Jervaulx Abbey.

The way in!

I don't know about you, but I love visiting old buildings and ruins. Generally, however, one becomes aware that everything is overly sanitised and safe......as though a team of health and safety nazis have rampaged around putting up cordons and notices and spraying 'eau de national trust gift shoppe' in the air. Well, a perfect antidote is Jervaulx abbey, where wild flowers cascade all over, sheep graze amongst the ruins and one pays in an honesty box and is not issued with tickets and passwords to retain for inspection by hysterical tweed clad women who are taking out their mid life crisis on the public. It is also near the Blue Lion in East Witton, which is a wonderful reason to go.