Yorkshire - Part Three Bolton Abbey and WWT Martin Mere

 

 

Bolton Abbey has been on my list of places to visit for a number of years now.  Only a short drive from Skipton is much like the waterfalls, a full day trip if you to the circular walk.

 

If you pre-book parking, the cost is £12.50 or £15 on the day.  There are a variety of car parks at various parts of the estate that you can go.  I had booked to go to the main Bolton Abbey car park as the starting point.

 

 

 Do love a postbox topper!

 

 

Within the Abbey was a mock up off how the Abbey would have been prior to demolition.

 

 

At the heart of Bolton Abbey Estate lies the Priory Church and Ruins of an Augustinian Priory in its beautiful riverside setting. The land was gifted to the Augustinian canons by Alice de Rumilly in 1154. The canons lived and worshipped here until 1539 when the dissolution of the monasteries stripped the Priory of its assets.

 

I do love visiting Churches, Abbeys and Cathedrals.

 

 

I can imagine their must be ten's of thousands of images taken of the Abbey with the very impressive Archway standing 10 feet high.

 

So it is no surprise it is such a photographic place. 

The river has very strong undercurrents, but there are a couple of areas that are safe to cross.

This was the view from the area called Valley of Desolation.  It was a good climb up but worth it for the views.

This time I did have Strava set and the walk was 8 miles circular walk, with an 646 feet elevation.  

 

 

So the stop off at the cafe on the way back to the van to enjoy a very tasty cake was very much appreciated.

 

 

I love that they provide this information on where the price of an admission ticket is spent.

 

Those who follow my blog will know I am a regular visitor to WWT sites.  There are 10 spread around the UK, and I have now visited 9 of them!

 

 

Martin Mere is significantly smaller than my local Slimbridge, although the area open to the public at Slimbridge compared to the land owned is much smaller.

 

At the time of visiting, there was not a huge amount of activity on the lakes, but I do still love being able to be out in nature.

 

 

 

 

One of the great highlights of this site was that they named some of the hides after people who had impacted the site. 

The

Tomlinson Hide at WWT Martin Mere was named to honour Arthur Tomlinson, who was a key supporter and major donor to the WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust). He was a significant benefactor whose contributions helped fund the development of the hide and other attractions at the wetland centre.

So having the same surname was brilliant.