Rosedale Abbey lies on the valley floor beside the River Seven. Its priory heritage and walking trails give a stay two clear focal points; the routes also vary in length and type. You should also take the seasonal visiting conditions for individual attractions into account when planning your trip.
Priory History and Contemporary Glass
The priory was founded before 1158 by Cistercians under the patronage of William of Rosedale. A 13th-century buttress with a staircase survives among the Priory Remains. The Church of St Mary and St Laurence was built in 1839 to replace a 14th-century priory chapel. The medieval priory remains and the later church building therefore have a clear chronological connection.
Stephen Gillies and Kate Jones have been making contemporary glass in Rosedale Abbey since 1995. At Gillies Jones Studio, you can buy their work and occasionally watch Stephen Gillies blowing glass in the hot glass workshop. Visiting hours are seasonal and may change; check them before your visit.
Valley Views and Walking Trails
From Rosedale Abbey, views open out across a valley enclosed by a dramatic U-shaped moorland ridge and encompassing a mosaic of fields. The rare ring ouzel is also associated with the ironstone mining remains in Rosedale, which have been reclaimed by nature.
The Rosedale Walk is a 7½-mile (12 km) circular route that starts and finishes at the village green. On the way back, it follows the old railway line past the ruins of the historic calcining kilns. Check current path conditions before setting out. The approximately six-mile Hanging Stones Walk is also a circular route, starting and finishing at the Milburn Arms. It is currently fully booked, and the booking system is temporarily out of service; check again before planning to see whether booking availability has changed. The Rosedale Mineral Railway Easy Access Walk is shorter and linear: it is 1¼ miles (2 km) long and starts and finishes at Chimney Bank car park.
Golf, Events and Getting There
Rosedale Abbey Golf Course is a relaxed 9-hole pay-and-play course. Membership is not required; visitors are welcome during the season. The annual Rosedale Show is held at Milburn Arms Field in Rosedale Abbey. Livestock, local produce, arts and crafts, and vintage tractors are part of the programme; individual elements may vary from one edition to the next. Check the details for the relevant edition if you want to time your trip to coincide with the event.
Parking is available around the village green and at Bank Top. As regulations may change, check current parking conditions before your visit. On Mondays, bus 173 connects Rosedale Abbey with Pickering via Ryedale Community Transport. Check current operating days before setting off.
Cheese and Goat Farming
Discover more destinations: Skipton, Redmire, Newton-Le-Willows, Bainbridge, Thornton-le-Moor, Staithes, Cloughton, Birstwith.
For the broader travel overview: North Yorkshire.
