Ampleforth Abbey Walking Trail

Begin the walk at either Gilling Church or perhaps the Fairfax Arms Country Inn.  Either way, walk towards the crossroads at Fairfax Arms and turn left along Pottergate.

Keep following Pottergate beyond the village hall, with the treelined bank on your left and views of Ampleforth Abbey on the right. Eventually you will reach Autism Plus on your right hand side. Keep following the lane until you reach and entrance to Yearsley Woods.

When you reach Yearsley Woods, you will see a barrier to prevent vehicles accessing. Walk around the left hand side and keep following this track without turning off. However, you might want to take a look at the large lake on your right hand side.

Keep following the same path through Yearsley Woods, never turning off. The path will eventually take you up our one hill per walk. At the top you will reach a junction. At the junction, simply turn left.

Once you have turned left at the top of the hill, it is just a short walk to another gate that you pass through. Beyond the gate is a split in the route. Here we need to turn right and this takes us to the outer tip of The Avenue. This is a long very straight path all the way to Gilling Castle.

Once you reach the gate to Gilling Castle that was once a school and manor house, go through the gate and follow the drive all the way to the castle. A golf course can be found on your right, with the castle in front of you. When you reach the castle, turn left to walk in front of the building and keep following the drive.

As you walk further and downhill, you will see a gate on your left at the bend in the road. Go through this gate and keep walking downhill until you reach Pottergate where you were before.

At the foot of the hill, turn left on Pottergate and it is just a short stroll to the junction for Ampleforth Abbey. At this junction, turn right to take the road to the Abbey. Keep following this over the beck, along side the playing fields and up to the abbey itself.

Once you reach the abbey, you will see a path to the left that is lit by Victorian looking street lighting. Follow this route until you reach The Windmill, the abbey tearooms.

At The Windmill or the abbey tearooms, you will see a crossroads. Here we turn left and follow this route all the way back to Pottergate once again. Once you have reached Pottergate, turn left and this will take you back to Gilling East where you started.