THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
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.
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.
Book with Ampleforth Abbey
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Ampleforth Abbey · York, England
At Ampleforth Abbey, a compact workshop folds art, birds, and lunch into a single creative morning. Located at Ampleforth Abbey Visitor Centre near York in North Yorkshire, this 3.5-hour Lino Printing Workshop invites you to design a print inspired by the swifts and house martins that sweep the abbey skies. Led by lino-printing expert Sally Zaranko of Ashford Cottage Design, the session combines hands-on guidance with a calm, focused setting inside the Visitor Centre. After carving and printing, participants reconvene in the oak-panelled Tea Room for a hearty lunch included in the price. The practical focus is immediate: tools, block, and inks are provided, so beginners can concentrate on composition and mark-making. Sally's step-by-step approach breaks down relief-printing into manageable stages—drawing a design, transferring it to lino, careful carving, and printing test impressions—so you leave with a finished print and the skills to reproduce it at home. The workshop’s subject matter is local: swifts and house martins are constant motion above the cloistered lawns and eaves, and tracing their silhouettes into blocky, graphic forms becomes an exercise in translating flight into line. The Visitor Centre is accessible via ramp and serves as an uncluttered studio space; the oak-panelled Tea Room that follows adds period character and a quiet place to sit and compare prints. Because the class size is limited you’ll get personal feedback while still enjoying a sociable atmosphere. Bring curiosity rather than experience—this is designed for adults (minimum age 16) and people who want a hands-on creative pause from sightseeing. Practical details are cleanly delivered: meet at the Visitor Centre, all materials and lunch are included, and the session lasts about 3.5 hours. The combination of a craft led by a local artisan, a spot of bird-inspired subject matter, and a proper lunch makes this more than a class—it's a way to take a piece of Ampleforth home with you. Who should book: anyone visiting York or the surrounding North Yorkshire countryside who wants an active, indoor-art experience that still feels connected to place—artists wanting a new technique, bird-lovers wanting to render local species, or travelers seeking a calm cultural interlude. The Lino Printing Workshop is a small, accessible creative escape at a notable local site, and it leaves you with both a skill and a handmade keepsake. Because the workshop sits within the broader visitor experience at Ampleforth Abbey, you can pair it with a walk around the grounds to study rooflines and gutters where swifts and martins nest, or explore displays in the Visitor Centre for context. Sessions are suitable for mixed-ability groups and the accessible ramp ensures arrival is straightforward. Places are limited, especially in summer months. Book early; small classes fill quickly on weekends.
easy.
3.5 hours.
Light physical activity; suitable for most adults who can sit and work with small hand tools for a few hours.
All print materials and tools are provided, and a lunch in the oak-panelled Tea Room is included.
Please meet at the Visitor Centre, Ampleforth Abbey, York YO62 4EN at the start time listed on your booking.
The minimum age is 16; classes are intended for adult participants.
Yes. The Visitor Centre is accessible via ramp.
The session runs approximately 3.5 hours from check-in to lunch and wrap-up.
Amendments can be arranged up to 24 hours in advance; check your booking confirmation for full details.
Ampleforth Abbey is a prominent local religious site with a Visitor Centre that interprets aspects of the abbey for visitors.
Respect nesting birds by keeping distance from eaves and following site guidance; small-group workshops help limit impact on the grounds.
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.
Book with Ampleforth Abbey