Yorkshire Castles Abbeys Minsters York Minster Fountains Abbey Conisbrough Castle

Yorkshire Castles - Conisbrough, Richmond, Helmsley, Skipton, York, Scarborough

North Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Moors Castles include the dramatic ruins of Helmsley's late 12th/early 13th century castle. The castle has seen some battles in its time. To the South of the North York Moors at Pickering you'll find the 12th century motte and bailey Pickering Castle. Pickering Castle stands out as a particularly fine example of a motte and bailey castle. Considerable sections have survived, including the keep, towers and walls.

York Castle Museum started life as a prison, and indeed some of the building's prison history is given due attention in exhibits. This includes exhibits on the museum's most famous prisoner Dick Turpin who was eventually hanged in 1739. Named after the former York Castle built by William the Conqueror which once stood here, York Castle Museum is a superb family attraction.

The oldest of the stone built Norman Castles in Britain, Richmond Castle in Richmond North Yorkshire on the edge of the Dales is a mighty affair and remarkably intact, particularly the impressive 100ft keep. Strategically placed on the promentory (or riche-mont Norman for strong hill from which the town derives its name), building work began soon after the conquest of 1066 in 1071 and was personally supervised by fellow kinsman of William the Conqueror Alan Rufus. Skipton Castle in the South Yorkshire Dales is a medieval castle. Preserved despite its three year onslaught during the English Civil War! The castle tour takes you through the medieval kitchen, banqueting hall, bedchamber and privy - Skipton Castle offers a superb insight into what life was like in a medieval castle. Other castles in the Yorkshire Dales include Middleham Castle and Bolton Castle near Leyburn and Ripley Castle near Harrogate (webguides right for details).

Moving to the Yorkshire Coast, Scarborough's distinctive headland straddled by South Bay and North Bay is the magnificent site of Scarborough castle. A natural site for defence and settlement, with sheer drops either side of the headland, Scarborough castle endured two major sieges during the Civil War and from the 1650s it was put to use as a prison and barracks. It saw further fortifications in the mid 1700s to ward against Jacobite attack however Scarborough harbour was penetrated when it came under attack by American John Paul Jones in 1779. For spectacular views over Scarborough's two bays - climbing up to the castle high on the headland is a highlight of any visit to Scarborough. South and West Yorkshire boast a selection of fine castles at Pontefract, Sandal and Conisbrough. Conisbrough Castle, one of the UK's finest Norman Castles, dates from 1180, and is famous for its association with Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Ivanhoe'. This site high up on a hill was the base of a castle as far back as 1066. The current cylindrical keep is thought to date around 1180, with other buildings around the bailey dating in the 13th century.

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Yorkshire Abbeys - Fountains Abbey, Whitby Abbey, Rievaulx, Byland, Selby, Easby & Bolton Abbey

Situated high on the cliff east of Whitby town centre, the ruins of Whitby Abbey are the town's iconic emblem. Although the first Abbey recorded here was in 657 AD, which originally contained the shrine of St Hilda, the founder of the Abbey and Northumbrian royal who died in 680 AD, the ruins you see today date from around 1220 AD. Whitby Abbey is particularly renowned for its links with the first of the Saxon poets - Caedmon who lived and worked here. Find out more in the abbey's visitor centre. The ruins of two spectacular abbeys are within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, both supervised by English Heritage. Rievaulx Abbey sits just to the north west of Helmsley whilst Byland sits to the south west on the edge of the Howardian Hills. Founded in 1132 by St Bernard of Clairvaux who initially brought just 12 monks with him, the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, once one of England's richest monasteries, is one of the most impressive in the UK. Within easy reach of Rievaulx Abbey, Byland Abbey was another of the great northern Cistercian abbeys and like Rievaulx its ruins are impressive. Much of the 13th century west side has survived, but the style is different to Rievaulx. Byland Abbey was one of the first abbeys to be built in a gothic style.

Highly recommended is the Drummer Boy walk from Richmond North Yorkshire on the edge of the Dales to Easby or St Agathas Abbey and Church ruins. Positioned on the banks of the Swale, Easby Abbey was founded by the Premonstratensian monks in 1152. The monks were commonly known as the 'White Monks', a reference to their distinctive white robes. The original 7th century Easby Cross was only discovered in the walls of the church in the 20th century. Just a mere 14 miles south of York sits attractive Selby and the spectacular Norman Selby Abbey. Selby Abbey's history dates as far back as York Minster. Actually its history is slightly older than the York Minster you see today. In 1068 King Henry I of England is thought to have been born at Selby Abbey and Selby Abbey ranks as the first monastery (Benedictine) in the North to be founded after the Norman conquest.

The most complete Cistercian Abbey remains in the UK, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden is a World Heritage site and a spiritual place of outstanding beauty in the East Yorkshire Dales. One of the National Trust's most popular historic visitor attractions, Fountains Abbey was founded as early as 1132 and grew into an important Cistercian Order. Studley Royal Water Garden is more recent dating from 1718 and largely the work of onetime Tory MP for Ripon John Aislabie.

The 12th century Bolton Abbey Priory ruins near Skipton in the South Dales are just one of the spectacular sights within the 30,000 acre estate of Bolton Abbey. Situated alongside the River Wharfe (which offers great opportunities for fly fishing), Bolton Abbey is a huge greenspace with numerous walking trails and riverside paths.

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Yorkshire Minsters - York Minster, Ripon, Beverley, Rotherham, Dewsbury & Doncaster Minster

York Minster is the largest gothic styled cathedral in Northern Europe and easily one of the world's most impressive. From the intricate gothic carvings of the Chapter House to one of the world's best feasts of stained glass, any visit to York Minster demands several hours. The construction of the York Minster you see today began in 1220, and continued for around 250 years. Ripon Cathedral, originally a Minster until 1836, is as spectacular in its way to York Minster. Public access inside the cathedral is allowed. A particular feature of interest is the crypt of the original church which stood here (AD. 672).

York is not the only Minster town in Yorkshire - Beverley Minster towers (literally in its stunning two towers) over the town with its spectacular medieval architecture. Founded by St John of Beverley, the current building dates back to 1220. The style is Gothic again, similar to York Minster and has the distinctive gothic arches, naves and in addition stone and wooden carvings.

Dewsbury's Minster history stretches as far back as AD627 when it is believed Paulinus, the first Bishop of York, preached here at the crossing point on the River Calder. Paulinus had travelled across from Rome soon after Augustine had arrived at Canterbury, accompanying Queen Ethelberga of Kent as she came north for her marriage to Pagan King Edwin of Northumbria. Dewsbury Minster and Paulinus then sit at the very epicentre of the growth and resurgence of Christianity in the North of England in the Anglo Saxon period. The on-site heritage centre within Dewsbury Minster displays remains of a vast Saxon stone cross dating from AD850 which stood here on the Dewsbury Minster site alongside other examples of rare stone carvings. As recently as 1992 the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service discovered Saxon Stonework in the Worship area of Dewsbury Minster dating from circa 980, evidence again of the importance of the Dewsbury church. A complete history of the building of Dewsbury Minster and of Paulinus is via the Dewsbury Minster website link right and the Heritage Centre and a visit to this most historic Yorkshire Minster, which is now Grade II listed, is not to be missed.

South Yorkshire contains two of the county's most stunning Minsters. Doncaster Minster dates from 1858 and is the work of architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Doncaster Minster is Victorian Gothic architecture at its most striking. Move inside the minster to view the mighty Doncaster Schulze organ, a technical marvel of its Victorian day. Rotherham's 15th century medieval Minster is a striking perpendicular church and its spire pushes up 180ft, with additional 7ft weathervane atop. Extensively renovated during the late 1800s, a highlight within Rotherham Minster is the 15th century Chancel stalls. Depictions of the common medieval Green Man face can be seen within some of the carvings.

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