Fountains Abbey and Studley Water Gardens – a must visit!
Whenever anybody is looking for a day out, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is always a place that I recommend. With monastic ruins, water gardens, museums, herb gardens, deer parks, countless follies and a vast history, it has firmly seated itself as a favourite of mine. If you’re able to visit this stunning site in North Yorkshire, you should, and here is why…
History
Fountains Abbey itself was founded by monks from York in 1132. They chose their spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city so they could focus on their worship… and it is not hard to see why they picked this spot. Unfortunately, due to Henry VIII’s orders to dissolve the monasteries, all that remains of the Abbey now is ruins. However, it is easy to get a picture of what an immense structure it once was.
The Studley Royal Water Garden part of the equation began in the 18th century when John Aislabie wanted to create an area of outstanding beauty to showcase to anyone visiting his impressive estate. His son later went on to purchase the ruins at Fountains Abbey and I recently found out that the nickname for the view of the ruins as you walk up to it from the water gardens is ‘Anne Boleyn’s seat’ (likely due to the role people claim she played in the dissolution of the monasteries).
Grounds
The grounds are without doubt among the best in the UK. The water gardens are exactly what they sound like… gardens with lots of water features. The expansive ponds and lake create a mirror effect as you are walking around. Within the grounds, there are also plenty of follies and it is easy to feel as though you are strolling the grounds in Georgian England as the entire site remains practically untouched.
As well as this, there is also a forested woodland to explore and a deer park which I believe is free to walk around but you need to park at a different sit to the main park for the abbey and other grounds.
Other
Within the grounds, you will also find a delightful manor house which you can walk around to have a look in.
Overall, this is a fantastic day out. There is so much to do, see and explore no matter who you are. If you love history, you will love Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, if you enjoy beautiful gardens and grounds, you’re also covered. There’s fun for all the family and I’ve seen countless families with young children making precious memories. Children can have the time of their lives exploring the ruins, running in the fields, exploring the forests and immersing themselves in a land that time seemingly forgot…