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Wow factor
Accessibility
Photo potential
Byland Abbey
| Directions: |
Byland Abbey is situated near the village of Wass in North Yorkshire. Travelling from Helmsley, take the A170 through Sproxton, continue along Cote Lane and turn left onto Wass Bank Road. When you approach Wass, head straight over the crossroads and Byland Abbey is on the left. |
| Accessibility: |
Good, although there are shallow steps in places. |
| Costs: |
Adult £4.20, Child £2.10, Concessions £3.60 English Heritage Members: Free |
| Best time to visit: |
April – September |
Venue information
Byland Abbey is situated less than 1km from the village of Wass in deepest North Yorkshire. Founded as a Savigniac abbey in January 1135 and absorbed by the Cistercian order in 1147 it was described in the late 14th century as ‘one of the shining lights of the north’. Now preserved and looked after by English Heritage, parts of Byland Abbey still stand tall to this day. The most impressive part of the remains has to be the lower half of the huge rose window, which has a very distinct semi-circular shape. Another interesting feature is the preservation of some brightly-coloured medieval floor tiles that are scattered around the floor of the site.
There are many great vantage points from which to photograph the Abbey. If you’re after a slightly wider shot there are great views from the south looking north and from the east looking west. Fortunately the site of the ruins is extensive so you’re able to get far enough back to contain everything in the frame, but one of the best shots is from the front of the Abbey looking east. Visit the Abbey in late August/early September at around 6pm when the sun is low in the sky and you could be lucky enough to witness the sun glistening off the prominent brickwork. If you’d prefer to capture a silhouette of the stunning ruins you’ll need to shoot in the westerly direction, preferably from inside the ruins themselves.
As a photographic location it’s great to visit very early in the morning at sunrise or very late in the evening during sunset. Outside of these hours it’s much more of a challenge to get a successful shot, however with a brooding sky behind, it could be a fantastic location for a gritty, black and white landscape. We’d say it’s well worth making the effort to visit if you’re in the local area and fancy capturing something historical.
To get a birds eye view of the ruins, click here.
Photoanswers Rating – 5*