Mount Grace Priory Walks

This walk visits one of Yorkshire's most interesting historical sites at Mount Grace Priory.
The English Heritage owned site is England's most important Carthusian ruin.... It dates from the 14th century and includes atmospheric priory ruins, woodland trails and lovely gardens.
The route starts in the good sized car park where you can pick up the footpaths around the site. After exploring the ruins you can then enjoy a walk through Mount Grace Wood and down to the 14th century Lady Chapel. Christians have visited this small church, for centuries and continue the tradition through an annual pilgrimage every summer on the Sunday nearest the Feast of the Assumption on the 15th August. From this peaceful spot there are also excellent views over the Cleveland Plain.
The route then heads along Quarry Lane to visit the pretty Cod Beck Reservoir where there is a nice trail along the water. After passing the reservoir you head west towards Swinestye Hill where you can pick up the Cleveland Way National Trail. Follow the waymarked path west and it will take you back to the priory.
Postcode: DL6 3JG
Pubs and More Info
The on site Orchard Cafe serves a good range of meals and snacks. They've got covered seating and a picnic area when you can relax outside and enjoy fine views when the weather is good.
The circular Swainby Walk and Osmotherley Walk both visit the priory from the nearby villages.
For more walking ideas in the area see the North York Moors Walks page.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Swainby Osmotherley Cleveland Way Cod Beck Reservoir

Photos

Mount Grace Charterhouse. The western range of the Great Court. Here can be seen the extent of the area allotted to each monk. The dwelling would stand against the tall part of the wall, taking up about 1/5th to 1/4 of the total space. The remainder, primarily the wide stretch on the left hand side, was the garden.

View of the church. The abbey church was relatively small as it only required to serve the needs of around 2 dozen monks and a handful of lay brothers. It dates fundamentally from around 1400, with additions towards the end of that century and in the early years of the 16th century.

This was the old abbey guesthouse and remained in use after the monastery was closed, with improvements being made in the 17th century.

The kitchen wing. Here the lay brothers prepared food for the monks, which they then delivered to the individual cells.

The Great Court, east wall, showing the entrances to three cells. This view shows how the site nestles under the edge of the Moors.

This was part of the 'lay' section of the abbey, housing kitchen, brewhouse and bakehouse. As it was more readily reused after the dissolution, it has survived.

One cell was rebuilt by the owner of the site in the late 19th century. Although much of the timber has been replaced by English Heritage, the original restoration appears to have been soundly based.

The cell garden. As can be seen this was relatively spacious, in this case running round three sides of the house. At the far end is what amounts to an open cloister, but this also gives covered access to the latrine at the left hand side.

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