Day 3: Wigginton to Ampleforth Abbey

Well, if the first walking day wasn't that long, the second made up for it! And hillier, though not at the start. We set out alongside the River Foss...

...via a farmyard...

...to Sheriff Hutton, with its dramatic ruined castle.

But it was the church that beckoned...

Stephen thought he should be modest on hallowed ground.

Then the climb began - made up for by the views south across the vale of York.

It was a tough afternoon's walk - we failed to meet the drinks car, and arrow supplies were desperately low. Patrick, backmarking without the notes, was lucky to have been in the area routeplanning. Before we reached Ampleforth village, though, there was refreshment for tired feet.

Then a final stretch through the standing corn in to Ampleforth Abbey.

Where, despite the route notes saying Mass in the morning, we celebrated Mass outside (unless this was early morning sunshine the next day?)