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Aislabie Walk

16.78 miles (27 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk follows a circuit that connected the estates and gardens of the Aislabie family in the 18th century.
You will visit the picturesque landscapes of Studley Royal, Laver Banks and Hackfall Woods on this delightful circular walk which takes place near the Yorkshire city of Ripon.
The main highlight of the walk is the National Trust owned Studley Park and Fountains Abbey. A designated World Heritage Site which has an area of 323 hectares (800 acres) and features an 18th century landscaped garden, some of the largest Cistercian ruins in Europe, a Jacobean mansion and a Victorian church designed by William Burges. It was developed around the ruins of the Cistercian Fountains Abbey.

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Aislabie Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Aislabie Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Queen's Head is located on the Main Street in the village of Kirkby Malzeard at postcode HG4 3RS for your sat navs. They serve good food with parking and a garden available. They are also dog friendly.

Photos

Studley Royal church - geograph.org.uk - 2204098

Studley Royal church

The Lake, Studley Royal - geograph.org.uk - 2053327

The Lake, Studley Royal

River Laver - geograph.org.uk - 450759

River Laver

Fisher's Hall in Hackfall Woods - geograph.org.uk - 911998

Fisher's Hall in Hackfall Woods, near to Grewelthorpe. Built for the Head Gardener by William Aislabie in the 18th century

Mackershaw Lodges, Studley Park - geograph.org.uk - 1263294

Mackershaw Lodges, Studley Park
"Gateway with flanking lodges, now ruined. c1740 for John Aislabie. Limestone rubble and ashlar. Archway flanked by projecting single-storey 2- bay lodges. Round carriage arch with massive voussoirs and keystone (now with farm gate) flanked by flat-arched pedestrian gateways, now blocked, each with round-arched recess above ... The lodges were occupied until c1970 ... The building stands on high ground and was probably intended as a focal point rather than an entrance to the park"

Nicholas Hawksmoor Obelisk, Ripon Market Place (42723893002)

Nicholas Hawksmoor Obelisk, Ripon Market Place. 1702. Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor. The earliest surviving free-standing monumental obelisk in Great Britain.
Clerk of Works: Cornelius Varker. Masons: William Etty and William Cowling. Carver: Samuel Carpenter of York. Smith: John Hood. Ashlar, Plinth. Tall, simply moulded base, with a plaque misleadingly inscribed: "MDCCLXXXI ERECTED AT THE EXPENSE OF WILLIAM AISLABIE ESQUIRE, WHO REPRESENTED THIS BOROUGH IN PARLIAMENT SIXTY YEARS. THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND ASSISTANTS OF RIPON ORDERED THIS INSCRIPTION, MDCCLXXXV THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK ROBINSON, MAYOR."
Obelisk surmounted by tall wrought iron weather-vane incorporating a representation of the Wakeman's Horn. Eighty feet high. Built by John Aislabie of Studley Royal. William Aislabie's contribution in 1781 must have been to repair it. He may also have removed the wrought iron railings surrounding it, and replaced them with 4 smaller obelisks at the corners, which have also been removed since.

Bridge over River Skell near Rough House - geograph.org.uk - 1716837

Bridge over River Skell near Rough House Grade II Bridge over the River Skell. Mid to late C18, built for John or William Aislabie of Studley Royal.
Ashlar. 3 round arches with keystones and voussoirs; triangular cutwaters, those on downstream side carried up as shallow buttresses with pyramidal capstones on moulded parapet coping. Projecting band at pathway level, terminals to flanking walls. The bridge is a miniature version of the much larger structures of c1780 at Bridge Hewick and Boroughbridge. Straddles the boundary with Aldfield parish.

The Rustic Temple - geograph.org.uk - 114190

The Rustic Temple deep within Hackfall Wood, constructed in the mid 18th century by William Aislabie.

Elevation Profile

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Aislabie Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Aislabie Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)