Yorkshire Day 2

 Tuesday 7th October Yorkshire day 2

We are on our way to Fountains Abbeyand Studley Royal Watergardens - We have been wondering about the settings on the Sat Nav as we seem to be going round in circles to get there, a lovely tour for me but a bit frustrating for Rondas who has been doing all the driving, we seem to be going down the one way roads a lot. Yesterday we (Ronda) had to reverse about four times each time we came across a car coming the other way, today it’s following tractors


Finally we get there. Fountains Abbey was begun in 1132 when a group of 13 disaffected monks came from St Mary’s Abbey in York. It operated for 407 years becoming one of the wealthiest monasteries in England until ……..Henry VIII Built in an enclosed valley that provided stone and timber plus running water. The name comes from the 6 springs that watered the site.

Walking down to the site, a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is soon obvious how massive it is !

The cellarium is almost fully intact, it is very long and still has a roof, is has been surmised that it wasn’t fully destroyed because of it’s distance from everywhere.





The height in the infirmary was impressive as was the size of the windows. Below looking up into the tower, at the crossing of the church? Cathedral? 


This is the Nave, impressive size - the Window if it was originally stained glass would have been impressive.



We then walked down the side of the Monastery to Studley Royal, once we reached there it looked a bit familiar, I think I have seen it on Landscape artist of the Year. Rather beautiful even under a grey sky.






Mr Pheasant, they seem to feature quite heavily as road kill, apparently they are stupid.
Mr Seagull

Mr Crow, there were also swans and off course Canadian Geese, we had to tiptoe through the geese poop around the statue above. There is also an Archealogical dig that has been started to help understand about the construction of the gardens in the 1700s


Walked to the end of the watergardens where there was a cafe which was useful as it was lunchtime, Cheese and Onion Pastie was shared, pastry, potatoes and cheese, what more could you want? With a little bit of onion for added flavour! Then the walk back on the other side - looking from the temple  cross the water.



The roots of a Yew tree holding the bank together, it was also good to get another view or two of the Abbey ruins.



We had intended to go to a couple of other places on the way, one was closed and by the time we had some afternoon tea, it was time to get to Parceval hall to join the walking group. This is my room for three nights. There are also beautiful gardens for me to explore.






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