the left is reached. Do not go through this but turn sharp left, almost back on yourself, keeping the river and fence on your immediate right. Go through the next gate and join a farm track, a bridleway, which is also the Ribble Way. Follow this riverside track straight ahead past Boat House Barn and after about ½ mile farm buildings are reached. Continue straight ahead along a lane and the Roman Museum and rectory are passed on the left. Join the riverside path in front of the primary school where the row of seats gives a good view upstream to Pendle Hill. The riverside path bends left along a stream and the entrance to the Roman Baths is reached on the left at steps.

After exploring the Roman site return to the same path and continue straight ahead to a lane of cottages (Greenside). Turn right along this until the B6245 road is reached at the Ribchester Arms. Cross the road with care and turn right along the pavement in front of the pub. Turn first left up Stydd Lane which leads straight ahead into the hamlet of Stydd. Almshouses are soon passed on the left and after crossing a cattle grid into a field follow the track leading to St Saviour’s Church which can be seen straight ahead. The church is open to view and the Roman Road heading north to Bowland is passed close by here.

After exploring the church to return to Ribchester come out of the church gate and drop downhill across the grass to cross a footbridge clearly seen. Go diagonally right through the next small field to cross another stile. Go straight ahead across further stiles following a path through a garden centre, now the Glass House tea rooms. A stile/gate soon leads onto a road - Stonygate Lane. Turn left along this to return to the village centre. At the crossroads continue straight ahead down the terraced street (Water Street) leading to the White Bull inn. Turn right here into Church Street then first left to return to the car park.