LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

National Trust Membership or payment required: £5.50 each adult. Medieval Fair at '2'. No track was found at '4', continued to good track to '5' from bend in the river below '5'. A good track continued from 'Surprise View' and 'Anne Boleyn's Bust', without head, to Temple of Fame and Octagon Tower to tunnel, for ascent to Moon Pond and statues from walkway behind the tower. The tunnel was very dark at the centre, I'm not sure how long the tunnel was because of the bend in the middle. There were good stepping stones to the Abbey entrance, the stones were large and regular. I took the bridge alongside the stepping stones because a couple of ladies were taking an age to cross. There were plenty of ducks and geese to feed with bread by the lake. From the car park through Studley Park there were excellent views all around. I followed the road from the lake to a straight road leading from the eastern gateway to the church and obelisk. I walked parallel to the road to the eastern gateway and turned right immediately after the gateway to bee hives in the trees. I walked alongside a meadow to the road to Plumpton Hall and scaled a wall to save a detour to Studley Roger. I almost missed Plumpton Hall as I was expecting a building of more grandeur. The river was dry at the ford in the woods at '10'. A cyclist passed, expecting a splash, but there wasn't one! It was an easy walk along a good wide track through the river valley (small canyon) over several small, picturesque  bridges to the lake past 'sinks' just before the lake where the River Skell water disappears into the ground. The return path to the car park was past the Abbey on the north side of the river. It was a magic walk, generally flat, with a couple of small climbs.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Fountains Abbey Car Park off the A61.

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