Top 4 Natural Monuments around Sharow

Wow, what a place! Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Gardens completely blew me away. The abbey ruins are absolutely stunning – huge, dramatic, and full of atmosphere. You can just wander around and lose yourself in the history. The water gardens are gorgeous too –beautifully designed lakes, with statues, little follies, and surprise viewpoints. Catching a glimpse of the abbey from across the water is like something out of a painting. We also spotted deer in the park which was a bit of a treat! Loads of walking routes to choose from, so you can do a quick wander or spend the whole day exploring. There’s also two good on-site cafes, one at the visitor centre, and one lakeside venue. There are also plenty of picnic spots if you bring your own. The whole place is spotless and really well looked after. This was one of the best days out I’ve had in ages – peaceful, scenic, and full of history. It is also a World Heritage Site to boot, so you are in for a treat!

The Devil's Arrows are three aligned standing stones. The standing stone alignment consists of some of the tallest standing stones in the United Kingdom. Erected during the Stone Age and distinctively grooved by millennia of rainfall, the tallest southernmost stone is 22.5 feet (6.85 m) in height, making this the second tallest menhir in the United Kingdom.

A television series (in German) that I wholeheartedly recommend introduces culture-loving viewers to remarkable testimonies to human creativity from many countries around the world. What they all have in common is that they have been granted "World Heritage" status by UNESCO. * "A park, gnarled trees, twisted by the wind as if by a giant's hand. Herds of fallow deer and roe deer graze in the tall grass. In the valley, nature is reflected in an artificial lake: the visitor stands in Lord Aislabie's "Watergarden." Small Greek temples and Gothic turrets are also reflected in the water, for in the 18th century it was fashionable to decorate the parks of noble country estates with Greek temples and Gothic turrets – real ruins were highly prized. And the lord owned a truly magnificent ruin in his park. Walking along well-kept park paths by the stream that flows through the artificial lakes, one's gaze falls on "Fountains Abbey," or what remains of what was once the largest English Cistercian monastery in Yorkshire, an impressive ruin." reads the media library's website. The corresponding film contribution (in German) can be found under the following link =>> https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/schaetze-der-welt/der-park-v-studley-und-die-ruinen-von-fountains-abbey-gb-folge-197/swr/Y3JpZDovL3N3ci5kZS83MDM1MzE0

Studley Royal Park 800 acres, including an 18th Century landscaped garden, the ruins of Fountains Abbey, Fountains Hall Jacobean mansion and St Mary’s Church

Beautiful reflections and views.

The Studley Royal Water Garden is a beautiful park landscape with the Moon Ponds, some lovely walkways and decorative buildings such as the Octagonal Tower with the serpentine tunnel underneath, the Monopteros, the Surprise View and Anne Boleyn's Seat. The Temple of Piety at the Moon Ponds is also very beautiful. It is a lovely place to linger and enjoy the park.

Hackfall Wood is managed and has been restored by the Woodland Trust. It's a wonderful place to explore with waterfalls, woodland trails, a stream and river and several grottos, ruins and water features to visit. It has previously won the conservation category at the Europa Nostra societies for a 18th century planned landscape.

Aldborough was once the capital of the Romanised Brigantes tribe, the largest tribe in Britain at the time. The museum run by English Heritage (paid entry £5.60 for non-members) has a collection of Roman finds, two preserved mosaic floors and a section of the old wall defence. Open Fri, Sat & Sun April to Sep. Closed over winter.