Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden is a Heritage Site in Northern England that Eric Knows makes it easy to find.
Founded by Cistercian monks in AD 1132, the ruins of Fountains Abbey are some of the largest of their order in Europe. However, despite its age, the monastery is still largely intact, earning it its title as a World Heritage Site. Today, visitors can walk freely among the ruins, the remains of structures such as the church, with its huge arched window, and the cloister in clear view. Furthermore, the abbey is surrounded by parkland, allowing visitors to have picnics and even bring their dogs.
Also, the water garden present at the site as part of the surrounding heritage site is another attraction. Built in AD 1718, the Water Garden follows a Georgian norms with structures built to impress and evoke dramatic views. Moreover, this romantic landscape is accentuated by statues, follies and beautiful water displays; making this a perfect place for a picnic if the abbey is busy. Furthermore, paths lead to the Studley Royal Deer Park, where Fallow, Red and Sika deer as well as beautiful trees make their home.
The National Trust’s website hosts information on the prices of tickets, which don’t have to be pre-booked.
In terms of accessibility, the venue does its best to make most of the World Heritage Site reachable. In terms of accessing the Abbey, it is not reachable from the visitor center by wheelchair. For this reason, the venue offers a free minibus service and the West Gate car park. The visitor center itself has accessible toilets, hearing loops and disabled parking spaces. For the visually impaired, the National Trust offers a free sighted guide service available to pre-book by telephone.
The FAQs below and the access guide by the National Trust hold more information on the site’s accessibility.
It is easiest to travel to the site by car or bus. For cars, there is parking at the visitor centre as well as closer to the site at the West Gate, which is a disabled priority car park. By bus, the number 36 from Leeds to Harrogate and the number 139 can provide transport to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden. The dales bus website hosts information on all the buses that run to Fountains Abbey.
No, you can show up and pay on site.
Pets are allowed to be taken onto the site and even in the ruins of the abbey.
Yes, picnics are allowed.
While there is disabled parking and toilets at the visitor centre, the abbey cannot be accessed from there via wheelchair. Therefore, there is a car park closer to the abbey (the West Gate car park) and a free minibus service from the visitor centre to the car park.
Yes, there are hearing loops in all the visitor centres as well as the welcoming assistance dogs into these buildings.
There is a free sighted guiding service available to be pre-booked by telephone. Also, assistance dogs are welcome into the buildings.
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