Tintern Abbey

Stunning old abbey, it's such a shame these once magnificent structures are now reduced to ruins, but oh what beautiful ruins they are. One of my favourite pastimes is exploring old castles and abbeys and this one did not disappoint.

This is my second time at the Tintern Abbey, the Abbey sits on the border between England and Wales but on the Welsh side. I loved it here both times, this time they also had a trail for children to follow and uncover facts. Highly recommend a visit to Tintern Abbey if you are nearby or even passing through to Wales. With rich history, and amazing views, don't miss out.

I’ve driven past Tintern Abbey countless times over the years, always admiring its setting but never quite stopping - maybe because from the outside, it just looked like a quiet ruin with not much going on inside. But I finally made the visit, and I’m so glad I did. The moment I stepped into the church nave, everything shifted. The soaring arches and the magnificent west front with its seven-light window are breathtaking. It’s hard to believe this place was stripped bare after the dissolution in 1536, left to decay for centuries before being rediscovered by artists and poets like Wordsworth and Turner in the 18th century. You can see why they were drawn to it - the ruins are hauntingly beautiful. For just £9, it’s a deeply worthwhile visit. The abbey’s location in the lush Wye Valley adds to the magic, and there’s a convenient pay-and-display car park plus a pub nearby if you want to make a day of it. If you’ve ever passed it thinking “just another ruin,” I’d say don’t wait as long as I did. It’s far more than that.

Always wanted to visit. Didn't disappoint. Magnificent medieval abbey. Part of it is currently covered in scaffolding for restoration, so some areas are cordoned off, which is a bit of a shame, but I was aware of this before going. The scaffolding itself is a feat of engineering. It is quite amazing how huge the windows are or were. Definitely still worth a visit. Nice pub near by. Costs 5 pound to park, but you get this back if you spend money in the Abbey gift shop or the pub.

What a wonderful abbey. Well worth a visit and a nice short walk through the village and over the bridge. How on earth did they build such structures so long ago! Must be the power of religion 🤔🤔

Holidaying in area and was looking for a dog friendly place to visit and as EH members we found we could get into any CADW properties free. Tintern Abbey is a magnificent medieval Abbey. Some of it is covered in scaffolding for restoration, so some areas are cordoned off. It is quite amazing how big the place is or would have been and a feat of engineering. Definitely still worth a visit. Costs £5 to park, but you get this back if you spend money in the gift shop or the pub. Very friendly staff.

It is a fantastic place. Very imposing in a peaceful area. I realise renovation works are crucial, but over the building is closed off. Not sure the entrance price reflects that.

One of our favourite walks. Can't wait until the Abbey restoration works are complete so it can finally be viewed without all the scaffolding

What a marvel this abbey would be, were it still intact! One can almost hear the sound of monks in thick robes shuffling quietly down vaulted corridors, the scratch of scribes' quill pens on parchment, and haunting choral melodies reverberating down the nave. Even in its current condition, Tintern Abbey, in its secluded valley along the banks of the Wye, provides a picturesque window into the daily life of the monks who once inhabited this place of quiet, humble seclusion and religious study. A highly recommended diversion (along with a tour of Chepstow Castle nearby to the south) for any road-tripper or history buff coming or going from Cardiff on the M4.

This was one of my favorite stops in my entire 3.5 week trip in Scotland & England. My mother and I made the trek up from Ironbridge Gorge to South Wales and it was rainy and foggy the whole time. When we arrived at Tintern Abbey, we stopped in The Ship for a drink and a snack before heading over to the Abbey. Aside from a dude dressed like a Morris dancer (he seemed very bitter at our arrival) - there was nobody else there. Just my mom, me and grumpy man - with many cows lowing at the nearby fence for dinner o'clock. The abbey is just gorgeous - and I feel really privileged that I got to enjoy it without a crowd or a crush of people that the parking lots and nearby restaurants seem to indicate often flow into the site. It was purely magic to walk through the abandoned abbey with a light misty fog draping the nearby hill tops, turning the trees into silhouettes, and darkening the stone of the building's ruined walls. Truly a magical place.

Very beautiful and peaceful ruins of the first monastic foray into Wales by the Cistercian order. Make sure to take a guided tour with one of the staff so that you can get a better sense of how the monastery developed and what life was like in its heyday. And bring this poem to read: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45527/lines-composed-a-few-miles-above-tintern-abbey-on-revisiting-the-banks-of-the-wye-during-a-tour-july-13-1798

My first taste of UK history: Tintern Abbey. Just, wow. Floored is the word that comes to mind. As an American, it's hard to see past Hollywood's tainted view of history, but when you are standing in front of it, feeling so profoundly small, it really takes your breath away. Rob's parents live near Bristol, so Tintern wasn't too far away. We drove over the hills and through the woods, on tiny roads canopied by trees. Gorgeous countryside. This pile of stones flaunts its 900 year history with some epic flair. For you history buffs, this was one of the abbeys destroyed during the Reformation. Geekin' out, hardcore. Gah! So cool. After we parked for £3 (yikes!), we stopped in this tea room before our jaunt to the abbey. Some cream teas, sponge cake, AND tea? Don't mind if we do! Talk about indulgence. Oh, but if you haven't experienced desserts in the UK, it is definitely worth going over your calorie limit. The tea room is very old world - rock walls inside and out, dark candlelit lighting in the tea room, quaint little tables, original fixtures still on the walls, and a cozy fireplace in the corner. It looked like they set up shop in an ancient living room. Seriously, can I live here? After tea, we trekked down to the abbey, but entrance fee was £4.50/adult, so we decided to admire it from a distance and walk around town a bit. So many little shops, cafes, galleries, hotels, cottages, and lots of Kodak moments to capture! You could spend hours just taking in the peaceful landscape. It was quite magical. Despite it being a bit expensive, I still can't wait to go back and get a look inside the ancient abbey on my next visit!

You can't help but feel small when you step inside Tintern Abbey. Hubbo and I did a fair bit of research and saw many photos of it before going, but nothing can really truly capture how beautiful it is. It was definitely the highlight of our trip. We rented a car from Heathrow for two days, wanting to see various sights around London. Tintern was on top of our list to visit. After seeing it, we both agreed that even if we didn't get to see anything else, just being able to see the abbey was well worth the rental car. Meghan M. said it the best, being able to walk among the stones and seeing the contrast of the green grass on the inside just makes the whole experience so surreal. We could just sit there all day. We must have taken hundreds of pictures, but at every click, knowing that no picture can do it justice. At the end, we put away our cameras and just walked through to take it all in, enjoying it and appreciating it before leaving.

An incredibly moving and awe-inspiring place. Stepping into this magnificent structure transports you into the past and the rich history of this beautiful area.

As other reviewers have said, this place is beyond words amazing. It is truly breathtaking, there is no wonder it has inspired famous artists and poets. Walking around the remains of the Abbey takes you to another world in your imagination, being able to get inside (or where was once an actual inside) is truly an experience. My husband and I made a day of it, and I would suggest the same to anyone. There are amazing hiking trails behind the Abbey. We started with the Abbey itself, had an excellent pub lunch at the Anchor, and then hiked up to the Devil's Pulpit. I would recommend this walk to anyone BUT be prepared that it is a difficult hike of steep uphill. It was made a little more difficult for us as all the snow was melting and there was a recent rain so it was VERY muddy and slippery. Once you do hit the pulpit though it is worth it. At the pulpit itself there is an opening which looks down onto the valley and the Abbey, it is absolutely spectacular. Legend has it that the devil himself preached there down onto the Abbey in attempts to lure the monks to him. Just an amazing day at an amazing place, we can't wait to go back in the summer. DEFINITELY recommend this place!

I take a bus out there. It winds around through the hills pushing towards the edges of the roads. A couple of locals talk to each other and share pleasant glances. Part of the conversation is about the independent bus companies that get the different routes. Why did one company get that route to the west. They're never on time and the drivers don't even say hi. Another turn and then another. How do know when I'm close. and then it's forced upon me. A living skeleton of a building. It's presence is amplified by the barren visage. The light is just dropping a little and the air is warm but sharp and though it's a simple sight it's stunning. I wander around and every step takes an extra five minutes, contorted as time is by the angles of the valley and it's desire not to leave.

The drive in, when you first see the Abbey in its valley setting from the road above, is really something. We were worried no one was there when we drove up, but the entrance is below and to the side. We spent quite a while here taking in the amazing atmosphere and reading about the history of this place. It is also worth your time to walk along the riverside to get a nice view of the small village along the river. The town of Chepstow is also worth a look, although the Chepstow Castle wasn't open at the time. Parking at the lot is 3 GBP, although you can get a refund/validated parking.

Incredibly gorgeous, well preserved ruins. Our tour of the place was made even more mystical and beautiful with the mist and light rain.

When I 1st studied Tintern Abbey in high school, I knew that someday I wanted to come here. It is amazing driving here as there is not much on the way and then suddenly...it appears. And it is a beautiful site! This place has so much history that you really need to learn a bit about the place before you come here. All that it has been through and what has been written about it makes you realize just what an important place this is even though it is in ruins. The staff was a bit gruff with us when we were trying to figure out how to purchase tickets but once we got past them, we were free to wander about the grounds and enjoy the views.

An impressive abbey even without a roof and the glass that would have filled the windows. Medieval and still standing strong, Tintern is a great place to visit from Cardiff and in a beautiful setting. Everything is hands-on, you can walk around the place and touch the stone that makes the walls of this abbey constructed between 1131 and 1536. This abbey has inspired poems by Wordsworth and Tennyson, and paintings by Turner (thanks for telling me this, Wikipedia!),

Love this place. Just an amazing site. It is open to the elements so dress accordingly. The gift shop is charming and sells these really wonderful Welsh cookies.