Bolton Abbey was on our list of destinations that we missed last time we stayed in Yorkshire in 2021, so we had it planned in this time.
About Bolton Abbey – with photos taken on our visit
Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, England, takes its name from the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian monastery now known as Bolton Priory.
The priory, closed in the 1539 Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by King Henry VIII, is in the Yorkshire Dales, next to the village of Bolton Abbey.
The land at Bolton, as well as other resources, were given to the order by Lady Alice de Romille of Skipton Castle in 1154.
In the early 14th century Scottish raiders caused the temporary abandonment of the site and serious structural damage to the priory.
Most of the remaining church is in the Gothic style of architecture, but more work was done in the Victorian era, including windows by August Pugin.
It still functions as a church today, holding services on Sundays and religious holidays.
Bolton Abbey famous mentions
Bolton Abbey’s churchyard has the grave of cricketer Fred Trueman.
Characters played by Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts picnic at Bolton Abbey in the 1963 film This Sporting Life.
In episode 6 of the BBC series The Trip, Bolton Abbey is visited.
A blurred photo of the Abbey is used for the cover of Faith by The Cure, an album from 1981, with the picture taken by Andy Vella.
The 1985 music video for the Love and Rockets song “If There’s A Heaven Above” was filmed at Bolton Abbey.
The BBC Television series Gunpowder (2017) used Bolton Abbey as a location.
Bolton Abbey Estate
Today, the 33,000 acre (134 km2) estate contains six areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including Strid Wood, an ancient woodland (mainly oak), which contains the length of the River Wharfe known as The Strid, and a marine fossil quarry.
The estate encompasses 8 miles (13 km) of river, 84 farms, 84 buildings of architectural interest, and four Grade I listed buildings; and is currently home to 27 businesses from tearooms to bookshops.
The iconic stepping stones cross the River Wharfe near the Abbey ruins.
The estate includes extensive grouse moors, including Barden Moor on the west side of Wharfedale and Barden Fell on the east side of the dale. The Dales Way passes through the estate on a permissive path.
Barden Moor and Barden Fell, which includes the prominent crag of Simon’s Seat, are on access land, and permissive paths, including a route called the Valley of Desolation, lead up to the moors.
We made it to the waterfall at the end of the Valley of Desolation.
I was (unnecessarily as it turned out) worried about the car park closing and being locked in as the sign on the entrance said that the car park closed at 7pm. So we paced back, crossed the river near the cafe and made our way back via this quicker route.
As we got back to the car park around 6:50pm, the car park entrance gate was closed but there was an exit with those built into the tarmac metallic panels that only bend one way to let cars out but stop cars coming in.
We had a really enjoyable walk and explore here and will definitely return in future. We’ll arrive earlier next time and walk further along to see Simon’s Seat and what various websites describe as an impressive view.
Onwards and upwards…