The village of Ribchester is encircled by green hills and lies in a curve of the River Ribble mid way between Preston and Clitheroe. It is a pleasant jumble of multi-coloured stone cottages in long twisting terraces. It has three pubs, the White Bull, dated 1707, the Black Bull and the Ribchester Arms and the award-winning Chinese restaurant Yu and You Restaurant and Bar. The White Bull has a porch canopy supported by four columns said to be from Roman ruins. The village takes its name from the River Ribble and the fort of Bremetennacum (the walled town by the Ribble). For this reason, Ribchester has been seen to have a purely Roman foundation, but excavations in 1977 showed that settlements going back to the middle Bronze Age existed in the area. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Ribble Valley is a rural haven of spectacular scenery, diverse natural habitats and historical legend, a place of almost incomparable peace, where adults and children alike can enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors without the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Longridge is easily reached, a unique town with plenty of interesting shops and tempting eateries, described as ‘big on character’ by the Sunday Times and ranked in their ‘101 Best Places To Live In Britain’. Nearby Clitheroe is famed for its specialist shops of all types, including, amongst others, a sausage shop that sells over seventy-five different varieties! A gourmet’s paradise, with award-winning restaurants and country hotels situated throughout the valley, and annual events including a number of agricultural shows and day festivals of all types, this fantastic location has plenty to offer at any time of year!
