192
Above The splendid Gothic east gable of
Gisborough PrioryBACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
9 Gisborough Priory
North Yorks; TS14 6HG
Little remains of this 14th-century
Augustine monastery (closed Mon, Tue),
but the towering skeleton of the
eastern gable gives an idea of what
a masterpiece the building must
have been. Founded in AD 1119 by
the Bruce family, who became kings
of Scotland, the priory was twice
rebuilt. After the Dissolution of the
Monasteries under Henry VIII, the
priory was acquired by the Chaloner
family, who created a magnificent
garden on the site. Volunteers are
working to restore it as a public space.
In summer, plays are staged here.
ª Go west on the Middlesborough
Road (A171), then left on the A173 to
Great Ayton.Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150WHERE TO STAYAROUND GISBOROUGH PRIORY
King’s Head moderate
Award-winning B&B comprising two
adjoining 17th-century cottages at the
foot of Roseberry Topping. Eight ensuite
rooms. Breakfast of local bacon, black
pudding, sausages and Whitby kippers.
The Green, Newton-under-Roseberry
TS9 6QR; 8 km (5 miles) on A171
and A173; 01642 722 318;
http://www.kingsheadhotel.co.uk
AROUND HELMSLEY
Pheasant Hotel moderate
Family-run country hotel in quiet
village setting 5 km (3 miles) southeast
of Helmsley. Twelve ensuite rooms
have picturesque views of the village
pond, deer park or walled garden.
Harome, Helmsley YO62 5JG; 01439
771 241; http://www.thepheasanthotel.comThe Dissolution of
the Monasteries
When the Pope refused to annul his
marriage to Catherine of Aragon in
1531, Henry VIII had himself declared
Head of the Church of England. As
well as helping solve his marriage
problems, this enabled him and his
minister, Cromwell, to sieze power
from the Catholic Church in England.
Taking his lead from the Protestant
Reformation in Europe, Henry VIII
claimed to be fighting the greed and
corruption of the Church. By 1540,
over 850 monasteries and shrines
had been closed and their wealth
and property diverted to the Crown.0 Great Ayton
North Yorks; TS9 6NB
For eight years the boyhood home of
explorer Captain James Cook, this is a
delightful village with views of the
distinctively shaped sandstone hill,
the Roseberry Topping. The High
Green has a statue of 16-year-old
Cook looking towards Staithes and
the sea. Low Green, on the banks of
the Leven, is a great picnic spot. The
Postgate School is now the Captain
Cook School Museum (Apr–Oct: open
daily pm). The 12th-century All Saints
Church on Low Green, where Cook’s
family is buried, is still used for candlelit
worship (Sun pm, Wed am).
ª Carry along the A173, taking the
B1257 left for a fabulous 32-km (20-
mile) drive. Turn right at the sign for
Rievaulx Abbey. Park by the entrance.Right Rievaulx Abbey, once one of the great
abbeys in Yorkshire Far right Statue of James
Cook the explorer, Great AytonWALKING THE CLEVELAND
WAY NATIONAL TRAILThe 176-km (109-mile) Cleveland Way
National Trail crosses the North Moors
National Park in a horseshoe-shaped
route from the market town of
Helmsley to Saltburn on the coast and
along to Filey. Several companies offer
a luggage-transfer service for long-
distance walkers, or there are plenty of
possibilities for shorter, circular walks.
Information can be found on the trail
website (www.nationaltrail.co.uk/
ClevelandWay).