Studley Royal, Abbey Fountain and Water Gardens at Ripon

We made a detour to Ripon on our way down to York to meet up with Molly and Matt. Visited the water gardens and Abbey set in 800 acres of park first purchased by monks in 1100's. Wonderful to walk along being led through wide vistas and intimate spaces in turn. All very serene and green, with strong geometry horizontally and vertically. 

The entry is through a  huge paddock of long grass edged with plain hedging, ant this simplicity is continued throughout.

The abbey is huge and still feels grand even as a ruin.

As you walk around it the aspect changes in sync with the landscape

The oaks are just huge

Wildflowers grow right down the valley 

Acres of trees with the small river being subtly tailored into a formal, geometric layout

A peep of the castle behind a 100m long, high hedge

Round this corner

To the formal water gardens with close mown lawns

And wonderful old hedges

Couldn't resist a water shot

Coming back round towards the Abbey, deep borders of trees with drifts of green and white flowers below

More great hedges around the Fountain Halls