Earlier in the week I decided that on Thursday I’d head off to Fountains Abbey and have a walk, a bite to eat and be home early afternoon. Thursday dawned very frosty but the roads were fine and the car park almost empty when I arrived. I’ve posted several times about my visits to Fountains including here, here and here. But I visit many more times than I have posted – it is just such a beautiful place to walk and think and enjoy the views and the Georgian landscape and its follies.
Fountains Hall
Fountains Abbey Ruins
The Temple of Fame and Half Moon Lake
Surprise View from Anne Boleyn’s Seat
The Temple of Fame – all is not what it seems. The columns are just painted wood. 
The Octagon Tower
Studley Royal Water Gardens from The Octagon Tower Platform
The Canalized River Skell and Water Garden Statues
The Temple of Piety and Gardens
Banqueting House and Pheasants
I had a panini and tea at the Studley Tea Room before completing my walk through the Deer Park and past St Mary’s Church. As I drove away just after 1pm cars were circling the car parks in search of spaces.
miladysboudoir 
Lovely place. Lovely photographs. I suspect it’s at its best in the frosty stillness that you’ve caught — no people, no disturbance.
Thank you, Noel. Yes, it’s a good time to be there but, you know, once you are away from the main abbey ruins/visitor centre you can be pretty peaceful and fairly alone at most times.
Early bird…..stunning photos with no one else there, how glorious!
Well, not SO early it was 10ish when I got there! Happy New Year, Fran xx
Was going to say the same as Fran, might add that winter is a wonderful (and severly underrated) time for photography. Like the “surprise view” very much. And Fountains Hall reminds me a little of Montacute House in Somerset. Happy New Year (don’t forget to watch a certain DVD at 6.40 pm tomorrow) 🙂
Yes! very like Montacute and like all the rest of the site, very photogenic. Have you visited Fountains, QB? Aha! Must get the dvd out and on standby – but not sure I can I can stand the whole film!!! I have here in front of me a new book I bought in Bern before Christmas – 111 Orte auf Rügen die Man gesehen haben muss! Kennst du das? Roll on Summer 2017!! xx
Nein, das kenne ich nicht. Will ask my local bookshop to get it for me. Can you send ISBN number, please?
Beatiful Barbara! Me myself lay in bed with a heavy flue. 😂😂
So sorry to hear that, Monique :-(. Looking forward to seeing you in February, and thanks for your company in Ireland earlier this year xx
Just stunning. As Noel said above, you’ve captured the crystal stillness.
Thanks Sarah! Well, I now have an iPhone and the results are not at all bad. Happy new year to you and Vince. Hope it’s restful for you xx
Yes. I’ll email you shortly. By the way – I have DVD at the ready. Is that 6.40pm UK or German time? It is only 18 minutes … but it always seems like a lifetime!!!
Sorry, only found your comment today. Happy New Year! By 6.40 pm I meant UK time, but it doesn’t really matter. Did you watch it?
Happy New Year, and yes, I did watch but not at quite the prescribed time. I am still amazed how this film became such a popular feature of German New Years Eves.
[…] much closer to home than Fountains Abbey is the Harewood Estate. Just a few miles north of Leeds off the A61, Harrogate Road. I often take a […]
Lovely photos. Reminds me of my trip there on Boxing Day in 2013: https://visitinghousesandgardens.com/2014/02/24/studley-royal-water-gardens-fountains-abbey-yorkshire/
Thanks! Sooo photogenic. Happy New Year with lots of house and garden visits