Since, a little to my surprise, it wasn’t raining when I finished my Swindale walk, I decided to make a slight detour on my way home to visit Shap Abbey. I had it completely to myself. This tower is the most complete part of the ruins and is also the most recent part to have been built – but even this part predates Henry VIII dissolution of the monasteries, making it around 500 years old. Isn’t it odd that we’ll travel half-way around the world to visit ancient temple sites in exotic locations, but in the middle of a summer Saturday close to some of the nation’s tourist hot-spots this one would be deserted.
Beating The Bounds 
Thanks for that, into the to visit folder with lots of standing stones and thunder stones around on the 25k map, but how old ? cheers Danny
Hi Danny
Started in 1199 apparently. Mostly 13th Century but the part which has survived most intact is early 16th Century.