Beautiful, very calming magical place! (Rievaulx Terrace & Temples)

Member Name: Chaos-Theory

Product:	Rievaulx Terrace & Temples
Date:	30/05/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Peaceful, relaxing, fantastic views

Disadvantages: Not much to occupy children

This is a National Trust property, and depending which option you choose on your SatNav it's either just a bit further on from Stokesley and quite a nice drive, or it's miles away and out in the middle of nowhere! I know this because I chose 'fastest route' on the way there (one hour 10 minutes) and much of it on winding uphill roads, stuck behind a van with all the engine power of your average milk float. On the way back I opted for shortest route (one hour 20 minutes), virtually the same distance in miles, but driving through nice villages.

According to the brochure I was given, it was created between 1749 and 1757 by Thomas Duncombe II. It's a fairly small site consisting of two temples of classical Georgian design, and a nice little walkway. Sadly, I visited at lunchtime and the temples themselves were closed, but apparently one (or maybe both?) feature ceiling paintings with mythological scenes.

There is free parking, and you have to travel about a mile or so along a very narrow path to get up there. Some people are fitter than me, and they chose to walk - I'm not daft, I stuck to the car! Anyway, free parking at the top, which is great.

At the entrance, there is a little shop where you pay to get in, and also you can buy some goodies. They have some lovely little souvenirs, including wooden ornaments, and books, and other things like tea towels. I was really quite tempted by the sweets and jams, but in the end I decided not to bother as I felt they were very over-priced.

The lady on duty was lovely, and she chatted to me as I browsed, made me feel really welcome, and gave me lots of information about becoming a member of the National Trust. This kind of place is obviously much more popular than I had ever considered, and while she was giving me this little talk, two or three other visitors arrived, and they all chimed in to tell me how wonderful it was to be a member of the National Trust (if I hadn't known better, I'd have thought they were on commission!!).

I was told the walk around the site is approximately one mile, and taking a steady wander (with a few stops along the way to admire the scenery), it took me just a little over an hour. I started with a quiet wander through an absolutely gorgeous wood, which was filled with trees and bluebells. It had the most amazing magical feel to it. I could have stayed there for hours! Then you come out into the open and there is a large grassed area (I think this is the 'terrace' from the place name) with a temple at each end. Personally I was more interested in the wood and the fantastic views than the architecture, but I accept for some people this would be a great attraction. There are a number of park benches dotted around for people to sit and just soak in the atmosphere.

As you walk along the grassed area from one temple to the other, there is a fantastic view overlooking Rievaulx Abbey. Sadly, this is not part of the National Trust, so you would have to pay separately if you wanted to visit there, too. This amazing view was something I could happily have sat and gazed at for hours. The whole place had a really relaxing, and almost other-worldly feel, and was very calming.

There was one thing I really didn't like, though, and that was the way the grassed area just fell away sharply at one side. It was an almost sheer drop and was not fenced off. I thought this was extremely dangerous, and would have said this made the place unsuitable for families with young children (although I did see a family with young children having a picnic in the woods, so perhaps I am just too much of a worrier?).

I was very pleased to note the toilets were clean, and they had a disabled toilet, too. All in all, I was very impressed with this place, it's definitely worth a visit if you like this type of thing. Good for scenery. Personally, I felt there was not enough to occupy children, although I'm sure they would adore playing in the woods.

At the time of writing (May 2009) prices are as follows:
£5 per adult
£2.75 per child
£12 family

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-rievaulxte rrace_temples

Contact details:
01439 798340 (summer)
01439 748283 (winter)
Email: rievaulxterrace@nationaltrust.org.uk

As I understand it, if you become a member of the National Trust, you get into all NT properties for free (well, I mean as part of your membership), so if you plan on visiting a few different places, it may make financial sense to join.

Summary: Brilliant if you like this sort of thing