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STUDLEY ROYAL

319 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritageWildlife
Public accessDogs welcome319 ha

About STUDLEY ROYAL

Studley Royal Park is an estate in North Yorkshire, England. The site has an area of 800 acres (323 ha) and includes an 18th-century landscaped garden; the ruins of Fountains Abbey; Fountains Hall, a Jacobean mansion; and the Victorian St Mary's church, designed by William Burges. Studley Royal House, around which the park and gardens were designed, burned down in 1946.

Read more on Wikipedia →
French formal gardenGrade I listed park and garden

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦73+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Jackdaw and Little Grebe
  • Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Parking· Paid

Best for

10 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Jackdaw, Little Grebe, Canada Goose +70 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Heritage

Grade I listed building: FOUNTAINS HALL; Historic site with public access

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Jackdaw, Little Grebe, Canada Goose +70 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Insect spotting

Priority ponds — dragonflies, damselflies and aquatic invertebrates; Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Darter +27 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants

Varies

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

18 signed routes nearby · 61 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Ripon Sanctuary WayWalking route16 km
Named routeLength 16 kmPoint-to-pointLocal walking route
Aislabie WalkWalking route27 km

Circular route between Studley Royal and Hackfall woods

Named routeLength 27 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Short Powered Mobility Vehicle Route, Fountains AbbeyWalking route

5 mobility scooters & 4 wheelchairs are available to hire, free of charge, at NT's Fountains Abbey. Book in advance on 01765 608888 and collect your mobility scooter or wheelchair from the West Gate entrance between 10.30am and 11.30am.

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
The Seven Bridges Valley Walk, Fountains AbbeyWalking route6.1 km

Take this circular walk to see a more rustic & beautiful side of the estate. Starting at the Lake outfall, this walk follows the meandering Skell river along the steep-sided valley via a series of delightful arched bridges, of which only five remain.

Named routeLength 6.1 kmDuration 01:30-02:00Round tripLocal walking route
Studley Royal Deer Park Walk, Fountains AbbeyWalking route4.8 km

Our deer ranger has picked this circular walk as one of his favourites within the Studley Royal deer park. Look out for some of the 300 wild deer that live there. Mostly flat parkland, some uneven ground, with height drops & deep running water.

Named routeLength 4.8 kmDuration 01:00Round tripLocal walking route
Rustic Bridgepublic footpath · 11 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 11 mSurface woodPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

42 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 67Cycling route
Named routeRef 67National Cycle Network
NCN Cycle Route 688Cycling route
Named routeRef 688National Cycle Network
National Byway (Yorkshire)Cycling route
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
National Byway (Ripon Loop)Cycling route
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Way of the Roses Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeRef WoRNational Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route27 m
Named routeRef 688Length 27 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

32 public paths nearby

Public paths
Whitcliffe Lanebridleway · 310 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 310 mSurface gravelPath type: track
Plumpton Lanebridleway · 107 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 107 mSurface asphaltPath type: service
Plumpton Lanebridleway · 633 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 633 mSurface compactedPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Ford at The Lake, Studley Royal

Ford at The Lake, Studley Royal

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