Sunset at Rievaulx Abbey

Few places hold atmosphere quite like Rievaulx Abbey at sunset. Nestled in a secluded valley near Helmsley, this Cistercian abbey was founded in 1132 by monks from Clairvaux in France, under the guidance of St Aelred, one of the most revered abbots of medieval England. For over four centuries, Rievaulx thrived as a centre of faith, scholarship, and industry, its monks transforming the wild valley into a self-sufficient community of prayer and production.

The Abbey’s decline came abruptly in 1538 when Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries swept across the land. The once-mighty church was stripped of its lead and treasures, and the monks dispersed. What remains today, though roofless, still carries a sense of sacredness — vast arches reaching towards the sky, and weathered stone that glows gold in the evening sun.

Standing here with the drone capturing the last light over the valley, there’s a rare stillness that words barely capture. The ruins, surrounded by woodland turning to autumn flame, feel both ancient and alive — a reminder that even in decay, beauty and peace can endure.