Yearsley Moor and the Fish Ponds

Seven and a half miles with 180 metres of ascent and about three and a quarter hours, dropping past the abbey fish ponds and out to the old ornamental woodland of Yearsley Moor before returning on the field paths below the ridge; the woodland tracks are firm but the field sections are heavy clay from October onwards. It starts in Ampleforth village, where there is free roadside parking along the main street and the Hub Cafe at the abbey is the obvious end point for tea and a water bowl. The fish ponds and the beck below Yearsley give plenty of water and the woodland is good, quiet ground for a dog off the lead, but the route crosses grazed pasture on the way out and back and the college and abbey grounds themselves expect dogs on leads.