Bathed in early November sunshine, 22 riders, led by Bill Tait and Mary Edwards of the Ryedale Bridleways Group, saddled up and gathered on the picture-perfect village green in Old Byland to begin their ride to Rievaulx Abbey surrounded by spectators. Also gathered on the green and joining in the fun and festivities was a group of walkers led by pathfinders Joyce Garbutt, Mal Gyte and Ian Robinson.
Next up along the launch ride was Tylas Barn and Farm, the original settlement site of the monks who went on to build the stunning Byland Abbey. Here the ride down to the valley and along the River Rye to Rievaulx was set against a magnificent array of autumn tree leaf colours and an azure, blue sky. Riders crossed over the medieval Bow Bridge along the old monks’ track to emerge into the ancient village of Rievaulx, past the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, former slipper chapel to the Abbey, and led their horses through the back gate into the splendour of the Abbey ruins and grounds.
Here horses and riders formed into a semi-circle on the grass outside the East end of a sunlit Abbey Nave, and were joined by volunteers dressed in monks’ habits, medieval peasant re-enactors Catherine and Mike Stallybrass from Regia Anglorum, and by members of the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail Society. Peter Wright, star of the Channel 5’s Yorkshire Vet, warmly welcomed everyone, thanked the many volunteers and helpers who'd made this new trail possible, cut the launch ribbon to mark the official opening of this new trail to loud applause and cheers.
Afterwards everyone retired to the Abbey Café to enjoy coffee, superb pasties and the warm hospitality of Linda and the Abbey Café staff, with many seizing the opportunity to have Peter autograph their guidebooks. A very special thank you to English Heritage Rievaulx Abbey’s Tuukka Laakso, Gemma Jones, James Gray and all their staff for hosting another spectacular event for the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail.