I took so many pictures on that day that I decided to divide them between several posts. The first part shows the walk from Ripon (look here to see where we started) through Studley Roger (the village next to the site of Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey), the deer park, St. Mary's church, and the first glimpses of the ruins.
As you can see, it was a cloudy day, but sunny and warm enough for us to enjoy the walk very much.
Approaching Studley Roger, and a picture for John/Scriptor Senex (although I know he is taking a break from blogland these days):
The gates to Studley Royal, the deer park and Fountains Abbey:
About half way up the hill, looking back you can see Ripon Cathedral. The pictures show what it looks like with and without zoom. We saw very few deer this time, but look at all that lush green!
After a short rest, we went further along to the visitor centre. There, you pay to get to the actual abbey; up until now, everywhere we walked is free access. So, even a family who maybe can not afford to pay the admission fee of 10,50 per adult (don't know how much for children), will be able to have a great day out.
From the visitor centre, we walked down the hill towards the ruins. The first glimpse we got was this:
I don't think I've taken pictures from this perspective before. It looked as if you could just jump across the small gap from the slope onto the bell tower!
Hello Meike,
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious landscape this is dressed in all its lush greenery. Your photographs capture it all beautifully. This really is England at its best.
And what a good idea to pack your sandwiches. Sustenance would surely have been welcome after that track uphill. But, as you say, all this to be enjoyed for free. Wonderful!
Hello Jane and Lance,
DeleteCan't agree more with you, this really IS England at its best. I guess Fountains Abbey and surroundings are beautiful in all kinds of weather and season, but we were particularly lucky to catch a dry day of mixed sun and clouds.
How beautiful. It is years since I have been to Fountains Abbey and never went to Fountains Hall. I seem to remember I needed to crack on somewhere else when I was there too, although I did spend about an hour, but the walk looks well worth doing.
ReplyDeleteAfter I'd already been to Fountains Abbey several times, it took me until 2012 before I first went to have a closer look at Fountains Hall. Only a few rooms are open to the public, but I think it is well worth exploring. And yes, the walk from Ripon to the ruins (takes maybe an hour) is well worth doing.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I was a boy in my village primary school in East Yorkshire we twice mounted coaches that took us all the way to Fountains Abbey for summer school trips. We would picnic there and run around and listen to the history of the place as well as drawing sketches of what we saw so that we could return to school to finish our Fountains Abbey projects. Another year we went to Whitby and another year to Rievaulx Abbey. It was the best of school. Looking forward to your next post when you and your sister were chased by a gang of Hell's Angels.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you there, YP, but there won't be any Hell's Angels featuring on my blog.
DeleteWhitby is a place I am quite fond of, too, but have not visited again since Steve died. So far, I have not yet managed to visit either Rievaulx or Jervaulx Abbey, but both places are on my "to see" list.
I read the post this morning and then wandered off to remind myself of previous posts having done half a comment which got lost when I forgot and exited the programme. I was busy considering whether a trip to the area was feasible this year because every time you post about the area it re-awakens my interest. So many things to think about and fit into life. In the meantime I shall sit back and enjoy the trip vicariously.
ReplyDeleteGlad my posts make you consider a trip to the area, Graham! Maybe I should get in touch with the tourist board and ask them for some bonus by attracting more visitors :-)
DeleteIf you go, why not stay at Box Tree Cottages (B&B) or Matchbox Cottage (self-catering), once the whole Tour-de-France-madness is over?
It won't be this year Meike. My summer is already booked up unfortunately but I like to have things in the pipeline.
DeleteEven better - let's make sure we'll be in/around Ripon at the same time next year, and meet upt! (I am serious.)
DeleteI know the feeling of enjoying a place vicariously, I did that for many years working as a travel agent!
ReplyDeleteI recognize all the places that you show us from Yorkshire from the books by James Herriot, but you know that already!
I LOVE these photos, that one, the one just before you are posing with your sarnie, the 14th one, I think, that could be a postcard!! Tell the Tourist Board that I said so!
That is exactly what I saw while I was sitting there on the base of the obelisk, Kay - I took that photo from the very spot my sister photographed me in!
DeleteI never read the James Herriot books, but loved the series when I was young, and went to the museum in his original house in Thirsk two years ago. I didn't know that Ripon and Fountains Abbey are mentioned in the books, but of course being so close to there, he would have had occasion to see the place.
Beautiful photos! I've never really been in this part of England and am enjoying seeing it through your eyes. I like the interior of that church. Most of the Englsh country churches I've been in were much more plain. This is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis church was commissioned and paid for by the Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon in 1870 after their son was kidnapped and killed while travelling in Greece.
DeleteThe interior is very colourful indeed; I particularly like the golden stars on the turquoise blue "sky" painted into the window arches.