Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
This location has over 800 acres of land to explore, the main attraction being the ruins of a Cistercian Ab- bey, Fountains, which is a stunning place to end up; running through the cloisters or hiding in the store rooms provides fun for everyone! However the grounds provide a lovely walk past a variety of temples and towers, giving you stunning views over the lakes and landscapes at every turn- the most stunning (in my opinion) be- ing at Anne Boleyn’s Seat, about half way through the walk. You’ll also run into some deer along the way, which is a lovely sight! Perfect for a different day out, remember your camera and wear sensible shoes- the walk can be quite hilly!
Price: Adult £7.70 or free if you have a national trust card
How to get there: You can get the bus from Ripon town centre or it’s roughly an hours’ drive along the A59.
Castle Howard
This is a truly beautiful day out – not only is the stately home absolutely stunning but the grounds are also perfect for a walk around. It was built between 1699 and 1712 by Sir John Vanbrugh, and is famed for being the home used in ‘Brideshead Revisited’. Both the exterior and interior of the building is breathtaking; with the grand decor, beautiful William Mor-
ris wallpaper and the eclectic mix of paintings, sculpture and porcelain in already extravagant rooms is a fantastic sight! The outside is just as striking, with small temples and statues popping up over the landscape at every turn, as well a wide range of different gardens, and the odd peacock popping over to see you too!
Price: £10.50 Student ticket (trust us- it is worth it!)
How to get there: Either a half hour drive down the A64, or a train or Coastliner bus to Malton and a taxi to Castle Howard- which ever route you take, look out for that first view up the drive way, truly spectacular!
Whitby
We might be heading into anoth- er cold, dark winter but Whit- by’s charm is a must, even if fish and chips on the beach is a bit bracing! The cobbled streets and picturesque ruins of Whitby Ab- bey are stunning. As the setting for the book ‘Dracula’, Whitby is the proud host of ‘Whitby Gothic Weekend’, a biannual weekend for which Goths from across the world migrate to Whitby, for events such as charity football matches and special markets. Whitby has enough culture and things to do to make it an ideal destination with the parents but is also pretty and fun enough to be worth the train ticket and have a housemates’ day out.
How to get there: About an hours drive or get a train from York changing at Middlesbrough
Sculpture Park
Not just for sculpture-lovers, this park is brilliant for people who are craving a walk and the countryside, or those that just want photos of as many different ways to pose with sculptures as possible. My personal favourite sculpture is ‘The Playground’, a walkway which makes noises as you cross it; the sound of applause or jeers of football matches. Besides the more novel works, many famous sculptors are represented there; such as Hepworth, Frink and Moore with some of their best pieces. Although slightly awkward for those reliant on public transport it is definitely worth it and the best place I have visited near York.
Price: FREE
How to get there: You can get the train from York to Wakefield Westgate, and then get a taxi (roughly £10), or a 50 minute drive down the A64.