Boxing Day Pilgrimage – Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey

A yearly pilgrimage event open to all, the 4 mile Boxing Day pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey attracts over a thousand pilgrims each year. Often led by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, this is an example of modern British pilgrimage at its finest.

The journey follows the footsteps of a group of 12th Century Cistercian monks who set off from Ripon Cathedral on December 26th, 1132, to found Fountains Abbey.

Today, Fountains Abbey is owned by the National Trust, and is a World Heritage Site with lots to see and do. The site is open for free to all pilgrims on the day. No registration is required – just turn up and be a pilgrim!