Ripon's Traditional Boxing Day Walk

As usual, on December 26, 2011 the whole family went on the traditional Ripon Boxing Day walk. The walk is 4 miles long taking about an hour an a half, between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey. It is the route the monks took from Ripon Cathedral in 1132 on December 26, to found Fountains Abbey. The walk started in 1982 as a celebration that the countryside was again open to the public after a year of being closed. At Fountains Abbey the crowds (about 1400 this year) gather for carols and prayers.

Studley Park with the gate house and then Ripon Cathedral in the background.
Cecilia (sister), Matthew (oldest nephew), Lawrence (nephew) and Billy.

Two years ago the ground was completly and unexpectantly covered in snow. This year I brought their snow boots!:)
Bill, Lawrence, Cecilia, Harry, Charley, Billy and Nathaniel.

Studley Royal

Billy, Charley, Lawrence, Harry, Matthew and Nathaniel.

Entrance to Fountains Abbey grounds.

We seemed to be a little ahead of the main crowd entering Fountains Abbey grounds.

Lawrence, Aunty Stella and Billy.

Stella, Wayne and Alfie, Cecilia, Brad, Lee and Dawn.

One of the many pheasants we saw during our stay in England.

A mild winter's day looking more like autumn.

Olivia and her Mum, Cecilia.

Fountains Abbey.

Dissolution of the Monastries ordered by King Henry VIII included Fountains Abbey in 1539.

The ruins of Fountains Abbey.

Stella, Alfie, Olivia, Billy and my Mum.

At Fountains Abbey we had hot chocolate and played a world quiz on the iphone before the carols.

The Seven Bridge Walk:

After the carol service we walked home again, however, the middle part of the walk was a slightly different route known as the seven bridge walk.

Bridge 1 over the River Skell
Charley, Harry, Lawrence and Billy.

View from bridge 1.

Bridge 1 with Bill and Nathaniel having crossed and Matthew and Cecilia still on the bridge.

The fast flowing weir after bridge 1.

Bridge 2
Billy, Charley, Lawrence, Nathaniel and Matthew.

The three Menken boys on their way to bridge 3.

Bridge 4.

Billy with still lots of energy.

Bridge 5.

Bridge 6

Bridge 7 but we needed to remain this side of the river.

View of the Cathedral from the fields.

Another view of Ripon Cathedral.

Now back on the same path used on the outward bound journey.

Charley and Lawrence

Matthew and Uncle Bill

Enjoying a traditional Boxing Day lunch of pork pie, cold meats and salads.

All exhausted after our long trek.

Risk was a favourite game this Christmas.

Granny, Charley, Billy and Nathaniel with Harry and Matthew behind.