Jo’s Monday walk : Rievaulx Abbey

Gazing heavenwards at Rievaulx Abbey

Gazing heavenward at Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire

It was quite hard to decide which walk to take you on this week.  The weather’s been so unseasonably kind and I’ve been out and about a lot.  I will be missing next Monday and I wanted to leave you with some beautiful images.  It’s probably hard to find anywhere more beautiful than Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire.

Spring was just beginning to tap on my door, and the Abbey was newly opened for the season when I made my visit- the first in many years!  I had quite forgotten the majesty of the place.  In the silence, I could almost hear the monks at prayer.

Approaching the abbey

Approaching the Abbey

I hate to mention it, but that's a nice-looking bench

I hate to mention it, but that’s a well-situated bench

I just know you want a close up!

I just know you want a close up!

Founded in 1132, Rievaulx Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in the north of England.  Situated just 3 miles from the village of Helmsley, in the North York Moors National Park, still it feels remarkably remote.  The location, sheltered by hills in the valley of the River Rye, was ideal for the Cistercians, who valued a strict life of prayer and self sufficiency with little contact with the outside world.

Looking through into the Infirmary Cloister

Looking through into the Infirmary Cloister

An exquisitely shaped doorway

An exquisitely shaped doorway

The Cloister Green, seen through the Arcade

The Cloister Green, seen through the Arcade

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In order to have enough flat land to build on, the monks diverted part of the river several metres west of its original channel.  It astounded me to find that during the 12th century, they diverted the course of the river three times.  Such was the ingenuity of the monks, who over time built up a profitable business mining lead and iron ore.  They reared sheep and sold the wool throughout Europe.  Rievaulx grew to be one of the wealthiest abbeys in England.  With 140 monks and many more lay brothers, it was a far cry from its devout beginnings.  By the 15th century the strict observance of Cistercian practises had been abandoned in favour of a more comfortable lifestyle.

The South Trancept

The South Transept

Henry VIII was, of course, delighted to take advantage of this prosperity when he dissolved the abbey in 1538.  The 72 buildings alleged to have been in existence at that time were stripped of their assets and rendered uninhabitable. Today the still substantial abbey ruins are in the care of English Heritage.  High on the hillside overlooking them sit two Grecian-style temples.  These were added in the 1750s by Thomas Duncombe, and are now in the care of the National Trust. Just a glimpse is visible on my walk.

You might well want to linger in the Visitor Centre, which has a pleasant cafe (with good cake!) looking out on the ruins.  Picnic tables will make this a popular spot in Summer.  It’s much too early to return to the car so I’d like you to accompany me on a circular walk, along the river to Bow Bridge.  A website I have used before Where 2 walk will provide you with a little map, but the 2 and a half mile route is quite straightforward.  We can eat when we get back- I promise!

Walk towards Rievaulx village to a signpost on your left

Walk towards Rievaulx village to a signpost on your left

Here it is!

Here it is!

The river is down to your left

The river is down to your left

And Bow Bridge is not too far ahead

And Bow Bridge is not too far ahead

Follow the tidy hedge and here we are

Follow the tidy hedge and here we are

Cross over the bridge and take the footpath to your left and you will initially be following the opposite bank of the River Rye.  A signpost saying ‘Ashberry’ points the way across a field, and the path begins on a gentle incline.

A handsome bare branched tree

Past a handsome bare-branched tree

The trees still wear their winter moss blankets
Early primroses peak through the tree roots
The bareness reveals strange shapes in the woods

The path climbs a little steeply for a short stretch and, through the trees, you can just make out the outline of the Abbey down below.  As we start to descend, a bench catches my eye.

What a lovely inscription
Alone with the daffodils
And the view…
Looking back, above the trees, you can just make out a Rievaulx Temple

Looking back, above the trees, you can just make out one of the Rievaulx Temples

The path ends at ‘Ashberry’- a large farmhouse
Set in lovely grounds
The sign points the way

One more bridge, a pretty riverside garden and, around a bend in the road, the Abbey.  The cafe’s in sight.  I feel a need for Yorkshire curd tart.  I did promise, didn’t I?

A little pop of colour
A thatched cottage
And one last bench, with a view

The English Heritage website will give you full details of opening times for the Abbey and how to get there.  Rievaulx is a charming village too, but very steep!

You might already have guessed that I’m linking this walk to Jude’s Bench challenge. This month’s theme is ‘a bench with a view’ and I think that I found a few.  Sorry, Jude, but I don’t have time for a separate post because on Wednesday I’m off to the Algarve.

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I won’t have a Monday walk for you next week, but please feel free to share your walks.  I will include them on 20th April, when I hope to be posting about the wild daffodils in Farndale, planted originally by monks.  Details of how to join in are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.

After that, I’m off to Poland again, with Dad, but that’ll be another story (and a whole lot more photos!)  Surely time to get that kettle on and enjoy these posts!  Many thanks to all my wonderful contributors.

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I didn’t manage to do this on my Paris trip so many thanks, Debbie :

A stroll around Montparnasse

A little bit of Spring magic with Gilly next :

The Chalice Well Garden in Glastonbury

Amy takes us to a perfectly manicured park (and there’s Easter eggs!)

Monday Walk

Drake tickled my fancy with boats.  Knows the way to my heart, that one!

Idyllic Harbor Blues

Back to old Holborn haunts, with Geoff :

My kinda town

I have a new word for Spring.  Frivolicious!  🙂  Thanks, Jesh!

April Frivolicious

Urban planning seems to be an issue at Violet Sky’s :

Street Signs- Old 

But beauty abounds at Paula’s place!

A scene from Hyde Park

I refuse to take a walk with an alligator for anybody- even Yvette!

Windows and Doors in RVA

We’ll end with Tobias’ interesting outlook on Hamburg  :

2/3 Faces of Hamburg

Don’t forget- I won’t be here next Monday!  Hope to see you on 20th April.  Meantime, lots and lots of happy walking! (and please take some bench shots for Jude)

 

165 comments

  2. Your photos brought this walk alive for me/ Especially the shapes made by the branching trees.
    They a what I would see if on a walk like that, that makes me think we have similar ideas of beauty.

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  3. What a magical post Jo! You hit it out of the park with the first photo and then kept going. The images were so vivid I truly felt like I was right there beside you! Truly wonderful. Always a treat to check into your walks.

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  5. So much of England that I’ve never seen, Jo. What a beautiful setting for the abbey. I’m glad those Cistercian monks eventually abandoned their austere ways and learned to enjoy some of the comforts of life. 🙂 The inscription on the bench seems to be an order to relax for a while. How lovely the view must be. Have an enjoyable trip to the Algarve, and then on the Poland. You never seem to stop for a moment, between walking, travelling and Zumba. You must be as fit as a fiddle. 🙂 xx

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    1. Those benches seem to keep calling out to me these days, Ad! 😦 Don’t want to swap places with Mac just yet though! Too much to see 🙂 Thanks, honey. Look after yourself! You must be on the move soon?

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  6. oh you captured the majesty and reverence of the monastery, Jo! awesome pictures and beautiful history! thank you for sharing; i thoroughly enjoyed it! 🙂

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  7. Wonderful archways! Oh the history across the pond. I loved that you could almost hear the monks singing. Lovely imagery Jo. Have a good trip with your Dad. Sounds like a special time together.

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    1. I will be nodding, smiling and hugging a lot, Sue, but not necessarily in that order 🙂 Some day I’ll get a grip on Polish but it won’t be this month 😦 Thanks for your kind words, hon.

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  10. It’s a stunning building Jo, I wonder how many of today’s will last that long. Beautifully captured as well, I can hear echoes. Hope its nice and hot in Portugal and in Poland too – I wanted to go to Poland for next weeks trip but Barcelona won, it was the only place that all three of us school friends could agree on!

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    1. Barcelona is a fabulous city, Gilly! It exceeded my expectations and you can’t go wrong with Gaudi. Have a fantastic time and I’ll look forward to hearing all about it. Hugs to take with you, darlin’ 🙂

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  11. Quite a sight through your lens, you capture the Abbey magnificently – I can hear the sounds as I’m in awe of the structure. Wonderful walk Jo – so enjoyed it as my day gets started here. Will miss you next week.

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  12. You are a very busy lady Jo! What a beautiful Abbey and Rievaulx Village looks delightful. It’s been glorious hasn’t it? Hubby and I have got some lovely walks in, about time I posted one of them for you again methinks (and I need to do a bench post too) 😉 Happy Monday Hugs 🙂

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    1. Thanks, darlin 🙂 I almost envied Mac with a view like that (but not quite! a bench NOW for the old bones would be good 🙂 ) Exhausting life! I’ve just been to the beach again this morning, taking cave and pebble shots. Much love, Sherri! 🙂

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      1. Haha…yes, thank God for those benches! I was very grateful for some yesterday doing a bit of a coastal walk, uphill for quite a way 😉 You amaze me Jo! I take all these photos on all my walks and then get so caught up with other ‘stuff’ that another day/week goes by and then it’s old news!!! Let’s see what I can cobble up this week!! Much love to you too 😀

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  15. Pingback: Monday Walk: Back to the trail | The World Is a Book...

  16. Hi Jo,
    Thanks for taking me on that walk. Ever so wonderful. 🙂 Rievaulx Abbey is still on my bucket list for our next visit to Yorkshire. Our last one was way too short. We enjoyed it a lot, though.
    Have a great week,
    Pit

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    1. Hi PIt 🙂 How goes the fitness drive?
      It’s a beautiful part of the world. The village is chocolate box pretty but it’s on a steep slope. Good for the thighs 😦

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      1. Hi Jo,
        The fitness drive goes well, especially with all that garden work here. 😉 But also with cardiac rehab and my bicycling. The latter gets better and better.
        There are so many villages in the UK that are “chocolate box pretty”. 🙂 So, the village is good for fitness, too?! 😉
        Take care, and have a great week,
        Pit

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  18. What a stunning abbey, Jo. I’m a big fan of these ruined abbeys in England and remember fondly visiting some myself when we went to England. That now seems like ages ago! What a lovely walk, beautiful blue skies and I hope comfortable weather. And the curd tart, now that’s what we’re talking about. 🙂

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      1. It’s a beauty, isn’t it, Cathy? 🙂 It’s only an hour and a half from home but we haven’t been there since James was small! We tend to stay on the Moors more, but I want to go back and do the Rievaulx Temples walk later this year, and nearby Helmsley is such a pretty spot, with a ruined castle too. So little time …. 🙂 🙂
        Yes- busy spell coming up. I’m only back 6 days and then it’s Poland. Thanks, hon!

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    1. I hoped no-one would ask 🙂 🙂 It looks very picturesque, Ann, but it’s a rubbish bin 🙂 Not ideal putting it beside a bench, but then you don’t have far to go to dispose of your picnic rubbish. Some of us are good and take it home with us but not everyone thinks that way.

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      1. Well, it is indeed a well-disguised rubbish bin. Our council has removed a lot of rubbish bins in an attempt to persuade people to take their rubbish home with them.

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