Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near to the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 407 years becoming one of the wealthiest monasteries in England until its dissolution in 1539 under the order of Henry VIII. The abbey is a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust and part of the designated Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a dispute and riot in 1132 at
Cistercian Way (Wales) the coast and the hinterland of Wales, incorporating Conwy, Basingwerk Abbey, Valle Crucis and Strata Marcella abbeys, Abbeycwmhir, Grace Dieu, Tintern Abbey, Neath Abbey, Whitland, Strata Florida and Cymer Abbey. It connects to many of Wales’s other long-distance paths. The Coed Morgannwg Way and Saint Illtyd's Walk have terminus points near Margam Abbey. At Tenby one can take a boat over to the current Cistercian monastery on Caldey Island and access the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The Monks' Trod in Mid Wales links Strata Florida Abbey in Ceredigion to Cwmhir Abbey to the east. Cistercian Way (Wales) The Cistercian Way is