At roughly an hour from Rosedale, Ripon makes for a brilliant day out in North Yorkshire. Delve into the history of St Wilfrid, discover the ghosts of the past and explore this interesting town by foot with a couple of informative guides who know the town like the back of their hand.
Ripon is a cathedral city that dates all the way back to the 8th century CE and was originally part of the kingdom of Northumbria under St. Wilfrid, who founded the town. In its time Ripon has witnessed Viking rule, Norman conquest, and a booming Medieval wool trade. The cathedral, at the heart of the city, dates from the 13th century and is still one of the city’s most notable attractions to this day.
Ripon’s long history has given it a great many tales to tell, and if you join one of the guided walks around town you can learn a lot about its colourful past and the interesting characters that once called it home.
There are guided ghost walks throughout the year, and they provide a brilliant insight into the city’s history. You’ll have a couple of guides who really know their stuff and will walk you to all the most interesting locations and the most haunted spots. At Halloween and Christmas, special walks are on offer as well. You will get the opportunity to visit the Workhouse Museum, where visitors can get a feel for what life was like inside a Victorian Workhouse.
The museum is located in the centre of the town on Allhallowgate and has recently doubled in size for a great visitor experience. The building was completed in 1855 and was where the less fortunate were sent to live out their days. Find out more on the website here.
The programme of walks through the city is ongoing throughout the year. There is no need to book, you simply turn up at the meeting point for a 7.30 pm start. The meeting point is the Cabman’s Shelter in the Ripon Market Square. Prices for Adults is £3 and you can find more information on the website here.
