Ultimate Guide to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal are the most beautiful places I have been to in England. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located a couple of miles outside Ripon and the journey to get there is very easy. Be prepared to walk around… a lot. Around ponds, through trees, and up a steep hill which will get you a breathtaking “surprise view” of the abbey.
Visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
How to Get to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
On Foot: It’s located next to Ripon, so you can take a long, scenic walk (about 4 miles) from Ripon (if you want). Just know that there’s plenty of places to go hiking and walking as the grounds are vast and perfect for long walks. So you don’t really want to wear yourself out if you are not a professional hiker (walker?).
By Car:I have always said the easiest form of transportation around Yorkshire is renting a car because you get to experience everything England’s largest county has to offer. There are two parking lots on site. The first one is the Fountains Abbey entrance and visitor center, this one is the most popular, and free to park, but it gets quite busy in the afternoons during the summer months. The next parking lot is my personal favorite. It is a pay-and-display, but it gives you the best location to experience the entire park without backtracking anywhere.
By Bus: There is the 139 service from Ripon on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays there is a bus (Brimham Explorer 825) that runs from Ripon and Harrogate to Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks. There’s a bus (Fountains Flyer 822) that runs from York on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Once you’re there: Because there is so much area that needs to be covered, you can actually hitch a ride with the shuttle bus that runs between the visitor center, St. Mary’s Church, and the Studley Royal entrance. You just have to tell an associate and they will call for the shuttle to come get you. It’s convenient if you are exhausted from walking around all day and you are parked on the other side and just can’t make it, or you’re trying to cut time and just see a couple of highlights, otherwise, your good ol’ two feet are gonna get you around so you don’t miss anything!
History of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens
I’m a huge history buff, but it has to be interesting for me, otherwise I’m not going to retain anything you tell me, so I like to spice it up a little… or dumb it down in my terms (this is how I got through high school history, I literally had to dumb everything down for myself to make it easier… but it worked and it started to become fun!)
So here it goes, Fountains Abbey was built in the 12th century by the monks, it was one of the most profitable abbeys in all of England… they even had a mill and a brewery (monk’s beer anyone?).
It was thriving until Henry VIII wanted to marry Anne Boleyn and get his first marriage annulled. The catholic church wouldn’t allow it, so Henry took matters into his own hands.
He created his own church (Church of England.. still exists today) because he had his own connection with God (and that’s all that mattered), granted himself a divorce and dissolved all the abbeys and monasteries taking all their money and making Henry a very rich man.
The ruined abbey you see here is all that is left from the dissolution.
Next, Studley Royal. It starts with the Aislabie family in 1718 when the father began work on the gardens around his manor house. He slowly and continuously bought up land around his house until he finally got Fountains Abbey.
He manipulated the River Skell into a canal that created a still, mirror effect for the gardens which flowed into a large man-made lake, which is the grand entrance to the gardens.
Vast open spaces and small, dark curves were placed to entice the guest to want to know more and see more.
Follies were placed throughout to give excitement and amusement, and were even built on different levels throughout the garden. The family would host their guests and show off their wealth (such a Georgian period thing to do, BTW) by taking walks through the garden and ending with refreshments in the banqueting house.
The height of the garden and all it’s splendor was 1781.
Places to See at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
There’s just so much to see that it can be overwhelming. Very overwhelming. In order to see everything and walk around everywhere, then you need to set aside at least 5 hours. I’m being completely honest here.
You can just walk the water gardens around to the abbey in about 2 hours if you are pressed for time, but to really enjoy everything then you need a full day.
Fountains Abbey
This is the main attraction, right? This is what you came for? (*sings to self* “baby, this is what you came for”)
With a history that dates back to the monks in York fleeing from the unrest of the church in 1132 and starting to build the abbey in the serene and secluded place up until 1539 when Henry VIII seized the assets of the abbey (with horses and rope stripping the roof and whatever else they could sell) to the 1760’s when William Aislabie took ownership of the abbey land to help romanticize his gardens, you can’t help but be in awe of this complex and wonder what it was like in its prime.
The Nave and The Crossing
Once you enter the abbey, this is main strip down the center. The ceilings would’ve been tall with a grand stain glass window down at the bottom. Can you imagine how beautiful it must have been when the light shined in?
The Other Ruins
I recommend picking up a guide book to see what the abbey looked like in the 12th century. You can then walk around and compare the picture to where you are standing. You can see where the sleeping quarters were, check out the kitchens, the location of the brewing house and appreciate the fine details in the architecture (even the toilet’s were intricate).
The Cellarium
Though it was nothing back in the 1100’s (the only purpose was to store food and fresh produce), today it is a beautiful stretch of alcoves that are definitely Instagram worthy.
The Abbey Mill
Built a few years after the abbey to produce flour from the crops they were harvesting, you can tour this mill from top to bottom. The wheel still turns today! Whoa.
Fountains Hall
In the late 1500’s, a local man (Stephen Proctor) bought the land and built a house on it. It was completed by 1611 and built with stones from Fountains Abbey in the style of the architect who built Hardwick Hall.
Related Post: The Most Instagrammable Spots at Hardwick Hall
The Moon Pools
The moon pools consist of two crescent shaped ponds hugging either side of a full moon shaped pond and overlooking the canal, from which feeds into the ponds, and perfect manicured lawns.
There are statues that surround the ponds (which would have been present in Georgian times) and you can walk off the path, around the ponds if you would like. (Watch out for duck poop and angry swans).
Temple of Piety
One of the largest follies here, this would have housed a small tea table and a few chairs for entertaining… but it would’ve just been a quick stop before touring the rest of the gardens.
Surprise View
Just the walk to get to the surprise view is beautiful. This is a semi-steep climb to get to the top level of the gardens (known as the high ride). If you take the path closest to the serpentine tunnel then the ascent is not as steep as the other side (and it’s the start of the high ride- which you don’t want to experience this going back to front!).
Along this path, you’ll hug the side of the hill, that’s covered with trees, only to see breaks in the treeline with follies. Reaching the end of the path you’ll see a hut with a door. If you open the door and walk through, you are greeted with a beautiful panoramic view of the gardens, the curve of the river, and the abbey in the distance.
This is how you would end your garden walk in the Georgian times before you would retire for refreshments.
Banqueting House
Originally an orangery (greenhouse), by 1740 guests were retiring here to enjoy light refreshments and witty banter. The lawn in front of the house was lush and a place where guests would relax and take in more views of the gardens.
St. Mary’s Church
A short walk from the Studley Royal entrance is this beautiful church built in 1870 by a later family that owned the property.
The medieval Gothic inspired church is beautiful inside and out and the alter is filled with bright colors, a mosaic floor (which you can walk on if you use their funny looking shoe covers), carved parrots, and intricate stained glass.
Valley of the Seven Bridges
On the opposite side of the lake from the Studley Royal entrance is the start of the valley of the seven bridges. This is free to walk around and only five bridges remain (I was racking my brain trying to find the missing two before I read that two did not survive).
This was originally a Chinese landscaped garden, which was one of the first in England at the time, and in the place of the stone bridges were white, wooden bridges surrounded by Chinese style temples and pavilions.
Things to Do at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
Take a Hike
Seriously! Take a hike around the deer park or the valley of the seven bridges, or the water gardens… there’s so much land on the property that you can spend the entire time hiking around and the best part?
It’s super easy to hike around, it’s perfect for the family, for the kids, for a date! Just do it! There’s plenty of different routes for you to do.
- Follow the Valley of the Seven Bridges and you walk through lush landscapes, big trees and forests, and even through a Chinese garden, which is now filled with wild flowers. You can turn around once you hit the Chinese garden, or you can continue walking off property and down a public footpath that leads right to the main gateway to the long drive of Studley Royal’s parking lot.
- Walk the borders of the Deer Park and enjoy an open landscape with playful deer (don’t get too close), very cool looking trees, and even walk past the old stables (which is now a private home) and the only remaining part of the original house that burned down.
- Walk from Studley Royal Water Gardens down to Fountains Abbey and then walk back the other way. Its only a couple of miles round trip, which may seem like a long time, but you’re going that way anyway right? Plus, it’s very scenic and peaceful.
- If you combine all three walks together then you are looking at a solid 7 or 8 miles. I’ve done it, and it’s beautiful and totally worth it if you enjoy walks.
Enjoy Afternoon Tea
There’s a couple of places to enjoy a ‘cuppa’. You can enjoy your afternoon tea lakeside at the Studley Tea Rooms next to entrance of the gardens, or (my personal favorite) the little cafe opposite the abbey entrance. It’s surrounded by trees and I love the big tables outside so you can enjoy your tea al fresco.
Explore an Art Exhibit
During the summer months, Studley Royal puts on an art exhibit. Appropriately called Folly! It’s the new meets old with modern art replacing that which was so fascinating and out of place in a garden in the Georgian days. The National Trust has only put on the exhibit for 2 years now, but hopefully it will be back.
Related Post: Folly! at Fountains Abbey – Summer 2018
Observe the Wildlife
The grounds are full of vibrant wildlife, so be on the look out for plenty of swans and deer, jackdaws and dippers, ducks and butterflies.
Quick Tips
- Driving is the easiest way to get here.
- Get there at opening time.
- Start at the Studley Royal side and walk around the gardens down to the abbey and back clockwise.
- Check for special exhibits or events.
- Save money and bring a picnic so you can sit down in front of the abbey and enjoy your own lunch.
- Allow half a day to see everything.
- It’s worth stopping by Ripon and checking out the town and the cathedral.
- Visit the official website to stay up to date on events!
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