Strenuous Leader : Martin Distance : 11 miles
Leaving Ribchester we head north passing the Roman Catholic Church and Alms houses, gradually climbing to Duddle Hill and on towards Huntingdon Hall. One final climb awaits, crossing fields to a track and passing a farm. Then a challenging woodland decent crossing a brook before some open farmland. then walk through the golf course and pass Stonehurst College before arriving in Hursts Green. Finally we drop down to walk alongside the River Ribble, heading westerly back towards Ribchester. The conditions, a couple of areas were rutted and muddy.
Moderate Leader: Joan Distance : 7.2 miles
We will climb towards Longridge Fell skirting both Dutton Hall and Hud Lee Wood, to reach Old Clitheroe Road where we will have views over the Ribble Valley. We will head towards Huntingdon Hall and cut through Over Hey Wood to Duddle Hill decreasing in height to reach Stydd Lodge Farm and back into Ribchester. The paths are a mix of muddy fields, tracks and roadways.
Easy Leader: Jackie Distance: 5.25 miles
We leave the coach park heading past the Roman museum, to follow the Ribble Way (mix of
lane, track and footpath) westwards, past Hothersall Hall and on to Woodland Farm. We then follow Hothersall Lane (metalled lane) north, doubling back south east past Butcher Fold and Ox Hey. Here we take bridleways across fields heading back to Ribchester passing Parsonage Wood and Parsonage Farm. Some ups and downs, but walk can be shortened if it proves to be too difficult!
I doubt we can avoid mud altogether, but if the fields section proves too bad underfoot, we can backtrack and take a shorter (but probably still muddy) section to rejoin the Ribble Way and retrace our steps back to Ribchester.
NOTES ON THE AREA
The village has a long history with evidence of Bronze Age beginnings. It is well known as a significant Roman site being the location of a Roman cavalry fort called Bremetennacum, some parts of which have been exposed by excavation. In common with many towns and villages in East Lancashire its later history was dominated by cotton weaving; firstly in the form of hand-loom weaving and later in two mills. Neither mill still operates and the village is primarily a dormitory village for commuters to the town of Blackburn and the cities of Preston and Manchester.
The village is situated at the foot of Longridge Fell and on the banks of the River Ribble. The solid geography is of thick boulder clay deposits from the River Ribble over Sabden Shale. The area around the village shows signs of the river having moved with obvious terracing caused by the meanders. The River Ribble is prone to extreme spates and this often leads to flooding in Ribchester during the winter months.
The 13th century church is sited alongside the River Ribble at a place where there was a ford. In which a fragment of a medieval wall painting shows St Christopher, patron saint of travellers, with the Christ Child.
Near the church is the Roman Museum which has recently been extended and provides interesting displays about Roman life in the area. Many artifacts from this time are on show, including copies of a highly detailed Roman Helmet found in Ribchester by a small boy in 1797. The original is now in the British Museum.
On the way out of town, at the end of a lane edged by leafy hedgerows, is the hamlet of Stydd. Here are the almshouses endowed in 1726 by John Sherburn for six Catholic ladies, widows or spinsters. The unusual facade includes some Roman pillars, today the almshouses are administered by the diocese of Salford. Further up the lane is Stydd Church. Built by the Knights Hospitallers of St John in Jerusalem, the Chapel of the Saviour is all that remains of a small monastery complete with dormitory, refectory and cloisters.