Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal are amongst the several old abbeys, castles, and monasteries in Yorkshire that we visited as we drove from Oxford to York. Lush and green, the gently rolling hills of the British countryside reminded me of our home in New Zealand, although the frequently overcast sky confirmed that we were in the UK.
Located in Studley Royal Park, Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It was founded in 1132 just after Rievaulx Abbey. Both flourished for over 400 years until Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of all monasteries in 1539.
I can only imagine what the abbey looked like in her glory. Here are 17 of my favourite shots of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. See if you agree that her ruins portray an incredible masterpiece:
More Information on Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal:
- You can find Fountains Abbey approximately 5 kilometres (3 miles) south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire.
- The ruins of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park are UNESCO World Heritage listed.
- Do you prefer a tour? If so, check out this one from Viator.
- If you are an overseas visitor and love castles and old ruins, get either a 9 or 16 day English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass. It will give you unlimited access to over 100 sites across England. Unfortunately, Fountains Abbey is not one of them as it is owned and maintained by National Trust.
- We found Lonely Planet’s Great Britain Travel Guide to be very useful.
- We stayed at various Premier Inn hotels throughout our travels in the UK and found them to be clean, comfortable, and affordable. We always check prices at Booking.com.
Have you been to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal or any of the Cistercian abbeys in England?
If you enjoyed these Fountains Abbey images, please share it on Pinterest:
England Road Trip: Oxford to York
Vedante | The Lavish Nomad
June 6, 2017 at 3:13 amI love those pictures! I have a couple of friends from England and we were talking about the English countryside. Looks like they were quite right about its beauty.
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:53 pmCan you go and visit with your friends? Perhaps they could take you to the countryside.
Ruth Daly
June 6, 2017 at 2:11 amAwesome photos! I remember learning about this at school, and for all the years I lived in the UK, never visited. Really enjoyed your pictures. (saved to my England board on Pinterest)
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:50 pmThanks.
Reshma
June 5, 2017 at 2:31 amLovely pictures! They look similar to the world-war ruins that I visited near Manila last year. Loved the rustic charm of these monuments!
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:46 pmThese ruins are from age rather than war.
christine
June 5, 2017 at 1:59 amBeautiful! England is definitely a lovely place to visit. I haven’t seen this fountain yet.
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:45 pmFountains Abbey is one of several medieval ruins in the British Countryside.
Mike Cotton
June 5, 2017 at 1:43 amI haven’t been lucky enough to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. But they certainly look stunning, a photographer’s dream location.
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:22 pmI could have stayed there for days, playing with the sunlight against the structures.
Sandy N Vyjay
June 5, 2017 at 1:33 amThe Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal look so intriguing and grand. The magnificent structures look imposing against the beautiful English countryside. The history that resides in these stone structures must indeed be fascinating.
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:17 pmStudley Royal is the Park, Fountains Abbey is the structure.
bettyl - NZ
June 4, 2017 at 7:03 pmI would love to tour the castles in Europe with all the great things that go with them. Your photos are great.
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 10:04 pmWhile I love the castles in Europe, it’s these old ruins that really captured my imagination.
Katie
June 4, 2017 at 3:56 pmBeautiful photos! I used to live in Scotland and loved the history of visiting old castles and abbeys. Was always very cold though…
Rhonda Albom
June 8, 2017 at 9:47 pmWe were so lucky when we were in Scotland, a week of unseasonably warm weather. I think it was 24-26 in May.
The Happy Whisk
June 1, 2017 at 2:49 pmWow! I LOVE these pictures. Seriously good.
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2017 at 9:59 pmThanks.
Alissa Apel
June 1, 2017 at 3:01 amThis looks like a place my whole family would LOVE! I think I’d enjoy a tour just once. After that I’d prefer to roam.
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2017 at 9:59 pmMy whole family loved it, although I think a few of them were getting tired of so many castle and abbey ruins by the last few we visited.
Lexa Cain
May 31, 2017 at 10:47 pmGorgeous architecture and landscaping too! There’s nothing more awesome than European castles and monasteries. Thanks so much for sharing these amazing pics!!!
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2017 at 9:55 pmI agree. I just love these old ruins. We went to one after the next. It was such a great few days.
Indah Nuria
May 31, 2017 at 8:17 pmSuch a beautiful place indeed Rhonda.. I have not got the chance to go there, though, but happy to add it to my list
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2017 at 9:53 pmThere are several abbeys and castles in Yorkshire. It was such a great day.
Anda
May 31, 2017 at 2:53 pmI’ve only been to London, but I’d love to visit Fountains Abbey sometimes. These ruins surely look like a good subject for photography. Great pictures, Rhonda.
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:16 pmYes, next time spend some time in Yorkshire at the abbeys and castles. So much to see and photograph.
Teresa Kindred
May 31, 2017 at 12:49 pmNever a fan of Henry XVIII, now I like him even less. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:14 pmHe was a bit of a baby, requiring things to go his way.
Carol
May 31, 2017 at 11:58 amRhonda your photography is always fabulous. Love the ruins.
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:14 pmThanks Carol.
Jeanna
May 31, 2017 at 11:51 amThe overcast skies could indicate you’re in south central WI too, lol. It’s been mostly to partly dreary here. I love the angles and shots you found in this beautiful old abbey.
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:13 pmReally, I could have been anywhere green and lush. And, thanks.
Lydia C. Lee
May 31, 2017 at 8:55 amThat’s stunning. What was on the floor? Doesn’t look like flagstones?
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:13 pmI think it was mostly hard packed dirt, but really I don’t know.
Sandee
May 31, 2017 at 1:01 amGreat shots, and it looks like a great way to visit the past. I would enjoy snooping around these grounds.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ☺
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:12 pmI can image you here. You would love it.
L. Diane Wolfe
May 30, 2017 at 11:16 pmGorgeous abbey. That’s one of the things I liked in England – being able to actually explore ruins like that.
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:11 pmMe too. I loved exploring the abbeys and castles. The British countryside is so special.
stevebethere
May 30, 2017 at 8:58 pmBrilliant photos Rhonda I enjoyed seeing these and congrats for getting them with a blue sky too which can be quite rare here heheh!
Have a tanfastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:10 pmWe got lucky, a bit of blue sky, then some overcast too.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
May 30, 2017 at 8:46 pmHi Rhonda – I see I commented three years ago … and have posted some of my Durham visit … my father and I went up decades ago, but it was so so hot – yes that hot … that we couldn’t face going inland and stayed near the sea … but I’d love to visit – looks amazing … and you had good weather … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:09 pmI can’t image the UK ever being that hot. 🙂
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
May 30, 2017 at 8:17 pmstunning shots!
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:09 pmThanks Tanja 🙂
Fun60
May 30, 2017 at 8:17 pmYou found some really interesting views and hidden parts of the abbey. Beautiful photos.
Rhonda Albom
May 31, 2017 at 6:08 pmThanks. We love to explore places like this.
Mersad
May 30, 2017 at 7:31 pmThis part of England is so fascinating to me. Your images showcase it nicely.
Rhonda Albom
May 30, 2017 at 7:54 pmThanks. It’s really nice to get a compliment from such a talented photographer.
Molly S
April 24, 2014 at 2:11 amBeautiful! I’ve been to Fountains Abbey, but not to the others – it was amazing. There are also some amazing ruins in the Scottish borders (Kelso and Jedburgh) if you ever get the chance to go!
Rhonda Albom
April 25, 2014 at 12:29 amThanks Molly. Hopefully I will remember. We loved the UK, so I am sure we will get there again someday.
Carrie-Anne Foster (thatdizzychick)
April 23, 2014 at 6:34 pmI can see why you can’t get enough. So beautiful.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
April 23, 2014 at 5:53 pmI love architectural shots, especially long hallways, archways and churches. These are some beautiful shots.
Hilary
April 23, 2014 at 4:51 amHi Rhonda – England was changed with Henry’s ruining and ransacking the Abbeys and Monasteries … the buildings are quite extraordinary … I’ve loved visiting historical places since I’ve been blogging – more understanding of the history and our heritage. I’ve never properly looked round a ruined Abbey – but they’ll be on my list – and those you saw in the north of England .. I saw decades ago – but have forgotten them. I was very impressed with Durham Cathedral, Castle and the buildings intertwined with them …
Thanks for the reminder .. cheers Hilary
Ann
April 22, 2014 at 8:02 pmI love looking at ruins and these look right up my abbey — ha ha.
Anyway, I wish I would have read this before my recent trip to the UK. I would’ve loved to see them in person.
Rhonda Albom
April 24, 2014 at 12:32 amThere is so much to see in the UK. You would have had to give something else up for the day.
Steve
April 22, 2014 at 3:09 amI’m with you – I could explore them all day. Great shots, Rhonda!
Sabrina
April 22, 2014 at 3:07 amThey’re cool and they make beautiful photos!
Nana Prah
April 22, 2014 at 1:10 amI’m going to have to do some research into what happened to all of these abbeys that they are now ruined. Such a shame.
Rhonda Albom
April 24, 2014 at 12:23 amIt was Henry VIII. In the short version, he needed a divorce which wasn’t allowed by the church so he started the Church of England. Destroying the old church and with it the abbeys.
N J Magas
April 21, 2014 at 4:40 pmIncredible! Those are some amazing pictures. I can totally undertaker the appeal. I love exploring old, old, old buildings. Around here I have more castles and temples to visit than I could possibly fit into a lifetime!
Rhonda Albom
April 24, 2014 at 12:19 amThere were so many options for us, we couldn’t see them all either. I am just glad we chose to include Fountains Abbey.
Ellen
April 21, 2014 at 9:23 amI’ve not been to England, but I have a couple of friends that live there. That would be grand fun.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂