Tintern Abbey
Six miles north of Chepstow in the beautiful Wye Valley AONB in Wales, you will find the spectacular roofless ruins of Tintern Abbey.
Tintern Abbey is a national icon!
It stands on one of the most scenic stretches of the River Wye nearly 500 years since its tragic fall from grace.
Founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks, the Abbey lasted as a monastic settlement until its dissolution in 1536.
Upon dissolution, many of the buildings were plundered and stripped, leaving the abbey to crumble.
The centrepiece of the complex is the magnificent Gothic church, built at the turn of the 14th-century. The remarkable tracery in the west window remains intact.
What makes this place even more enchanting is the neatly carpeted grass floor.
The abbey is an exceedingly popular attraction in Monmouthshire and it can get extremely busy. So it is best to go out of season or at the beginning or end of the day.
You will need to pre-book your timed entry tickets online via the website of Tintern Abbey.
Walking
The best way to appreciate the splendour of Tintern Abbey is by walking along the apposite bank of the River Wye.
Just upstream a bridge crosses the river, from where a path climbs a wooded hillside. Views along the way and from the top are magnificent.
We recommend walking to the Devil’s Pulpit.
This is a limestone rock jutting out from the cliffs from where (legend has it) the devil preached to the monks below, tempting them to desert their order. It offers spectacular views over Tintern Abbey and the River Wye.
It is sign-posted from the Forest Enterprise car park on the B4228 and is on the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail.
Cool Places to Explore: Symonds Yat Rock | Hereford Cathedral | Llanthony Priory | Table Mountain.
Cool Places to Eat: No3 Ross-on-Wye.
Cool Places to Stay: Rose Cottage.
