Create your own lino print inspired by the swifts and house martins who call Ampleforth home.
Spend a focused 3.5 hours carving, printing, and eating in the oak-panelled Tea Room at Ampleforth Abbey. Learn lino techniques from Sally Zaranko and create a bird-inspired print to take home.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
3.5 hours
Fitness Level
Light physical activity; suitable for most adults who can sit and work with small hand tools for a few hours.
Wildlife
History
Ampleforth Abbey is a prominent local religious site with a Visitor Centre that interprets aspects of the abbey for visitors.
Conservation
Respect nesting birds by keeping distance from eaves and following site guidance; small-group workshops help limit impact on the grounds.
Ampleforth Abbey
Create your own lino print inspired by the swifts and house martins who call Ampleforth home.
Ampleforth Abbey is a historic destination near York, England, offering a range of visitor experiences set around its church, grounds, and orchard. Visitors can book relaxed visits to the Tearoom Booking to enjoy homemade treats in a tranquil setting. The Afternoon Tea experience serves freshly made sandwiches, homemade cakes, and scones with cream and jam alongside Yorkshire Tea or filter coffee, set against Mouseman wooden panelling and views of the Ampleforth valley.
The Abbey Church Tour guides guests through the church’s architecture and history, including access to areas such as the Crypt and chapels. After a tour, visitors can use the Visitor Centre, shop at the Abbey Shop, and return to the Tea Room for home-cooked meals in a picturesque atmosphere.
Ampleforth’s historic orchard features approximately 1,500 apple trees and more than 60 varieties. The Pick Your Own Apples experience lets visitors collect fruit and observe traditional pressing of apple juice and cider at the Cider Mill. These outdoor activities highlight seasonal harvests and hands-on learning about orchard heritage.
For night-sky enthusiasts, the Astro Photography Workshop led by experienced astro-photographer Steve Bell offers a talk, refreshments, and practical low-light photography instruction during an outdoor session. Each experience is bookable and presented as a distinct activity for visitors to plan around opening times. Ampleforth Abbey combines food, heritage, landscape, and specialist workshops to create memorable day visits near York.
Booking information, opening hours, and ticket details are available through the Visitor Centre and the Abbey's published visitor information. Please check locally.
Experiences
5
Distinct bookable activities
Orchard Trees
1,500
Over 60 apple varieties
Workshops
Astro Photography
Led by Steve Bell
Tea Room
Afternoon Tea
Fresh sandwiches and homemade cakes
Reserve Afternoon Tea, book an Abbey Church Tour, pick apples in the orchard, or join the Astro Photography Workshop today.
Arrive ready to create
Bring an idea or a simple sketch, but don’t worry if you don’t have one—materials and guidance are provided.
Meet at the Visitor Centre
Check in at the Visitor Centre, Ampleforth Abbey, York YO62 4EN before your session begins.
Respect nesting birds
Observe swifts and house martins from a distance and avoid disturbing eaves and gutters where they nest.
Notify dietary needs
Lunch is included in the oak-panelled Tea Room—tell organizers about allergies or dietary restrictions in advance.
Sketchbook and pencils
Useful for planning compositional ideas before transferring a design to lino.
Comfortable shoes
You may stand while carving and move between studio and Tea Room, so wear shoes you can stand in for a few hours.
Layered jacket
North Yorkshire weather can be changeable—layers keep you comfortable if you step outside between activities.
fall
Camera or phone
Photograph your finished print and the abbey rooflines that inspired your design.