The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey will be held on Tuesday (December 26),

As in previous years, pilgrims who take part in the four-mile walk, starting from outside the Cathedral at 10.15am, will not have to pay to enter the World Heritage site.

An item about the pilgrimage in the events section of Ripon Cathedral’s website says:

“Please Note: Fountains Abbey is owned and managed by the National Trust and you may need to provide either proof of membership or pay an entrance fee to enter the abbey.”

However, on its website the National Trust, has confirmed that it is a free event for pilgrims and no prior booking is required.

For non-National Trust members, the standard admittance price for adults is £18 and £9 for children.

Prior to the start of the pilgrimage, pilgrims will be welcome to attend a Eucharist service in the cathedral at 9.30am

The walkers will follow in the footsteps of 13 monks who on a cold day in 1132, walked from Ripon to a completely deserted valley by the River Skell.

There they started their own community from nothing and Fountains Abbey was born.

The traditional event, which will conclude with a carol service in the awe-inspiring vaulted cellarium of the ruined abbey, has become a firm favourite in the cathedral’s Christmas calendar. In previous years it has attracted hundreds of pilgrims.

The Harrogate district could see gusts of up to 61mph as Storm Pia moves in tonight and tomorrow.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning from midnight tonight until 9pm tomorrow.

The forecast shows Pateley Bridge will see the worst of the storm, with gusts reaching 61mph in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Winds will reach 54mph in Masham, while Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon will see up to 50mph.

Disruption

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday on the disruption already caused by the wind throughout the Harrogate district — now another local attraction has followed suit.

The National Trust announced on social media today that Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, will also be closed tomorrow. It said:

“It’s already getting rather breezy here at Fountains. With wind speeds set to increase overnight and throughout tomorrow we’ve made the decision to close the site tomorrow, Thursday 21 December.

“We don’t like to disappoint anyone, but the safety of our visitors and team is always our top priority.”

The charity advised people to “check our social media channels and website” for updates.

It comes after Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough announced yesterday it will close tomorrow, while Harrogate’s RHS Garden Harlow Carr cancelled its Glow event amid the weather warning.

The weather warning is in place for the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Read more:

• Harrogate district attractions to close amid wind warning
• Kidnapped Forbidden Corner owner released after kidnapping

This week’s photograph was taken by Andy Graham, capturing the snow early Thursday morning at How Hill, Fountains Abbey

Andy Graham

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

This week’s photograph was taken by Douglas Young, capturing an Autumn scene at Fountains Abbey near Ripon.

Douglas Young

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

This story is sponsored by Grantley Hall

If you’re looking for a touch of magic this Christmas, Grantley Hall is on hand to make all your Christmas wishes come true.

As the most wonderful time of the year fast approaches, the five-star options on offer at the hotel will bring friends and families a taste of luxury and is just on the district’s doorstep.

From festive parties and Christmas lunches to festive afternoon tea and New Year celebrations, Christmas at Grantley Hall promises to be nothing short of perfection.

Festive Dining

Grantley Hall, better know as indulgence on our doorstep, will boast range of festive dining options to be enjoyed by locals and hotel guests this Christmas.

Whether you’re looking for a long lunch with friends or a seasonal afternoon tea with family, the hotel can guarantee you will leave with a belly full of Christmas spirit!

Why not kick-start December with a reservation at the festive champagne lunch on 2 December. This lunch combines a three-course lunch crafted by Grantley’s top chefs including a half bottle of Veuve Clicquot per person. Whilst enjoying the delightful food, a DJ and saxophonist will entertain.

From edible Christmas trees and chocolate reindeer to French fancies and glittering bauble cakes, the Festive Afternoon Tea will truly make you wish it was Christmas everyday.

Experience a magical Grantley Hall Christmas

Après at the Orchard

The Après alpine winter wonderland at the Orchard is reopening on 4 November. Dine in a cosy winter themed restaurant whilst enjoying the new menu as well as indulge in the Möet & Chandon champagne cocktails which have been created specifically to pair with the menu. Book to attend the spectacular launch event on 3 November.

The hughely popular Sunday sessions will be returning over the winter months.

Christmas Parties

Picture this: Champagne flowing, friends laughing and snowflakes glistening. Well, with Grantley Hall’s Christmas Parties, that can soon become a reality.

Who needs to travel when the Grantley Suite can become a magical winter wonderland?

With a private bar, dance floor and terrace area, up to 150 guests can dance the night away and celebrate the party season in style.

If that wasn’t enough, guests can expect a four-course dinner including Braised Blade of Limousin Beef and a Glazed Raspberry Délice in between the partying.

Let Grantley Hall work its magic and make it a Christmas to remember with their seasonal celebrations.

All Christmas bookings can be made now on Grantley Hall’s website or by emailing either dine@grantleyhall.co.uk or events@grantleyhall.co.uk.

New Year’s Eve Gala Ball

As a fairy Godmother once said: you will go to the ball.

Ditch the midnight countdown from your sofa and get your glad rags on, as the Grantley Hall New Year’s Eve Gala Ball fast approaches!

Expect an evening of exquisite food, including Dressed Crab and Yorkshire Salt Aged Beef Fillet, flowing drinks and only the happiest of memories.

This dazzling event will whisk you and your loved ones into 2024 with the sounds of a traditional pipes, a live firework display and even more bubbly at midnight.

Just a short taxi ride from Harrogate and Ripon, embrace the luxury on offer at Grantley Hall — after all, that level of enjoyment is hard to put a price on.

Celebrate the arrival of 2024 in style at the Grantley Hall New Year’s Eve House Party!

For those looking to go the extra mile this Christmas or New Year, Grantley Hall also offers two or three-night stays with its Christmas House Party and New Year House Party Packages — who says you have to travel far for ultimate grandeur?

The packages include five-star accommodation, food and spa access, with added bonuses of National Trust visits and entertainment.

So, whether you’re looking for a festive getaway, a family affair or just a good old knees up, Grantley Hall is guaranteed to bring you and your loved ones a Christmas or New Year that is nothing short of perfection.

Find out more about the packages or non-residential options available at Grantley Hall at grantleyhall.co.uk

Work is needed to repair two walls in the lake at Studley Royal near Ripon that are at risk collapsing into the water.

Studley Royal is a water garden and has pools, canals and cascades fed from the River Skell.

The National Trust, which owns the site, has submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to repair walls that form part of the weir on the north-east side of the lake. They would be fixed with re-used stone to maintain the historic appearance.

The park was laid out in the 18th century by John Aislabie and was extended later by his son to encompass the medieval Fountains Abbey ruin and other elements of the surrounding landscape.

The plans have been backed by Historic England but it said the works must be done in an “appropriately sensitive manner”.

Planning documents submitted by the National Trust said:

“Following construction of the scheme the flanking walls will be visually improved compared to present, although it will take time before the works weather in.

“The repair works will also serve to protect the weir and cascade outlet from future erosion damage.

“The works are considered to have a minor positive impact on the weir and cascade outlet and Studley Royal Park as a whole.”

One of the damaged walls.

In August, the National Trust revealed £3.5 million plans to improve the UNESCO World Heritage Site, including offering revamped visitor facilities.

The plan called Studley Revealed focuses on the water garden area of the estate and the canal gates area. It will remake landscape features that were at the heart of the original 18th century garden design.

The plans would also see the creation of new welcome and visitor facilities. They would include accessible toilets, a larger café and a space to bring the story of the Water Garden alive.

Justin Scully, general manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:

“The Studley Revealed project is an exciting part of the ongoing conservation of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal World Heritage Site. It has long been our ambition to improve the appearance of this area of the site and how visitors experience it.

“Crucially, it means we can create a place for our visitors to learn more about the fascinating history of Studley Royal, its international significance and our role in caring for it, whilst simultaneously having a more enjoyable and accessible experience.”

Read more:

• Council hires West Yorkshire company to clean Ripon toilets amid staffing issues
• National Trust submits major £3.5m Fountains Abbey improvement plan

The Yorkshire Kardashians ventured to Harrogate for a “reet posh” weekend away in a recent social media video.

The creator of the videos, Steff Todd, shares the lives of the northern characters on Facebook and Instagram – from being banned from Amber Cars to family trips t’Asda.

The video follows the Kar-Jenner clan on their jollies as they explore all the town has to offer, including a day at the Great Yorkshire Show and two-for-one cocktails at The Yorkshire Hotel – all thanks to a Groupon deal.

The newlywed Kourtney and Travis Barker are pictured ice-cream-in hand outside the Black Sheep Bar at the showground, while ‘momager’ Kris Jenner is heckling Emmerdale’s Paddy Kirk in the sheep ring with repeated ‘ey-up Paddy’s!’

Kylie and Kendall Jenner are then seen walking a multitude of dogs in the town complaining about their mother ‘getting half-cut at Fountains Abbey’ and planning their ‘cocktails with the lasses’ later that day.

The family even swoon over a house near Risplith as ‘it looks like the Omaze house’, which Kris reassures Khloe she “put a tenner on to win last night, lass”.

As their weekend continues, the family prepare for the main event: two-for-one cocktails at the “reet posh place”, the Yorkshire Hotel. Although, not before Kourtney asks the hotel staff if there’s a vending machine nearby for her husband is “right hungry”.

When speaking to a friend who has recently moved to Harrogate, eldest Kourtney adds:

“So, you live in ‘ere in Harrogate? Flippin ‘ell…you’ve done well, haven’t you?”

The family bring their Harrogate weekend to a close with a trip to Bettys, where they have a “stunning view, even with the roadworks overlooking the war memorial and a glass of Prosecco in hand”.

The light-hearted video shows Harrogate in all its glory, with shots of the town centre, the Stray and villages across the district.

Comedian and impressionist Steff Todd told the Stray Ferret she began her Kardashian videos in lockdown, when she decided to combine Kylie Jenner with a Yorkshire accent.

The fictitious characters have also travelled to York, Ilkley Moor and Whitby.

The Harrogate video has amassed nearly 40,000 likes on social media.

Read more:

• Children’s presenter George Webster to sign books on return to Washburn
• Grammy-winning DJ Calvin Harris spotted by fans at Wetherby Services

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage was in Nidderdale yesterday to unveil one of his poems carved into stones at Brimham Rocks.

Simon Armitage, who has been Poet Laureate since 2019, composed Balancing Act based on the popular Nidderdale attraction. The work was commissioned by the National Trust. 

Within the poem, the Yorkshire-born poet illustrates why the rocks are such a significant spot for both visitors and nature.

Two large stones – which double-up as an art installation – each showcase a verse of the poem. They have been positioned at Brimham on the north moor,  next to the rocks to offer a place of reflection and serenity.

The poem was carved by the National Trust’s lead specialist craftsperson, Richard Dawson, into Yorkshire sandstone called Witton Fell.

The stone was chosen because its colour and texture is representative of Brimham’s stone formations.

Pic: National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

Read More:

• Where to see Open Gardens in the Harrogate district
• Plans rejected for 20 homes and 12 glamping pods in Nidderdale

Mr Armitage said:

“It was a chance to get reacquainted with the rocks. I’d explored them as a child and in my memory, they were almost mythical or pieces of an alien landscape.

“Coming back to the area as an adult and a poet they were no less fascinating and mysterious but carried new messages connected to the environment, the precarious state of nature and the importance of wild spaces to our well-being.”

Brimham Rocks has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The status, attributed by Natural England, is used to protect environmental heritage sites in the British Isles from development, insensitive land management, or pollution.

Pic: National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

Mr Armitage continued:

“I also discovered that Brimham Rocks is more than just the stones, and the poem is a celebration of the wider ecosystem, from some of its more glamorous and obvious manifestations to micro-organisms, open moorland, and seemingly empty skies.”

Justin Scully, general manager at Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and to have a physical representation of his poem Balancing Act as a permanent art installation on the moor at Brimham.

“We want to make Brimham Rocks feel more relevant to people and their everyday lives. We want it to be a place of reflection and inspiration, where visitors can come and spend some quiet time connecting with nature as well as a place where they come to climb, hike and play.”

More information on the poem and other ongoing events at Brimham Rocks can be found here.

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.