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Bolton AbbeyBolton Priory, with its magnificent Priory church (still the Parish Church) and ruins in its gloriously beautiful riverside location, was once the home and workplace of Augustinian or Black Canons, whilst the village itself has assumed the more generalised name of Bolton Abbey. For centuries the village has been the focal point of the great hunting estate of the Dukes of Cumberland, and in more recent times the Dukes of Devonshire. The great Gateway to the Priory was converted more than two centuries ago into a handsome lodge where for generations Kings and Prime Ministers stayed when they came to Yorkshire in the grouse shooting season. The public have also long been warmly invited to enjoy Bolton Abbey Estate by the Trustees of the Chatsworth Estate. There are fine riverside and woodland walks, past the Cavendish Pavilion (refreshments) through the Strid Woods past the awesome Strid (a narrow rocky chasm through which the whole river flows with great force) to the great medieval hunting lodge of Barden Tower and perhaps on to Burnsall along the Dales Way. Strid Woods now offer a choice of waymarked nature and woodland trails, some suitable for people with disabilities. Keen walkers can follow paths across the Barden Fell Access area through the Valley of Desolation and up to Simon Seat returning via Howgill, Appletreewick or Burnsall, or even Grassington, onto Barden Moor as far as Rlystone, Cracoe, Embsay or Thorpe. Not only is Bolton Abbey easily accessible by bus throughout the week, and even by steam train at weekends (it is about a one mile walk from Bolton Abbey station by footpath), but the Wharfedale bus services allow you to follow the Dales Way path along the riverside upstream and return from a choice of places served by bus along the route. Public Transport Links: Buses: 74 (Ilkley - Grassington on weekdays), 800 (York - Leeds - Ilkley - Grassington - Hawes on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays), 874 (Ilkley - Grassington - Buckden on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays) and Cravenlink 884 (Ilkley - Skipton on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays) run to Bolton Abbey whilst X59 (Harrogate - Skipton on Mondays to Saturdays) runs to Devonshire Arms, Bolton Bridge (approx 0.5 mile from Bolton Abbey) Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway – 1 mile from village (link opens in new window) Bus times can be checked on the Dalesbus website (link opens in new window) Local Services: Pub, café, shops, toilets, Park Information Point (PIP) |
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