This week we visited a site that has been on our list for some time now, The Druid’s Temple. Located in Ripon, North Yorkshire, this site has become a place of interest which I have seen all over TikTok in recent months. Information regarding this site was rather scarce, so in this post, we will offer some useful information about the site and how to get there.
How to Get to Druid’s Temple
Druid’s Temple is in one of those beautiful out-of-the-way places. Driving down the country lanes, you really do get a sense of the English countryside.
Use Postcode: HG4 4JZ
Coming from Manchester, we followed the A1 and came off at junction 50. Take the second exit at the roundabout and travel along the A6055 for approximately 3 miles. Then take the first exit on the roundabout to B6267. Travel on this road for 6.8 miles. Then take a left onto Fearby Road. After 2.4 miles, turn left onto Rigg Bank. Half a mile later, turn right. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Ilton Bank, then right onto Knowle Lane. Follow the road until you reach a signpost. Turn left into the car park.
From the A6055, the sat nav took us down a series of narrow country lanes until we reached the Swinton Estate, where the temple is located.
Once we entered the estate, we continued straight until we reached a signpost. It pointed us towards a car park where we placed £3 in their honesty box for parking. Just off the car park is a cafe and toilet facilities. The Swinton Estate houses a number of tree lodges, meadow yurts and cabin yurts. The site must be incredibly busy in the summer as the estate is in a stunning location with views of the Yorkshire hills.
Leaving the car park, the rest of the journey must be undertaken on foot. A road leads towards the Druid’s Temple site, but this is not for public use.
Leaving the car park, a signpost points you towards Druid’s Temple.
There is a slight hill as you walk along this private road towards the site. After a walk of 5 minutes or so (depending on your fitness level), you’ll first reach an information board outside some gates. There are several routes and beautiful walks in this area, so be sure to follow the sign for Druid’s Temple. The walk from the gate to the site is fairly flat.
The walk from the car park to the site took around 15 minutes in total.
Druid’s Temple
Making our way through the forest, we spotted rock formations in the distance. These formations are scattered around the site and are incredibly intriguing.
The site was created by William Danby, a sheriff of Yorkshire who owned the land. He ordered the site to be built as a folly (a way to provide work for unemployed construction workers).
It was also a way to demonstrate one’s wealth. Follies often mimicked existing structures, such as castles and towers. Druid’s Temple is said to mimic Stonehenge.
Some of the formations are reminiscent of the famous National monument, or at least, how it would have looked in the early 19th century when Druid’s Temple was constructed. Similar to Stonehenge, Druid’s Temple has an altar stone, a sacrificial stone and several vertical monolithic stones.
You can walk amongst the stones and follow the path round to a cave-like formation at the end of the Temple. There was a lot of stagnant water at the entrance to the cave.
We visited in October and the ground was very muddy. I would recommend taking wellies or walking boots in the autumn/winter months.
There is something rather eerie about the site. We arrived in the early evening (around 4 pm) and we didn’t see another person. This probably added to the eeriness of the experience. I can imagine the site becoming busy during the summer months.
Druid’s Viewpoint
Although the stones were incredible, the highlight of my visit has to be the views of Leighton Reservoir from Druid’s viewpoint.
As we approached, the sun was starting to set and it created the most spectacular colours.
Looking out over onto the reservoir and fields below was a serene and peaceful experience. The autumnal colours made this view all the more impressive.
