The village of Tintern, situated on the West bank of the River Wye, is about 45 minutes drive from Cardiff so perfect for an afternoon out for the two of us.
We went on a Sunday in late September last year (2019) for Sunday lunch at the Anchor Inn and a walk around the Abbey grounds. Find out a bit more about these places below…
*Just as a little aside, the information in this post is true for when we went in September, however due to the ongoing coronavirus situation it may have changed. Make sure to check before you travel what the restrictions are surrounding these places, and make sure to be safe. Also bear in mind that the restrictions in Wales are different to England so be sure to triple check!*
We parked in a car park just opposite the Abbey where there is a small charge (£3) but this can be redeemed through any purchase at the Abbey’s Gift Shop.
The Anchor Inn
Before exploring the Abbey we stopped for Sunday lunch in the Anchor Inn, just opposite the Abbey. This was a really lovely place that had lots of character and good food. We were seated near the entrance so didn’t get to see the whole interior but from where we were sitting the place looked very well-kept and cosy.
I had a beef dinner with all the trimmings (think Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, veg, gravy). David opted for the slightly lighter version of steamed white fish in a white sauce, with bread instead of chips because he doesn’t like potatoes. There was also plenty of veg to be shared between the 2 of us (which we definitely needed after a weeks worth of uni meals..!).
We decided to share a pudding because otherwise I would have exploded I was so full. We shared a chocolate brownie which was so so so good, I can’t tell you how gooey and delicious it was…
All in all, this pub was a really nice treat for the 2 of us and wasn’t massively expensive either. If you’re in the area I would recommend popping in for some food or at least a drink.
If we still haven’t persuaded you, the pub is dog-friendly so there were so many cute pups to pet in the bar area too!
Tintern Abbey
The Abbey’s opening times differs depending on what time of year it is, but when we went in September they were open 9:30am to 5pm, with the last entry 30 minutes before closing.
We probably didn’t end up getting into the Abbey until about 3:30pm so we only had an hour and a half to actually look inside. However this was not a problem as you can see a lot of the Abbey from outside the grounds so we took the opportunity to get some wider shots.
As we are students we got a cheaper deal on the entry fee – it cost us £2.30 each. I think their prices may fluctuate throughout the year so that’s something to bear in mind.
You may have noticed from the photo above, the Abbey doesn’t have a roof! There’s a really interesting story behind this, I’ll outline it briefly for you below but there are plaques around the ruins to explain it better.
It was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks, and made much more extravagant from the year 1269. However, the Abbey fell into disrepair after the Dissolution of the Monastries in the 16th century. The Abbey was left to ruin for over 200 years until the 18th century where the ruins inspired artists from all over the world to write poetry and create drawings around the ruin. What remained was taken over by Cadw in 1984, who still look after the site to this day.
The site itself is dog friendly, has bike storage, and there are accessible routes around the ground for wheelchairs etc. which is always good.
Although some people on various review websites have said that they can get good enough views without going into the Abbey, I would urge people to pay to go inside and have a walk around. This is because I feel you get a much better perspective of how the Abbey would have been laid out and what it would look like in its full glory.
Final comments
So, that’s the end of our post on Tintern, and I hope it persuades you to give the place a visit if you’re in the area. I’m sure there is lots more to do around the area however this is all we had time for on this particular occasion.
If any of you can think of anything else to do in the area please do write it in the comments, you know how much we love exploring new places!
That’s it for now,
Happy (and safe) travelling!
Zoe and David x
Written by Zoe
Not-So-Trendy Travellers 