Thornton Abbey Augustinian monastery: gatehouse, precinct, medieval road and bridge, moat, fishponds, post-Dissolution college and school, and house 31 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🌿 Foraging
Free entry Dogs welcome 31 ha
Getting here
53.65546, -0.31070
Open directionsv ✦ Scheduled Ancient Monument — Nationally protected archaeological site on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). Scheduled monuments represent the best surviving examples of England's irreplaceable archaeological heritage.
Abbey scheduled monument c. 1101
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 34+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Grey Heron and Lapwing 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🐦 34+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Grey Heron and Lapwing 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcomeBirds — Grey Heron, Lapwing, Little Egret +31 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Strong match
Birds — Grey Heron, Lapwing, Little Egret +31 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants
Varies
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Ground-ivy, Bristly Oxtongue, Hogweed +74 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Traditional orchard — specialist orchard insects and lichens; Insects — Lesser Stag Beetle, Tigress Sawflies, Anisodactylus binotatus +2 more · last seen 2024
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Nev Cole Way Walking route 93 km ▾
Named route Length 93 km Regional walking route
Show on map Photos Thornton Abbey Chapter House
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Wildlife to spot
1,666 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 1,666 records · National Biodiversity Network Grey Heron · Lapwing · Little Egret · Mute Swan · Stock Dove +29
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2023 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2024 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2024 Stock Dove Columba oenas2023 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2023 Curlew Numenius arquata2022 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2022 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2022 Rook Corvus frugilegus2022 Robin Erithacus rubecula2022 Dunnock Prunella modularis House Sparrow Passer domesticus2022 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2022 Tawny Owl Strix aluco2022 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2022 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2022 White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus2022 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2022 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix2022 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2021 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2021 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2021 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2021 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2021 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2021 Coot Fulica atra2021 Great Tit Parus major2021 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2021 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2021 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2021 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2021 Magpie Pica pica2021 Blackbird Turdus merula2021 Nathusius's Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
spring
2024 ▾
Salamanders, Sirens and Newts
Salamanders, Sirens and Newts Caudata 🐝 Insects 5 species
spring summer autumn
2024 ▾
Lesser Stag Beetle · Tigress Sawflies · Anisodactylus binotatus · Mesembrina meridiana · Green Shieldbug
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Tigress Sawflies Athalia2022 Anisodactylus binotatus Anisodactylus binotatus2022 Mesembrina meridiana Mesembrina meridiana2021 Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Ground-ivy · Bristly Oxtongue · Hogweed · Ash · Herb-Robert +72
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Ash Fraxinus excelsior Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 1,666 records · National Biodiversity Network Grey Heron · Lapwing · Little Egret · Mute Swan · Stock Dove +29
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2023 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2024 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2024 Stock Dove Columba oenas2023 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2023 Curlew Numenius arquata2022 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2022 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2022 Rook Corvus frugilegus2022 Robin Erithacus rubecula2022 Dunnock Prunella modularis House Sparrow Passer domesticus2022 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2022 Tawny Owl Strix aluco2022 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2022 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2022 White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus2022 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2022 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix2022 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2021 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2021 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2021 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2021 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2021 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2021 Coot Fulica atra2021 Great Tit Parus major2021 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2021 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2021 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2021 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2021 Magpie Pica pica2021 Blackbird Turdus merula2021 Nathusius's Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
spring
2024 ▾
Salamanders, Sirens and Newts
Salamanders, Sirens and Newts Caudata 🐝 Insects 5 species
spring summer autumn
2024 ▾
Lesser Stag Beetle · Tigress Sawflies · Anisodactylus binotatus · Mesembrina meridiana · Green Shieldbug
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Tigress Sawflies Athalia2022 Anisodactylus binotatus Anisodactylus binotatus2022 Mesembrina meridiana Mesembrina meridiana2021 Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Ground-ivy · Bristly Oxtongue · Hogweed · Ash · Herb-Robert +72
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Ash Fraxinus excelsior Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2020
2020
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Holly Ilex aquifolium
Holly Ilex aquifolium
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum
Common Chickweed Stellaria media
Common Chickweed Stellaria media
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Elder Sambucus nigra
Elder Sambucus nigra
Daisy Bellis perennis
Daisy Bellis perennis
Ivy Hedera helix
Ivy Hedera helix
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Common Reed Phragmites australis
Common Reed Phragmites australis
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus
Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus
Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris
Hart's-Tongue Asplenium scolopendrium
Hart's-Tongue Asplenium scolopendrium
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima
Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
Mind-your-own-business Soleirolia soleirolii
Mind-your-own-business Soleirolia soleirolii
Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea
Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea
Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum
Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Hazel Corylus avellana
Hazel Corylus avellana
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Thuja Thuja
Thuja Thuja
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Dandelion Taraxacum
Dandelion Taraxacum
Hard Rush Juncus inflexus
Hard Rush Juncus inflexus
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica
Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum
Spotted Dead-nettle Lamium maculatum
Spotted Dead-nettle Lamium maculatum
Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia
Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum
Fodder Burnet Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum
Fodder Burnet Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum
Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Greater Periwinkle Vinca major
Greater Periwinkle Vinca major
Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyris
Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyris
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera
Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis
Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis
Primrose Primula vulgaris2023
Primrose Primula vulgaris2023
White Willow Salix alba2019
White Willow Salix alba2019
Elymus repens subsp. repens f. repens Elymus repens subsp. repens f. repens2019
Elymus repens subsp. repens f. repens Elymus repens subsp. repens f. repens2019
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris2019
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris2019
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus2019
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus2019
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2019
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2019
Beet Beta vulgaris2019
Beet Beta vulgaris2019
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus2019
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus2019
Common Orache Atriplex patula2019
Common Orache Atriplex patula2019
Small Nettle Urtica urens2019
Small Nettle Urtica urens2019 Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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