Our plans for walking on this trip had been thoroughly thwarted by the intense French fires, but the Yorkshire Dales finally gave us our chance. We set off for a short walk around Jervaulx Abbey, and just as we parked the car, we bumped into Ian Burdon - the current owner of the abbey and its surrounding 350 acres of land.
We stopped for a chat… because of course we did!
His father, Major W. V. Burdon, bought the abbey and land back in 1971. When the Major died in 1980, the estate was inherited by his eldest son, Rae. But really, who wants to inherit a crumbling 12th-century Cistercian abbey ruin? Rae certainly didn't. Luckily, Ian did. He bought out his brother and has spent the decades since managing and preserving the site.
Bravo, Ian!
With the abbey’s history fresh in our minds, we set off on our six-mile walk, wandering past sleepy sheep, ancient stone bridges, a fair few stiles, and sweeping farmer's fields. A bloody brilliant day..png)
A brilliant day indeed!
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