Fountains Abbey: 10 October 2010
- Distance
- 10 miles
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Location
- Fountains Abbey … Map of start point
- Transport
- Buses from Ripon and limited Dalesbus service
- Leader
- Debs
Debs led her first GYBO walk from the historic ruins of Fountains Abbey in crisp autumn sunlight, with the trees turning beautiful shades of gold and red. A large group set off through Skell Woods, before cutting across farmland, and over a narrow causeway across the fishponds of Sawley Hall. A short climb took us to the disused chapel in How Hill, where we enjoyed lunch with spectacular views in all directions.
From there, we dropped down to the road, and headed through Ingerthorpe Grange to Markenfield Hall, where Fran and her dog had to take a short diversion to avoid a field that didn't actually have any cattle in it after all. Continuing, we reached the Chinese Wood, and into the Deer Park by way of the Valley of the Seven Bridges, past the lake and stopped to watch a family of deer in the dappled shade, finally returning to enjoy cakes in the Fountains Abbey tea shop.
Photos by Stevie