Distanced travellers rateabbey inBritain’s topfive

FOUNTAINS ABBEY in North Yorkshire has been rated the fourth most picturesque National Trust property in the country, according to research among people who have made socially distanced visits to historic outdoor spaces.

The figures reveal that the best garden to visit is Tatton Park in Cheshire, whose estate boasts a neo- classical mansion surrounded by landscaped gardens stretching over 50 acres. Beyond the gardens are 1,000 more acres of parkland with wild deer grazing and a medieval hall.

Cheshire and Derbyshire have the most National Trust gardens in the top 10, which was compiled from reviews posted on Instagram and Google.

Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, is one of the biggest and best preserved ruined monasteries in England, and was described

National Trust gardens ... are a great way to get out of the house Adrienne Minster, chief executive of the website Rated People

in the late 14th century as “one of the three shining lights of the North”, along with the abbeys at Rievaulx and Byland – all within around 30 miles of each other.

In 2016, it was the most visited National Trust site in the country.

Adrienne Minster, chief executive of the website Rated People, which commissioned the research, said: “While there is still a need to maintain social distancing, many people are opting to spend their days out in open spaces. National Trust gardens provide scenic day trips across the country, which are a great way to get out of the house post- lockdown.”

The survey also listed

10 “hidden gems” among National Trust outdoor properties. They include the grounds of Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, close to where the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice was filmed.