Yorkshire’s famed for many things, and its beautiful Dales and Moors are home to a host of spectacular views.
And now two very special jewels of Yorkshire’s crown have been named the first and second Most Romantic Ruins in the country in a poll in this month’s Countryfile magazine.
Top of the pile is Whitby Abbey, the magnificent gothic ruin overlooking one of the UK’s favourite seaside towns. As the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the remains of Whitby Abbey are perched on a cliff high above Whitby at the top of 199 famous steps.
Founded in 657, the Abbey has a magnificent wealth of history, including being the spot where the method of calculating Easter in the Roman church was devised in 664.
And as if first place in the Top 10 Romantic Ruins wasn’t enough, a Yorkshire ruin also came in second – Fountains Abbey, which fell victim to Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, and yet as the UK’s largest abbey ruins, it retains a real majesty and ability to awe all who see it.
Lying in the beautiful grounds of the Studley Royal Water Gardens, and with UNESCO World Heritage status, Fountains Abbey is a must-see.
For accommodation in Whitby for Whitby Abbey, or accommodation in Ripon for Fountains Abbey, check out Hello Yorkshire.