Ripley Castle Deer Park
Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire has been home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years, and according to a sign on the property, the fallow deer have been grazing here for perhaps even longer! As an American I always feel a particular awe being in places with such long-recorded histories. In September 2015, just before the autumn equinox, I went for a walk in the deer park of Ripley Castle without realizing it was a deer park. It was my first visit, and I struck out on a path ahead of my family and was suddenly confronted with what seemed like a grouping of statues outside an outbuilding. But then one of the statues blinked. And I lifted up my camera and started shooting, amazed at the majestic creatures that seemed to appear out of thin air.
Peering out from behind the park’s gorgeous trees gave the moment an enchanted, fairy-tale effect to my imagination. I could have fancied myself in a medieval wood. Some of the trees here are thought to be over 1,000 years old. I stood for several minutes watching a grouping of deer continuously circle the building. Perhaps they were waiting on me to disappear and leave them in peace.
The deer park is a lovely place to take a walk any time of year, but I think especially so in autumn with the leaves beginning to change. My family and I walked all around the park and by the lake up to the children’s play area. I highly recommend it.
