You are here : Visit England >
Visit Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
- Booking.com Best Price Guarantee
- Reserve online, pay at the hotel.
Fountains Abbey tourist information
Located in North Yorkshire, the ruins of Fountains Abbey are owned by the National Trust and maintained by English Heritage.
Together with the adjacent Studley Royal Garden they are a listed UNESCO Heritage site.
Visit Fountains Abbey
The history behind the founding of the abbey is interesting - in 1132 there was a disagreement and fighting at the abbey in York as a result of which some of the monks were exiled from the abbey.
Eventually, under the protection of the Archbishop of York, they were granted the right to found a new abbey, in its present location.
The location was ideal, a sheltered spot next to the River Skell, with stone suitable for construction close to hand. It remains a lovely setting to this day, with the river to one site and woodland to the other, in a valley lined by steep cliffs.
The abbey had a very long active life, being occupied until 1539 (at which point Henry VIII dissolved the moansteries across England).
There are several noteworthy features within the abbey, including the monk's quarters (known as the cellarium) with an impressive arcaded / vaulted roof structure; the cloisters; and of course the remains of the main Chapter House itself.
Studley Royal Park
The archetypal English planned garden so loved by the Georgians, the Studley Royal Park is a very attractive landscape interspersed with small decorative buildings, statues and follies. The Temple of Piety and the Temple of Fame are among the highlights.
It is the Water garden that makes the park unique, and is very extensive with lake and waterfalls. The water gardens are fed by the Skell river which flows through the valley (and passed the Fountains Abbey).
Be sure to follow the walk known as High Ride to reach the lovely view down to the abbey - this point is known, not surprisingly, as 'Surprise View'...although the name does rather spoil the surprise!
There are numerous other features and views to discover as you explore Studley Park, and a visit on a nice day is a great pleasure - bring a picnic!
Maps, places and highlights...
Fountains Abbey map and places to visit
For a map showing places to visit see places to visit near Fountains Abbey.
Harrogate, Ilkley, Knaresborough, Nidderdale, Northallerton, Ripon and Thirsk.