Bolton wander

BOLTON Abbey is perhaps Wharfedale's most famous landmark, however, strictly speaking this name relates only to the attractive village adjacent to the ruins of Bolton Priory.

In 1154, Lady Alice de Romille gave a group of Augustinian Canons land beside the River Wharfe to establish a monastic church as an expression, it is said, of her grief at the death of her son who drowned in The Strid.

The 'Black Canons' followed a strict religious life of poverty, chastity, obedience and prayer. They also served as parish priests and offered hospitality to travellers and alms to the poor.

In its heyday, Bolton Priory was a large, well-organised and wealthy monastic estate with sheep granges, lead mines and corn mills administered by 26 canons and 200 lay workers.

After its Dissolution in 1539, the estates were sold to the powerful Clifford family of Skipton Castle, from where it descended through marriage to William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, in 1748.

The 13th century nave of the former priory continued to be used as the parish church although the West Tower, which was begun in 1520, was left unfinished and still slightly obscures the beautiful 13th century west front of the priory. There is much to explore here with the foundations of the monastic priory buildings still clearly visible to the south of the church.

Bolton Priory is set in wonderful countryside with the River Wharfe gently flowing through pastures beneath steep banks cloaked in ancient woodland from where there are picture-postcard views of the priory ruins through the trees.

Early into this walk, you pass the Cavendish Memorial Fountain that was built to commemorate Lord Frederick, Chief Secretary to Ireland and son of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, who was assassinated in Phoenix Park, Dublin in 1882, only 12 hours after his arrival in Dublin.

Mark Reid is author of The Inn Way and Town Trails series; www.innway.co.uk

Directions

1. From the Cavendish Pavilion, head back along the driveway, over a cattle grid after which bear left along the riverside road (with the River Wharfe on your left) that leads through the parking area. At the end of the driveway and parking area a gravel path leads on to quickly reach a kissing gate, after which follow the clear path across a field then up some steps that lead to the road beside the Cavendish Memorial Fountain.

2. Turn left along the road-side footpath then head through a gate that leads into the churchyard of Bolton Priory (Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert). Head straight on passing the main West Door then bear to the left across the ruins of the Priory down to join a clear riverside path beside a footbridge and stepping stones. Turn right along this clear gravel path, however, almost immediately bear off to the left along a grassy riverside path that leads to a stile. Follow the riverside path straight on across fields to reach a road just to the right of Bolton Bridge across the River Wharfe.

3. Turn left along the road, over Bolton Bridge then take the enclosed footpath to the left (signpost 'footpath to Priory Footbridge') just before Red Lion Farm. The enclosed path soon leads to a stile, after which head straight on across the field to quickly join the river (and fence) on your left. Follow the clear path gently rising up a small bank (still with the fence and river on your left) to reach a stile. Head over the stile and carry on straight along the top of the bank to join a track, which you follow down to river-level.

4. A clear path now leads across flat pastures through gates heading towards Bolton Priory in the distance. At the end of these pastures you cross a small footbridge over a side-stream and then a stile, after which follow the footpath up the bank ahead, keeping close to the fence on your left, up to run along the top of a steep wooded bank that leads to a stile beside a gate. After the gate, head left alongside the fence on your left then turn left along an enclosed footpath to a stile (superb views of Bolton Priory through the trees). After the stile, follow the clear stony path to the right along the top of the bank to quickly reach a junction of paths (signpost 'Bolton Priory'), where you head left down to reach a junction with another path.

5. At this junction, take the grassy path down to the right that heads across pastures to join a clear riverside path that leads on to a stile. Follow the clear stony path through the woods, with the River Wharfe on your left, then climb up through the woods to join another path coming in from your right - follow this clear undulating path to the left meandering high above the river through the woods to eventually join a road.

6. Turn left along the road, down over a ford then turn left (signpost 'Cavendish Pavilion') along a footpath that leads down over a stile beside a gate then on along a clear riverside path to reach the Wooden Bridge. Turn left over the bridge back to the Cavendish Pavilion.

Fact File

Distance: 4 miles

Time: Two hours

Start: Cavendish Pavilion, Bolton Abbey

Date walked: Friday, July 4 2003

Maps: OS Explorer 297, Lower Wharfedale

Terrain: Clear riverside and woodland paths

Parking: Large car park beside the River Wharfe at the Cavendish Pavilion (small admission fee)

Toilets: Cavendish Pavilion

Refreshments: Cavendish Pavilion, also Tea Rooms and the Devonshire Arms Hotel at Bolton Bridge.

Tourist information: Skipton Tourist Information: 01756 792809

How to get there: Turn off from the A59 Harrogate to Skipton road at Bolton Bridge along the B6160, and follow this road up through Bolton Abbey village then turn off to the right just after the Cavendish Memorial down to reach the Cavendish Pavilion.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:35 Saturday, July 12, 2003