Lanchester - Roman Village & Valley

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Lanchester Roman Village & Valley, with Detectives helping DI Lauren Order investigate after historian Chester Lang collapses near the remains of the old Roman fort, then following the trail of a recently uncovered hoard of Roman artefacts to work out who wanted the discovery kept buried.

The investigation covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll explore the heart of Lanchester village, follow pavements through its historic streets, uncover Roman echoes around the route and loop back through the village to the start area.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route follows pavements through the village, but there is one fairly steep incline, one busy road to cross and the main road is crossed more than once.

Keep Mini Detectives close around the road crossings and take your time on the steeper section - Roman artefact investigations are best solved with steady feet.

Getting There

By car: Follow the signs to one of the village's small, free car parks. The investigation begins near the car park entrance, on Front Street (DH7 0ER), using ///install.punks.shackles.

By public transport: Make your way to the bus stop by the start area on Front Street. The first two clues are on opposite sides of a sign by the bus stop, so your casework begins as soon as your squad has assembled.

Need the Loo?

Customer toilets are available in the cafes and pubs along the route, so plan a comfort stop around your snack breaks as the evidence trail unfolds.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the investigation 🐾

The route follows village pavements and includes a fairly steep incline, one busy road crossing and further crossings of the main road, so keep canine colleagues close around traffic and take things steadily on the hill.

Food & Drink Stops

Evidence-hunting through Roman Lanchester can work up an appetite. There are plenty of cafes and pubs dotted along the route, including The Black Bull and The King's Head, giving your detective team good opportunities to pause, refuel and compare theories.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Lanchester Village Centre

The Trail takes you through the heart of this charming village, where ancient echoes and community character sit side by side. Lanchester has history tucked around every corner, with roots stretching back to Roman times when the fort of Longovicium stood nearby on Dere Street.

All Saints Parish Church

Pop inside All Saints Parish Church if it's open and you'll find a little piece of Roman Lanchester hiding in the south porch. An altar dedicated to the goddess Garmangabis was discovered at the nearby fort in 1893 and now stands there, while the church itself has Roman connections, with stone and columns believed to have been reused from the ancient fort.

Lanchester Valley Walk

For a peaceful extension once the case is closed, the Lanchester Valley Walk follows the trackbed of the old Durham to Consett Railway. Opened in 1862 to haul iron ore towards Consett's booming steelworks and coal from Langley Park, the route has swapped steam and soot for walkers and cyclists, and forms part of a longer trail between South Shields and Darlington.