Route: Richmond to Easby Abbey
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 2nd August 2026
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.2 miles
Ascent: 200 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny, very warm
Today’s walk is a slightly shorter version of the Drummer Boy walk which I followed 12 years ago. The centre of Richmond was very busy today thanks to a combination of school holidays and a market fair in the town centre. We eventually found a parking space in the long term public car park. We walked through the bustling town square and past Richmond Castle. The castle is managed by English Heritage and we didn’t have time for a visit today. We continued down to the bank of the River Swale and followed a narrow path after passing under Mercury Bridge. We walked beside the river for a while before arriving at Easby Abbey, which is also managed by English Heritage. The abbey was founded in 1152 and is one of the best preserved monasteries of the Premonstratensian ‘white canons’, so called because of their distinctive white woollen habits. Entry is free
After exploring the atmospheric old ruins we continued beside the River Swale, crossing it at Abbey Wood to start the return leg along the other bank. This was an easy stroll along a wide path. On arriving back in Richmond we walked under Mercury Bridge again and followed a path through the fields, with good views across to Richmond and its castle. We then crossed Richmond Bridge and wandered back along the old streets to end our walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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Richmond Market Place. Richmond Obelisk (left) dates back to 1771. Below it lies a reservoir which once supplied water to the town. Holy Trinity Church (right) now houses the Green Howards Museum
We head downhill through the old streets of Richmond
Looking back to the Keep at Richmond Castle, which was built in the mid-12th century
We follow the path through the arch
We walk across the park, with the River Swale, unseen from here, on the right
We walk under Mercury Bridge and join a quite narrow and rough path beside the river
We follow a leafy track, part of the Richmond Drummer Boy walk
It's possible to continue along the path to the left, but we preferred to keep close to the river bank, so veered right here past the metal gate
We pass through a conservation area, aimed at protecting the riverbank and regenerating the woodland
There are plenty of opportunities to get down to the bank of the River Swale
Another fork in the path. We carry on ahead, but there's a path on the left which can also be taken
We arrive at Easby Abbey. St Agatha's Church, dating back to the 11th century, is on the right
A few photos as we wander around the ruins of Easby Abbey...
Gothic window in the refectory...
We leave the abbey and pass by St Agatha's Church
We resume the riverside walk
The far point of the walk as we cross a bridge over the River Swale to return via the other bank
It's an easy stroll along a wide path
The River Swale as we arrive at the outskirts of Richmond...
We pass under Mercury Bridge again, on the other side of the river this time
We follow a path through the fields, with Richmond Castle on our right
St Mary's Church
Richmond Castle as we cross Richmond Bridge to walk back into the town
We walk up the cobbled street back to the town centre
We arrive back at the Market Place to end a very pleasant walk
