THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 The Northern Echo 35 Walks what’son Walks Around

once again on view in the Visitor monastic orders so overcoming Centre museum. Walk information the problem of the Order’s strict rules and regime of prayer. By the Distance: 4.5 km (2.8 miles) early 13th Century Our route heads up into the Time: 1 - 2 hours had acquired several thousand lovely village of Rievaulx, with acres of land predominantly in the its thatched cottages lining the Maps: OS Explorer 26 - always but also in the narrow road. Here you will find carry a map Dales, Lake District and the small and relatively modern- Start / Parking: Car park at Teesside on which they developed looking Church of St Mary, which Rievaulx Abbey (pay & display) sheep farming. The fortunes of the was built to a design by Temple Refreshments: Cafe at Rievaulx abbey turned for the worse during Moore in 1906 on the site of the Abbey the 13th Century due to poor wool former Gate Chapel of the Abbey. prices as well as debts accrued due Terrain: Country roads, tracks and This Gate Chapel originally stood to land purchases and construction beside the Outer Gate to the Abbey woodland paths, some of which are work. This was compounded in muddy. Precinct, then just beyond the Gate the 14th Century when conflicts Chapel was the Inner Great Gate How to get there: Rievaulx is across the border spilled south that allowed access into the Abbey situated along narrow country and Scottish raids became more proper; this chapel was also known lanes to the west of . frequent. When the abbey was as the Slipper Chapel as visitors Caution: Take care walking along suppressed in 1538 on the orders of would change their footwear and the roads. Muddy paths, and a fairly Henry VIII there were only twenty- say a prayer at this chapel before long ascent. two left. entering the Abbey. A great deal of original 13th Century stonework The ruins are dominated by the remains, including a carved stone Points of interest towering 12th Century Transepts with the inscription ‘Rievallens’ of the original church as well as and the archway of the Inner Great the graceful arches and columns of Gate. A lane turns off by the old IEVAULX Abbey Gate Chapel down to reach Bow is an architectural the early 13th Century Choir and Presbytery. With the exception of Bridge across the River Rye, which heading downhill for 475 metres to valley for a further 550 metres to masterpiece set in stone, was built in the 18th Century to reach Bow Bridge across the River re-join the road. Head straight on with soaring pillars, the Presbytery, almost the entire R Abbey was built within sixty years the design of the famous Georgian Rye. (to the right) along the road and walls and windows. The designer John Carr. Our route then follow it for 500 metres to reach magnificent ruins have a romantic during the 12th Century. Historians also believe that the monks tried to climbs up over a broad ridge and the whitewashed Ashberry Farm setting in the wooded valley of Cross the bridge and continue create more space along the valley down into the lower reaches of Low (small triangular ‘green’), where , from which the abbey is 2straight on along the enclosed floor by diverting the course of Gill, with a delightful path that you continue along the road named. Its history stretches back track across the flat valley for the River Rye, and then utilising leads through ancient woodland curving right to quickly reach a to 1132 when twelve monks came 175 metres then follow the track the course of the original river as before reaching Ashberry Farm brick-built bridge across a stream over from Clairvaux in France bending sharply round and up to a canal on which stone could be and then the historic Rievaulx and a road T-junction just beyond. to establish the first Cistercian the right, and continue climbing transported for the building of the Bridge. This bridge was built in the abbey in the North and what would up along the track for 300 metres abbey; some historians dispute this 13th Century by the monks. become one of the most important to reach a T-junction with another At the T-junction after the and claim that the canals are man- monastic houses in Britain. They lane (tarmac). Turn left along this 4bridge, turn left along the road made. Either way, this is probably had been given 1,000 acres of waste lane rising up through woodland towards ‘Helmsley, Rievaulx’ and the earliest industrial canal system land and wilderness by Walter The walk for 175 metres to reach a road. follow this road for 375 metres to in this country. Espec of , which reach Rievaulx Bridge across the met their requirements exactly From the parking area at River Rye. Cross the bridge then Turn left down along the road as theirs was an Order of poverty 1Rievaulx Abbey (with your turn left towards ‘Rievaulx Abbey, The new Visitor Centre at Rievaulx 3for 125 metres then take the and simplicity. Their land holdings back to the Abbey ruins), turn Ancient Monument’ and follow this Abbey showcases many artefacts farm track to the right, marked by soon increased as Norman lords right along the road and follow it road back to Rievaulx Abbey car that provide a fascinating insight a signpost (‘road closed’ sign when sought favour with the monks and, up into Rievaulx village, passing park. into life at the abbey in medieval I walked this route, although this they hoped, a passage into heaven. some thatched cottages, to reach times. There is a wealth of does not affect our Right of Way). It was during the mid 12th Century the Church of St Mary on your materials, including a lead ingot Walk along this farm track for a that the abbey prospered and when right, immediately after which take Mark Reid stamped with Henry VIII’s emblem, few paces then take the narrow most of the major building work the turning to the left (Methodist Hill Skills and Outdoor Adventures, that had been stacked up ready path to the left (wooden signpost) took place, with Rievaulx becoming to be taken away following the Church on the corner). Follow this Yorkshire Dales, Lake District and that leads down through woodland. beyond the largest monastic establishment Dissolution of the Monasteries in road up out of the village through Follow this clear, narrow path teamwalking.co.uk woodland for 125 metres to reach in England with 140 choir monks 1538, but had instead been covered down through the woods for about and over 500 lay brothers. It was by masonry from the abbey church a fork in the track (house to your 150 metres to join another path these lay brothers who were at tower that had collapsed on top of left), where you follow the right- along the flat valley floor (blue Unique corporate activity days, the heart of the success of the them; these were then left for 500 hand lane straight on (road levels waymarker) - follow this clear navigation skills and team building Cistercian Order as they could years before being excavated by out). Follow this lane for 250 metres (muddy) path heading straight experiences in the great outdoors. work the land on behalf of the archaeologists and are, for the first to reach another fork, where you on down through the wooded teamwalking.co.uk monks whilst still observing some time since the 16th Century, are take the left-hand lane - follow this

Birdwatch By Ian Kerr IX weeks ago I suggested most dangerous first flights and with satellite trackers. This successful pairs last year and that and bans imposed on estates here that with a bit of all appear to be doing well. Young will enable their progress to Defra’s much-heralded recovery where wildlife crime occurs. It S luck our ospreys could be ospreys first “helicopter” by be followed once they leave for plan for the species was underway. says that law-abiding estates have heading for a record breeding flapping vigorously and rising West African wintering grounds. I also wrote of cynicism nothing to fear and everything to season. Those hopes have now vertically a few feet above the This year ospreys have also once among many birders about the gain for their own reputation and been realised and four pairs nests and then dropping back. again turned up around potential commitment of landowners and that of their sport by supporting nesting around Kielder have They gradually gain courage breeding sites elsewhere in shooting organisations to the such a system. raised a total of 11 young, the best and try short circular flights, the region, including Derwent controversial plan. outcome since regional breeding returning to bounce down back on Reservoir, but frustratingly This week the RSPB has began in 2009. the nest or to land, often swaying without evidence of further withdrawn its support following precariously, on nearby branches. colonisation. I’m sure that given The most successful pair the spate of recent persecution Yet within a couple of days time it will occur but ospreys incidents on grouse moors, has fledged a remarkable four they get a feeling for air under seem notoriously slow to colonise young. Another has raised three particularly in . their wings and quickly become new areas and summered in The latest, now under police youngsters and the two other accomplished flyers. The next big Northumberland for two decades investigation, involved a young pairs each have two young. The task is to learn to fish in those before breeding. buzzard caught illegally in a previous best was three broods spectacular plunging dives for Earlier this month I mentioned spring trap and then blasted with totalling eight young in 2014. which they are famous. that only three pairs of hen a shotgun. Instead, the RSPB is Most of the young have now The Kielder birds have been harriers were nesting in England throwing its weight behind moves taken their first and potentially ringed and some have been fitted this year compared with six for game shooting to be licensed