Boot-iful local walk past a very silent man

Ampleforth to Gilling East. 
An easy walk of 6 miles taking just short of 2 hours.  Starting from Ampleforth which is just a 5 minute drive from The Stables, head south from the village down the side of the playing fields and across the valley floor.  When you get to the woods and the first fish pond (great photo opportunity!) turn left along the track, follow this until you reach the edge of the village of Gilling.  The footpath turns left through the site of the Miniature Railway.  If it’s a weekend when the trains are running you can take a little ride for about 50p.  Follow the footpath NW across the meadows which are quite marshy until it gently rises.  
It’s at this point you will see the silent standing figure of an Antony Gormley sculpture, but don’t be expecting an Angel Of The North type of thing.  This sculpture is of human size and is a cast of himself, one of his many from a series of man standing.  Whether this one has a title or not, I’m not sure.  It could be Stargazer or The Believer or just Man Standing but it was given to Ampleforth Abbey as Gormley had once studied there.
From here, carry on NW across the grounds of Ampleforth Abbey, there is a tearoom and a visitors centre here which are worth popping into.  The footpath then turns west and returns to the village of Ampleforth.