Delightful Ribchester provides the perfect escape for the day

Located at the foot of Longridge Fell and on the banks of the River Ribble, Ribchester is one of the Ribble Valley’s best kept secrets.

Picture by Dee Cronshaw of the River Ribchester

The village was originally a Roman auxiliary fort and remained as such until the 4th century AD – the remains of the fort can still be seen around the village today.

With the weather set to get warmer, it’s the perfect time to visit the beautiful Stydd Gardens ­—part garden centre, part tearoom, part restaurant and bar, part vintage and fashion outlet… Stydd Gardens really does have it all.

Its small independent shops and art, delightful indoor and outdoor café and – you guessed it – gardens, make it the perfect place to relax, recuperate, and refresh your mind.

Picture by Michael Hoyle

Just a fifteen-minute walk away lies St Wilfrid’s Church.

A Grade I Listed building, the church dates back to the 13th century, with a 17th century sundial that is itself Grade II listed.

Directly outside the church are the Roman Baths, where it is still possible to see what was once the sweating room, the warm room and the hot room, as well as how the underfloor heating system was designed.

Should that not satisfy you, the Ribchester Roman Museum – Lancashire’s only dedicated Roman antiquities museum – is next door.

And, if you’ve worked up an appetite on your visit, there’s nowhere better than the Ribchester Arms to satisfy your hunger.

A stunning inn, with an enormous beer garden and easy access to the river itself, it would be worth a visit even if not for the fantastic food also on offer.

There are classic pub foods and not-to-be-missed specials, alongside a great wine and ales selection and cocktails on offer too.

It’s a day trip perfect for the sun, with views sure to make you marvel in what is a truly historic village.