If you only had time to visit one, which would it be, Fountains or Rievaulx?

This may not be of much help as I've only visited Fountains Abbey, but I would say that Fountains is probably the most magical place I've ever been...and I'm not one to use the word "magical"! We'll be visiting both Abbey's in Sept, however, so I'll give you a review afterwards!

A recent NY Times Sophisticated Traveler magazine (sundays) had a great article on Fountains Abbey and Studeley Royal - the estate that surrounds Fountains Abbey - which, like above post, i found so serenly captivating - take the tour of the ruined abbey by the docents to really appreciate the ruins - learning such trivia as how the monks drank liters of ale each day to help their meditation, how the chapterhouse was where a chapter of the Bible was read each day, how the 'parlour' was the only room where the most cloistered monks could talk to others - from the French word 'parler', to speak and just a lot about the life of medievala monasteries. havn't been to Rivaux but setting of Fountains Abbey can't be beat. Walked their from Ripon, about four miles away - great walk thru woods and then Studeley Royal grounds - several lakes there, etc. Outstanding!

They are totally different experiences - and in a way I slightly prefer Rievaulx because less people are usually around and the amazing views from up on Rievaulx Terrace.

But for a first or only visit I think most folks would agree that Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal would be the better choice.

Thanks. I'm going in June, can't wait to see either of them.

I had that same decision to make a couple of years ago and chose Rievaulx based on looking at photos on line. Since I didn't get to Fountains Abbey I can't say for sure, but I did definitly enjoy Rievaulx Abbey. It was pleasantly un-crowded (in August) and situated in a cute little town. I have a couple of shots of it at: www.pbase.com/annforcier/england if you want to look at it.

We were at both in October last year.

We got to Rievaulx Abbey a little too late as they had just stopped selling admission from the day. So we didn't actually get to walk the grounds around the abbey, we could only admire it from the road. We have also been to Tinturn Abbey in Wales, and from what we could see, it would have been a similar experience -- the skeleton of the abbey with supporting buildings. We loved Tinturn Abbey, by the way.

Fountains Abbey - from a church standpoint - is similar, more complete but to me not as elegant a structure. The biggest difference to me, though, was the difference in environment. The drive to Rievaulx Abbey is fun (and also why we arrived late) and the town that it is in very different from the estate that Fountains Abbey is in.

If you are as much or more into gardens than architecture, go to Fountains Abbey, because you'll get both that way. If you're looking for a more rural experience, go to Rievaulx.

Hi
I live near Fountains Abbey, and have been to Rievaulx many times too.
From a practical point of view you need to pay TWICE to visit Rievaulx, once for the Terraces above the abbey that are in National Trust hands, and one for the abbey ruins themselves which I beleive are owned by English Heritage. Rievaulx is much quieter, less touristy, maybe more atmospheric? However.......Fountains Abbey is deservedly a World Heritage Site and you could easily spend a whole day here. For your entry fee to the Abbey you also get to see Fountains Hall, and Studley Royal Water Gardens, as well as a deer park, church, excellent Visitor Centre etc. www.fountainsabbey.org.uk is very good and has 'a day out at Fountains' which helps plan your day. Ripon, with it's wonderful Cathedral is close by - you can see it from the park around the Abbey.
May I muddy the waters further by mentioning Jervaulx Abbey!!(www.jervaulxabbey.com). Last time I was there my husband and I were the only visitors, it might not be in the same 'tourist' league as the other 2, but I love this place!
If you want an honest answer go to Fountains - more to see etc, and save Reivaulx and Jervaulx for your next trip to North Yorkshire!

Can both of these be visited in the same day, or would it be too rushed?

If you get a Great British Heritage Pass all of them (Fountains, Rievaulx, Rievaulx Terrace and Jervaulx) are covered.

Yes, it would be easy to do Fountains/Studley Royal and Rievaulx in one day. It would not be terribly rushed to include Jervaulx and Byland Abbey too.

And since all are covered by the GBHP it would be a very cheap day . . . . .

Thanks, janis. Where can I get one of those?

P_M: Is this for the same trip to B'ham next year? if so the GBHP will also cover Warwick Castle, all the Shakespeare properties in Stratford, Chatsworth, Castle Howard and MANY other places.

They are only sold to foreign visitors and you can get them before you leave home, or w/ your passport for ID at LHR or at a few of the covered sites once you are in the UK. I usually recommend you buy it ahead of time because you get the full color catalog with descriptions of the 600+ sites it covers.

You can get them from BritRail, RailEurope, or britishtravel.com do a websearch and you find lots of info . . . .

Janis, I now have 2 trips to the UK in the works, both this year and next. I will be going to England/Wales in May 2005 for 2 weeks, and just this week I found out I will be invited to a wedding in Birmingham next year. I would like to buy a pass now for my trip in May 2005, and maybe I'll get another one next year when I go to the wedding. I'll do a search and see if I can get one ASAP. Thanks.

There is a magic in roaming abbey ruins. We felt it at Rievaulx and also at Tinturn. Do I recall that they became ruins because Henry VIII, in his dispute with Rome, ordered the roofs of these monastic centers removed so they would eventually
fall into decay? Can anyone correctly pronounce Rievaulx...is it riv-au-loo?
Ozarks Bill

Rievaulx is pronounced Reeve Oh.
Honest!
M

And without trying to be picky it is spelt TINTERN (just in case anyone is trying to google it!!).
Henry V111 demanded many abbeys to close - all because of his passion for a woman whose head he had chopped off not that many years afterwards......
I agree that these places are atmospheric. As I live close to Fountains Abbey (8 miles away) we sometimes go to their autumn/winter late night openings when it is cold and dark, the abbey is floodlit and they play chants and hymns softly through hidden loudspeakers - it doesn't get much more atmospheric than that!
M

Oh Morgana, and I know I've written this before, J-E-A-L-O-U-S!!!! You live in heaven, I think!