Rievaulx Terrace

About this place

Rievaulx Terrace is a curved grass walk set above the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire, created in the eighteenth century as part of the Duncombe Park estate.

The design was deliberately conceived so that the medieval abbey ruins could be viewed from above as a picturesque feature in the landscape, placing it firmly within the English tradition of incorporating romantic ruins into a landowner's grounds.

Two classical temples stand at opposite ends of the terrace, serving as ornamental focal points for the walk.

The National Trust looks after the property.

History

The terrace was laid out in the eighteenth century as part of the wider Duncombe Park estate, designed so that the medieval ruins of Rievaulx Abbey could be viewed from above as a picturesque feature in the landscape. It formed part of a broader tradition of English landscape design in which romantic ruins were incorporated deliberately into a landowner's grounds.

Architecture

Two classical temples stand at opposite ends of the curved grass terrace, serving as ornamental focal points for the walk.

Gardens & grounds

The terrace itself is the principal draw, a long curved grass walk with managed views down into the wooded valley where the abbey ruins sit.

Facilities