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Yorkshire And The Humber

Monk Bar

Yorkshire And The Humber

York

Monk Bar

Highlight • Monument

Monk Bar

Name: Monk Bar
Rating: 2

Recommended by 26 hikers

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Location: York, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Monk Bar

4.7

(60)

851

hikers

1. Historic Centre of York – York City Walls loop from York

7.98km

02:04

40m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(47)

742

hikers

2. York City Walls – York City Walls loop from Leeman Road

7.43km

01:54

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(16)

252

hikers

3. Historic Centre of York – York Minster loop from York

6.55km

01:41

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Cornelia Fuchs

May 3, 2024

Monk Bar is the largest and most ornate of the bars, it dates from the early 14th century. It was a self-contained fortress, with each floor capable of being defended. On the front of the bar is an arch supporting a gallery, including 'murder-holes' through which missiles and boiling water could be rained down upon attackers.

Monk Bar has the city’s only working portcullis, in use until 1970. Like the other main gateways, Monk Bar originally had a barbican on the front. This was demolished in 1825.

The rooms above the gateway have had various uses over the years, including as a home and as a jail for rebellious Catholics in the 16th century.

RichD

June 7, 2025

The Bar, which lies 100 yds. southeast of the porta decumana of the legionary fortress, is built almost entirely of magnesian limestone and dates from the early 14th century; the uppermost storey was added in the late 15th century and windows were renewed in the 16th century. The gatehouse was built to a sophisticated design, making it a self-contained fortress with each floor defensible, even when the others had been captured. Variations in stone sizes and irregular coursing indicate several stages during the construction, with the front wall apparently preceding the vaulting. There is no trace of an earlier gate on this site.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 60 m

Weather

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Sunday 26 October

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: York, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

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Monk Bar

1. Historic Centre of York – York City Walls loop from York

2. York City Walls – York City Walls loop from Leeman Road

3. Historic Centre of York – York Minster loop from York

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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