LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

After a short visit to Ripon Cathedral and Market Square, we visited Brimham Rocks and parked in the National Trust car park. We walked amongst the 320 million year old rocks and moorland to the visitor centre, taking lots of photos of the amazing rock formations with smooth curved surfaces. We enjoyed welcome tea and refreshments at the café by the visitor centre, then had a look around the information centre before another walk amongst the rocks on the way, via a different track back to the car park. We drove the short distance to Fountains Abbey. From the car park we took the path alongside the entrance/exit road to St Mary's Church, rather than the obvious short walk to the visitor centre. After a quick look inside the church then a walk down to the lake, we enjoyed a welcome cup of tea in the Lakeside Café. We entered the water garden of Studley Royal and walked over the wooden bridge across the end of the lake to the east side of the moon ponds. We rounded the corner of a pond by a coots nest heading for the Temple of Piety. More photos were taken before we continued around the ponds on the path towards the Abbey via the Temple of Fame high above. Magic views of the Abbey as we approached from the east, up the course of the river feeding the ponds. Lots of photos were taken as we circled the abbey and entered the ruins from the west. The magnificence of the abbey is all around, but it was just a shame the sun wasn't shining. From the Abbey we walked up the slope to the visitor centre, then returned to the car park to complete a delightful circuit around Studley Royals and Fountains Abbey.

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Brimham Rocks

Hazards: None.