IT IS easy to leave your worries behind on a day out at Fountains Abbey.

In its secluded valley setting, you can lose yourself as you wander beside the abbey ruins and along to Studley Royal water gardens.

With the exception of rooks cawing as they wheel overhead, the peace and tranquillity envelopes you in the short walk down the hill from the visitor centre.

Among the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England, the Grade l listed abbey is an awe-inspiring sight. Owned and managed by the National Trust, the attraction forms part of Studley Royal Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is my favourite time of year for visiting, with mists hanging above the ponds and smells of mellow fruitfulness in the air.

Visitors can look around the abbey, admiring the amazing craftsmanship, from the cloister to the infirmary, the chapter house and magnificent south aisle of the church with its towering stone arches. Then walk along to the ponds with their mirror surface and elegant statues.

It is well worth taking a walk through the woods on the valley side, along clearly marked paths, to view the abbey and River Skell from above - a beautiful sight in all weathers.

Throughout the year there are many events at Fountains Abbey, most of which are free and some which do involve paying to enter the site.

Autumn deer watch is a free guided walk through the medieval deer park which adjoins Studley Royal, where the animals roam freely. Visitors can see and hear the sights and sounds of the ‘rut’ as the stags and bucks compete for the does and hinds. It is fascinating to see red stags as they scoop up foliage to adorn their antlers and begin to roar. At the beginning of October, some may already be starting to lock antlers and at the end of the month all the deer will be 'rutting.'

The annual rut is primarily about showing off - posturing between rival stags to gain dominance and win a harem of does. Visual displays include the antlers themselves and parallel walking, in which two stags strut side by side to assess each other’s status. The main sound is bellowing, often several times a minute, combined with low grunts. The sound brings hinds into heat.

If you fancy a decent walk tomorrow, ‘the monks’ way’ there’s a guided 7.5mile route starting at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal visitor centre, through the surrounding landscape across to Brimham Rocks. The party then catches the Nidderdale Rambler bus back. Starting at 12 noon, the walk is free but booking is essential.

Abbey and water garden tours allow you to discover how the ruins were given a new lease of life in the 18th century and cleverly incorporated into the Studley Royal water garden.

On Saturday evenings throughout October visitors can experience something truly spectacular as you explore the illuminated ruins of the abbey in ‘Fountains by Floodlight.’

The atmospheric live performance from local choirs beneath the spectacular vaulted ceiling of the cellarium is one of the most memorable events you will witness. It is a feast for all the senses.

You can dress up as a monk for the evening on a family abbey tour. Get into character, slip on a habit and step back in time to find out what it would have been like to be a monk at Fountains Abbey.

Abbey tea room stays open late so you can warm up with hot drinks and light bites. Or you can grab a burger, soup or pulled pork sandwich from the tearoom barbecue.

Children will love the attraction's play area. Made by Flights of Fantasy, the custom built design includes a mini wooden abbey, resembling Fountains itself.

Situated close to the visitor centre - which has a shop and a wonderful restaurant - it includes a zipwire, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman’s poles, a woodland house, a slide and a wobbly bridge. There’s also sensory equipment such as chimes, a ball roll and skittles,

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is open daily from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm), and is free to National Trust members. The restaurant and shop close earlier. Times are on the website.

Fountains Abbey, Ripon HG4 3DY.
nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden
01765 608888