Ampleforth Abbey and the Fish Ponds

Byland Abbey Ruins Loop from Ampleforth

Five and a third miles with 190 metres of ascent and about two and a half hours, crossing the low ridge west of Ampleforth to the great rose window of Byland Abbey and coming back by Wass; the outward field paths climb steadily and the last field into Byland is often under standing crop with a narrow trodden line. It starts in Ampleforth village with free roadside parking, and the Abbey Inn at Byland at the halfway point takes dogs in the bar and does a proper lunch if you time it right. The becks near Wass give a drink, the ridge fields are open and pleasant walking, but the English Heritage abbey grounds ask for dogs on leads, and there are sheep and occasionally cattle in almost every field on the route.