tintern abbey virtual tour

Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire

Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen

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Virtual reality tours of medieval Tintern Abbey

ONE of Wales's oldest tourist attractions is going online and offering internet users a virtual reality tour of the site.

• 01:00, 4 JUN 2003
• Updated 06:10, 1 APR 2013

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ONE of Wales's oldest tourist attractions is going online and offering internet users a virtual reality tour of the site.

Tintern Abbey, which is more than 900 years old, can now be visited by clicking on heritage body Cadw's website.

The Virtual Experience Company, based in Leamington Spa, has been commissioned by Cadw to produce a virtual reality model, which will dramatically improve interpretation of one of the best-preserved medieval abbeys in Europe.

Images from the virtual reality model planned for Tintern are now online and provide an educational resource for teachers and schoolchildren.

They will also enable visitors to virtually explore the Abbey at their leisure - from the comfort of their own homes.

It is intended to roll out a full virtual reality tour of Tintern on Cadw's website in the coming months, which will coincide with the installation of a new Virtual Theatre at the Abbey itself.

The virtual reality model will show the Abbey as it appears today, and visitors will be able to explore the "virtual" ruins themselves. Unlike many other virtual tours, the visitor will have complete freedom to go wherever they want within the virtual reality world.

There will also be a model of the church at Tintern recreated, as it would have appeared in 1330AD.

Tintern Abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in 1131AD.

It was then largely rebuilt by Roger Bigot, lord of nearby Chepstow Castle, in the late 13th century, encompassing grand design and architectural detail of great finesse.

Andrew Hood, of Cadw, said, "This is an exciting and fascinating project which can only serve to widen the appreciation of this unique site, which is undoubtedly one of the wonders of Wales."

The virtual reality tour site will be accessible from www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

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Four Tintern Abbey Walks You Must Try + Their Complete Routes

If you’re visiting the Wye Valley to visit the Gothic masterpiece of Tintern Abbey, I can’t think of a better idea than going on one of the best Tintern Abbey walks.

The Cistercian abbey has been slowly fading since the 12th century. However, the valley surrounding Tintern is packed with stunning woodlands and limestone slopes with evergreen fern, woodrush, and trees like ash, beech, lime, and oak.

On Tintern Abbey walks, you might spot wildlife such as peregrine falcons, red kites or herons. No wonder the Romantic poets raved about the Tintern Abbey walking trails; Wordsworth is quoted saying, “No poem of mine was composed under circumstances more pleasant”.

The abbey is located in Tintern village, which has a small pot of pubs and tea rooms, including dog-friendly locations. Without further ado, let’s jump into the best walks near Tintern Abbey to turn your quick trip into a full day out.

These Tintern Abbey walking trails traverse old railway lines, ruined wireworks and a boulder lookout with a devilish legend attached to it.

Disclosure : This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

QUICK INFORMATION

Best time for hiking: April to September

How to get there: Drive or take the bus from Chepstow or Monmouth.

Best tours of Tintern Abbey:

• From Cardiff: 1-Day Brecon Beacons and Wye Valley Tour
• From Bristol: 2-Day Wye Valley, Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford and Cotswolds tour

Table of Contents

Are Tintern Abbey Walks Good For Beginners?

The four Tintern Abbey walks I will cover are suitable for beginners or moderately experienced hikers. They range from between two and a half miles to five miles.

The best walk for beginners is the Wye Valley Greenway, which does not have any incline.

Tintern Abbey Walks: The History of Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey easily could have been plucked out of a scene from Harry Potter or an Enid Blyton novel.

The Cistercian abbey has thick stone walls connected by Gothic arches. Then, through the elaborate arched windows, there are views of the forest-clad slopes of the Wye Valley.

The abbey’s origins lie in 1131 with a community of Cistercian monks. They originally built humble timber buildings as their place of worship. However, over the next few years, they built a church, and in 1269, they built the abbey that we see today.

The monks’ abbey was a grand piece of Gothic architecture at the time. However, it fell into ruin within a year of being built after Henry VIII’s reformation.

Tintern Abbey is located in a small village on the banks of the Wye Valley in Wales. It’s not a place that most people pass by on their daily business, even back in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Therefore, it only really gained any recognition for its beauty when Romantic poets descended upon the Wye Valley searching for inspiration for their poetry. The notorious Lord Byron dedicated a whole poem to the abbey.

His friend and fellow poet William Wordsworth also visited a ledge above the Wye Valley called the Devil’s Pulpit, which features in the following Tintern Abbey walks.

Tintern Abbey Walks: Where is Tintern Abbey?

Tintern Abbey walks are exceptionally scenic. The proof is in the pudding; the Wye Valley is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a title only given to the most impressive landscapes in the United Kingdom.

The village only has a population of 853. Aside from a couple of pubs, tea rooms, a visitor’s centre and the adorable Abbey Mill venue, there’s not much else.

The River Wye passes through Tintern. The river forms the border between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, making the walks around Tintern easy to get to for anyone residing in England or Wales.

How to Get to Tintern Abbey Walks

The easiest way to visit the walks near Tintern Abbey is by driving. It is a 35-minute drive from Bristol and approximately 50 minutes from Cardiff or Bath.

Otherwise, there is a local bus stop in the village, which has connections to Monmouth and Chepstow.

In Monmouth and Chepstow, there are train stations with direct trains to cities such as Cardiff and Bristol. I always use Trainline to book my train tickets in the UK, as it has an intuitive app and you can show the ticket to the conductor on your smartphone.

The nearest airports to Monmouth and Chepstow are Bristol Airport or Cardiff Airport.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use public transport, there are several tours which have majority five-star reviews from Cardiff and Bristol. The only downside is that they don’t involve much hiking, so they’re best for those who want to sightsee.

• From Cardiff: 1-Day ‘Wandering Bards’ Tour of the Valleys
• From Bristol: 3-Day Welsh Mountain and Coasts Tour

What to bring on Tintern Abbey Walks

Any packing list for the following Tintern Abbey walks doesn’t have to be complicated. However, there are a few essentials that you might want to bring along.

If you don’t want to bring a packed lunch, there are pubs and coffee shops in Tintern village which sell food. Several are dog-friendly.

Sturdy hiking shoes or trainers with a good grip are important. There are some steep slopes and gravel on the trails. Sections of the Tintern walking trails are also prone to mud.

Consider packing:

• 1 – 2 litres of water.
• Packed lunch and/or snacks.
• Lightweight raincoat.
• Sunglasses, sun cream or a sun hat for sunny weather.
• Toilet paper – just in case.

Where to Park for Tintern Abbey Walks

There are several car parks in Tintern. The best place to park for Tintern Abbey and its walking trails is either the Anchor Inn car park or the Tintern Abbey car park .

The Anchor Inn car park is the first car park you come across after turning into the road opposite the abbey.

It costs £3 per day, and you can get the full price of the ticket back if you buy a drink or a meal in the pub.

The Tintern Abbey car park is further down the same road, next to the entrance to the abbey. This car park also costs £3. Again, the ticket price is redeemable if you buy a ticket to the abbey. You can check up-to-date ticket prices on the Tintern Abbey page.

If you want to visit the pub for lunch, that’s the best car park for you. If you’re going to pay for an abbey entrance ticket, park in the abbey car park instead. Both car parks are within a few steps of each other.

Both car parks are cash-only.

They have limited disabled parking spaces.

There are public toilets between the two car parks.

If the main two car parks are full, there’s an additional car park located at Wireworks Tintern on Forge Road. This is a small, free car park. However, it’s a 10-minute walk from Tintern Abbey and it doesn’t have any toilet facilities.

A fourth car park is located at the Tintern Furnace Car Park, which is further away.

Where to stay in Tintern

If you want to tackle multiple trails, you can stay overnight in Tintern village. There are only a few options in the actual village, although there are far more hotels in Chepstow or Monmouth.

I’d suggest filtering hotels using the map filter on Booking.com .

I’ve rounded up the best-rated accommodations in Tintern Village the nearby village of Tintern Parva:

Wye Valley Hotel , Tintern Village: 9/10 rating

Self-catering accommodation:

• Holmleigh Cottage , Tintern village (9.6/10 rating)
• Parva Farmhouse Riverside Guesthouse , Tintern Parva (9.1/10 rating)
• Wye View , Tintern village (9/10 rating)

Four Tintern Abbey Walks You Must Try

There are a handful of Tintern Abbey walks. The first things to consider when choosing which walk you do is:

• How long do you want to walk for?
• How difficult do you want the walk to be?
• Do you want views of the abbey?

If your answer to number three is yes, skip to the first trail in my list, the Devil’s Puplit. The best view of the abbey is from the Devil’s Pulpit walk, where there is a ledge overlooking Tintern village.

The walks in my round-up range from 2.5 miles to 5 miles long. However, there are two long-distance trails which pass through Tintern: the Wye Valley Way and the Offa’s Dyke Path.

Both of these trails travel alongside the river Wye towards Monmouth and/or Chepstow, visiting scenic lookout spots such as Wintour’s Leap and The Wyndcliff if you have time to walk further.

However, if you want to start and end the trails in the village, you will need to follow the trail out-and-back (following the same path in both directions). This means you see the same scenery twice.

If you’re looking for the easiest walk in Tintern, skip to my overview of a short section of the Wye Valley Greenway which follows an old railway line and crosses through an eerie old railway tunnel. Brockweir Circular is another easy option; it passes by Tintern Old Station and St Michael’s Church.

1. Devil’s Pulpit and Offa’s Dyke

Best for: An uphill woodland walk with views over Tintern Abbey

Length: 5 miles (approximately 2.5 hours)

Difficulty: Moderate

The Devil’s Pulpit is the best Tintern Abbey walk, in my opinion. It has distant views of the Tintern Abbey ruins and spectacular Wye Valley scenery.

What’s with the name? According to legend, the Devil preached to the abbey’s monks from the limestone ledge, taunting them to leave their place of worship.

At the top of the trail, there is a limestone boulder which you can scramble – it requires you to be a confident scrambler. This is a great spot to pose for a photo.

Regardless, the woodland walk is photogenic. Just check out the moss-covered trees and upturned tree roots.

As part of the route follows along the Offa’s Dyke Path, it’s possible to extend the hike by staying on the Offa’s Dyke Path.

• From the car park outside of Tintern Abbey, locate the Anchor Inn pub opposite the abbey.
• Join the footpath between the pub and the River Wye.
• Follow the footpath along the riverbank until it veers left into Tintern village.
• At the main road (the A466), turn right.
• Walk along the main road until you reach Abbey Mill, a historic centre with a coffee shop, shops, and outdoor seating.
• Walk around Abbey Mill, turning right towards the Wireworks Bridge over the River Wye.
• Cross the Wireworks Bridge over the River Wye.
• Follow the path around to the right until you reach the first trail veering uphill to the left. It is marked by metal poles.
• Follow the trail uphill. At the next junction, take the trail on the right-hand side.
• At the next junction, veer left.
• Shortly after this turning, there will be another junction. This time, follow the left-hand trail uphill.
• At the T-junction, continue following the path to the right, ignoring the next turnings on the left and on the right.
• At the next junction, take the path on the left-hand side and follow it uphill.
• At the next T-junction, turn right.
• The Devil’s Pulpit Viewpoint is straight ahead.
• After visiting the Devil’s Pulpit, continue along the same trail.
• Follow the trail through the woods, ignoring any turnings to the right or the left. You want to follow the path in a loop around Caswell Wood. There will be two right-hand turnings along the footpath after the Devil’s Pulpit viewpoint. These paths join up with the bottom path, which is your route back to Tintern Abbey. However, to stay on the full circular route, ignore the first two right-hand paths and take the right at the first T-junction you come to following these.
• Follow this path in a circular route around Caswell Wood. You will come across one crossroads, where you need to continue straight.
• Follow the path all the way back to Wireworks Bridge and retrace the same route back to Tintern Abbey.

2. The Wye Valley Greenway

Best for: A level path along an old railway line, passing through an eerie 1079-metre tunnel.

Difficulty: Easy

The first thing you need to know about the Wye Valley Greenway route from Tintern Abbey is that it it is an out-and-back trail. This means that you will walk in one direction, then take the same route back to your original destination.

The Wye Valley Greenway has limited views of the abbey because it is a flat trail which traces an old railway line along the riverside. Most of the views are obscured by trees and bushes, so it is primarily a woodland walk.

It’s very flat, making it good for those who want an easy walk. It’s a good option if you want to catch up with a friend or walk with the family. At one point, a peregrine falcon dove over the path ahead of me, so if you’re a birdwatcher, bring your binoclaurs.

The path follows the Wye Valley Railway Line which first opened in 1876. The line closed in the mid 1900s.

The halfway point is the eeriest spot along the trail: Tidenham Tunnel, a 1079-metre-long tunnel which is dimly-lit and home to a large bat population.

You can then extend the walking trail by veering left at the beginning of Tidenham Tunnel, where there is a path which leads to the Devil’s Pulpit circular walk.

The Wye Valley Greenway is suitable for hiking and cycling, but cyclists will need their own wheels as there aren’t any bike hire facilities in Tintern village.

• From the car park outside of Tintern Abbey, take the footpath between the Anchor Inn pub and the River Wye.
• Follow the footpath to the main road in Tintern (the A466).
• Turn right on the main road and continue until you reach Abbey Mill and the Wireworks Bridge over the River Wye.
• Cross over the Wireworks Bridge, just right of Abbey Mill.
• After crossing the river, follow the footpath around to the right.
• Ignore any turns on the left and continue straight.
• Follow the trail directly to Tidenham Tunnel, passing through the tunnel.
• Retrace your steps back through the tunnel and back to Tintern Abbey.

3. Brockweir Circular

Best for: A pleasant walk along an old railway line with an old Victorian station enroute.

Length: 2.5 miles (approximately 1.5 hours)

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Brockweir Circular traces the old railway line between Tintern and the village of Brockweir. It passes by the historic Old Station in Tintern, a Victorian station with a tearoom and visitors centre, as well as the stunning Wye Valley countryside.

Brockweir village was named after a prince of Gwent named Brockmael. It was once a little riverside port town with a quayside and managed shipbuilding and repair for many of the ships that were tasked with shifting cargo up and down the valley.

Interestingly, the village actually gained a reputation for debauchery like gambling and drinking, and there were 16 pubs at one time.

The church, built in the 1820s, was invested in helping the villagers. So, there’s plenty to see along the walk.

• Begin the hike from the Tintern Abbey car park by making your way to the path that runs between the Anchor Inn pub and the River Wye.
• Follow the path until you emerge at the main road running through Tintern (the A466).
• Turn right and follow the main road past the Abbey Mill centre.
• When you reach the Wye Valley Hotel, still on the A466, take the turning to the right signposted St Michael’s Church.
• Past the church, join the riverside path on the right-hand side.
• Follow the footpath over several bridges, ignoring any left-hand trails to Old Station.
• As you approach Brockweir Bridge, take the left-hand turning onto the gated trail.
• Climb the steps to the road.
• Turn right, crossing over the bridge, and follow the main road through the village of Brockweir.
• Take the first road to the right, passing by the village malt house. Then, turn right down a narrow footpath. The footpath squeezes between houses and gardens, and emerges at Moravian Church.
• Climb over the stile into the fields and walk along the riverbank.
• Then, take the path to the left, which heads in the opposite direction of the river.
• Climb over the stile onto the bridleway.
• Turn right and follow the footpath uphill into the woodlands.
• At the next junction, continue straight and follow the path downhill.
• At the old tramway, turn right and then walk left towards Wireworks Bridge.
• Cross Wireworks Bridge and retrace the original route back to Tintern Abbey.

4. Angidy Valley Trail

Best for: A scenic heritage walk stopping at old wireworks, streams and ponds

Length: 3.8 miles (2 hours and 15 minutes)

The Angidy Valley Trail takes in everything from wirework ruins to peaceful ponds, streams, and beech woods.

Back in the days, the Angidy Valley was very involved in producing wire. Angidy wire was extremely high-quality and used for fishing hooks, bird cages, gun wiring, and even Elizabethan garments such as stomachers and farthingales.

If the stories are correct, Angidy wire was also used in the first transatlantic telegraph cable.

In 1895, the metalworks shut because business was no longer booming. However, the remains are still around the trail for you to take in, including the remains of the Abbey Tintern Furnace.

• Begin the walk at Tintern Abbey car park by following the footpath between the Anchor Inn pub and the River Wye along the riverbank.
• After passing through the village, exit onto the main road in Tintern (the A466).
• Cross the main road and follow Forge Road uphill, ignoring the trail to Chapel Hill Road on the left-hand side.
• Just as the road reaches a bend, turn left onto the sloping driveway signposted for Penterry Church.
• Passing the cottage, follow the footpath uphill alongside the stream.
• You will pass underneath a bridge made from planks. After the bridge, turn right, and then turn right again at the next driveway. Take the immediate turning to the left, which heads onto the left-hand side of the wall which separates the two driveways.
• At the end of the wall, rejoin the original driveway.
• Continue to the road through the forest, turning right onto the downhill slope through beech trees.
• Cross over the next junction and continue walking until you reach the dam. There should be a bench by the dam.
• Take the left-hand turning and follow the pond to the footbridge.
• Follow the path to the road, turning left and then immediately right into the Abbey Tintern Furnace ruins car park.
• On the other side of the ruins, take the footpath along the stream and ascend to the road.
• At the signpost for Raglan, turn right, crossing the stream.
• At the next junction, take the left-hand turning signposted for The Fedw. You should pass a farmhouse and cross over a stream, before turning left at the Cross Farm entrance.
• Follow the road back to the pond.
• At the next junction, take the right-hand turning signposted Tintern.
• Follow the road back to Abbey Tintern Furnace and cross over the stream.
• After the farm, take the footpath on the right and cross over the footbridge over the pond.
• Turn left twice, taking the riverside path which eventually merges with another trail.
• Continue walking along the right-hand side of the stream until you reach a narrow lane. Turn left before the junction, following the footpath behind the house.
• Follow the stream back to the road.
• Turn left onto the road.
• At the next junction, turn right and continue following the road until you reach Tintern Village.
• Retrace the route back to Tintern Abbey.

Things to do after completing one of the Tintern Abbey walks

1. visit tintern abbey.

Once you have completed one of the Tintern walking trails, you can visit Tintern Abbey. The gothic abbey is glorious to look at from the road. However, it’s even more impressive when you’re standing directly inside.

A section of the abbey is open to the public, although you must keep to the designated paths because pieces of the abbey are continuously crumbling off despite restoration efforts.

Disabled visitors go free, and younger and senior visitors also get discounted tickets.

2. Have a pub meal

There is a traditional pub next door to Tintern Abbey, the Anchor Inn pub. It has a large garden terrace and views of the abbey.

The Sunday roast was a welcome treat following my first Tintern Abbey hike, but they also have a staple menu containing typical British pub grub like fish and chips, Wye Valley rump steak, and breaded scampi.

There are a couple of other pubs in Tintern village. They are called The Wild Hire and The Rose & Crown, but I haven’t visited them and I can’t vouch for the food.

3. Visit Abbey Mill

Abbey Mill is another excellent spot to unwind after you’ve completed your chosen Tintern Abbey hike. The original mill was established in 1131.

The old mill buildings now house craft shops, a coffee shop, and a restaurant serving alcoholic or soft drinks. The watermill also runs at certain times of the day.

Check the opening times before you visit because they vary depending upon the time of year. They are usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

4. Visit a coffee shop

There are several other coffee shops around Tintern, where you can grab a coffee or an ice cream. They’re known for being dog-friendly; Tintern is a dog-friendly village and there are free poop bag stations deposited around the village.

The coffee shops in Tintern include the Filling Station Cafe, the Abbey Mill Coffee House and an ice cream shop.

Suggested reading:

• B est beaches in Gower , Wales

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• Book hotels on Booking.com
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• Save money by housesitting on TrustedHousesitters

Katie Treharne

I’m Katie, the owner of Escape Artist Katie. I have been travel writing since 2018, including writing for luxury travel magazines and publications such as Wanderlust.

As well as being a digital nomad who works and lives abroad permanently, I’m a big advocate for  offbeat travel  and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

I hope you found my article useful – find out more  about  me here or keep up with my travels on  Instagram .

Tintern Abbey

Gothic masterpiece became a Romantic symbol of the sublime.

Tintern, Monmouthshire

Opening times

Monday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm and Sunday: 11am to 4pm.

Tintern Monmouthshire NP16 6SE

51.6993253, -2.6828531

Tintern Abbey is a national icon, still standing in roofless splendour on the banks of the River Wye nearly 500 years since its tragic fall from grace.

It was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks, who were happy to make do with timber buildings at first. Abbot Henry, a reformed robber, was better known for his habit of crying at the altar than for his architectural ambitions.

A simple stone church and cloisters came later. But then, thanks to the patronage of wealthy Marcher lords, the white-robed monks began to think bigger. In 1269 they began to build a new abbey church and didn’t stop until they’d created one of the masterpieces of British Gothic architecture. The great west front with its seven lancet window and the soaring arches of the nave still take the breath away.

So grateful were the monks to their powerful patron Roger Bigod that they were still handing out alms on his behalf in 1535. But by then King Henry VIIIs English Reformation was well underway. Only a year later Tintern surrendered in the first round of the dissolution of the monasteries, and the great abbey began slowly to turn into a majestic ruin.

Wildlife haven

Social heritage stories

National heritage here

Magnificent memorials

Fascinating churchyard

Enchanting atmosphere

Captivating architecture

Walkers & cyclists welcome

Space to secure your bike

Parking within 250m

On street parking at church

Level access to the main areas

Dog friendly

Accessible toilets nearby

Contact information

Email the church

01443 336000

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( Image credit: ©CrownCopyright2020)

Opening Times

15 March – 03 November 2024

Please note that a combined ticket giving admission to Tintern Abbey and Colclough Walled Garden can be purchased at Reception.

Children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Seasonal Opening Times

Daily 10:00 – 17:00

Last admission 16:15

Daily 10:00 – 17:30

Last admission 16:45

051 562 650

[email protected]

By Car – Public car park close to site.

By Bus – Take the X8 to Cashel and walk 500m from the centre of Cashel town off the Dublin Road.

By Train – The nearest train station is Thurles.

Click the relevant icon below to open Maps directions

Getting Here

16km south of New Ross off the R734 road or 29km from Wexford off the Wexford to Ballyhack road R733

Open location in Google Maps

Facilities Restrictions

• Bicycle Parking
• Card Accepted
• Coach parking
• Guided tours
• Picnic Area
• Walking trails
• Wheelchair Accessible Toilet

Restrictions

• Appropriate footwear
• Assistance dogs only
• No climbing
• No mobile devices
• Uneven walkways

Social Guide

Download, print and read our social guide (PDF) about visiting Tintern Abbey. This will help first-time visitors, families and people with developmental and learning disabilities to prepare for a visit to Tintern Abbey.

Download the Social Guide

Nearby sites to visit

Ballyhack castle.

Savour a sense of the Middle Ages

Approx. 8.9 km from Tintern Abbey

The John F. Kennedy Arboretum

A garden of presidential proportions.

Approx. 11.4 km from Tintern Abbey

Reginald’s Tower

Step inside Ireland’s oldest civic building

Approx. 18.4 km from Tintern Abbey

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Tintern Abbey, from "Remarks on a Tour to North and South Wales, in the year 1797"

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Title: Tintern Abbey, from "Remarks on a Tour to North and South Wales, in the year 1797"

Series/Portfolio: "Remarks on a Tour to North and South Wales, in the year 1797"

Artist: John Hill (British, ca. 1714–1775)

Artist: After Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)

Author: Henry Wigstead (British, 1745?–1800 Margate)

Publisher: W. Wigstead (British, active London, ca. 1799–1805)

Date: January 1, 1800

Medium: Etching and aquatint

Dimensions: Sheet: 8 5/16 × 4 13/16 in. (21.1 × 12.2 cm)

Classification: Prints

Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959

Accession Number: 59.533.764(7)

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• From A.D. 1800–1900

London Account Book 1798–1816

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Tintern Abbey: History, The Walks + Why It’s Well Worth Visiting

By Author Cristina Miceli

Posted on Last updated: April 6, 2022

Tintern Abbey and the surrounding area is one of the most overlooked places to visit in Wexford .

The Abbey itself has a very interesting past while the surrounding area is an absolute joy to explore on foot.

In the guide below, you’ll find everything from info on the various Tintern Abbey walks to the history of the area.

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about Tintern Abbey

Photo via Shutterstock

Although a visit to Tintern Abbey in County Wexford is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Tintern Abbey is located in Saltmills, right at the start of the Hook Peninsula . It’s a 10-minute drive from Fethard-on-Sea , a 25-minute drive from New Ross , a 30-minute drive from Kilmore Quay and a 35-minute spin from Wexford Town .

2. Opening hours

Tintern Abbey is open from March 10th to November 1st from 10:00 to 17:00 daily. Last admission to the Abbey is at 16:15.

3. Admission

An entry ticket will cost you €5 for adults, €4 for senior citizens and groups and €3 for children and students. Special discounts are also available for families. 

4. A whole lot of history

Tintern Abbey is more than 800 years old and it has served as everything from a Cistercian monastery to a living headquarters for the Colclough family. Despite being built in the 11th century, Tintern Abbey is still in excellent condition, making it a joy to explore.

5. The Tintern Abbey walks

There are five different trails to tackle around Tintern Abbey with something for most levels of fitness. The gardener’s trail is only 0.9 km (0.6 miles) and will take you to the Colclough Walled Garden, while the Bannow Bay Trail is 7.2 km (4.5 miles) in length and passes through the old estate village of Saltmills (more on these below).

The interesting tale of Tintern Abbey

Photos via Shutterstock

Tintern Abbey has a very peculiar origin and it is in fact the result of a violent storm. It all started on a usual day in the late 10th century, when the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal, decided to spend a day sailing on his boat.

However, the weather quickly changed and he was caught up in a violent storm. Afraid he would not survive, the Earl of Pembroke made a vow to God – he promised to build a Cistercian abbey if he managed to return safely back home.

Luckily, he managed to come back alive and decided to be faithful to his vow, ordering the construction of Tintern Abbey, which was finally completed in 1,200. 

The monastery and its dissolution

Soon after its completion, the Abbey was inhabited by monks coming from the famous Cistercian Abbey located in Tintern, Wales. In order to distinguish this abbey from the one in Wales, the newly founded abbey came to be known as ‘Tintern de Voto’ meaning Tintern of the vow.

After the dissolution of the monasteries, between 1536 and 1541, Tintern Abbey was granted to the English politician, Sir James Croft, and then to a soldier of Henry VIII, Anthony Colclough of Staffordshire.

For years, the abbey was inhabited by the Colclough family till its last resident, Lucey Marie Biddelph, donated it to the Irish state.

The present day

From 1982 to 2007, the National Museum Service undertook a number of excavation and heritage development projects on this site such as special conservation measures to protect the bat colony inhabiting the structure.

Unfortunately, in 2012 a fire destroyed part of the 19th-century outbuildings and, as a consequence, additional restoration works had to be undertaken. 

Things to do at Tintern Abbey

One of the reasons that a visit to Tintern Abbey is one of the more popular things to do in Wexford is due to the volume of things there is to see and do here.

Below, you’ll find info on everything from the tours to the various Tintern Abbey walks. Dive on in!

1. Admire it from the outside, first

Before heading inside, make sure to admire this ancient building from the outside. Around the outside walls of the chancel, you will find decorated corbel tables and 22 carved heads of monsters and beasts.

On the east side are located carved ecclesiastic figures while, just a short distance from the abbey, you will find a 16th-century bridge. This structure, made from locally sourced stone, is approximately 16 meters in length and features three arches.

2. Then step back in time inside

If you head towards the north wall of the chancel you will see three low arches. These were probably used as burial places for important locals and abbots. If you keep walking you will arrive at the cloister, where, in ancient times, monks used to gather to read sacred scriptures and eat together.

Here you will also find the remains of a collation bench and an abbot’s seat. If you look west, you will see an arched gateway dating from the 13th century. In the past, this was probably used as the main entrance to the cloister. 

3. Head off on one of the trails

The Tintern Abbey walks are some of my favourite walks in Wexford (especially as they’re often much quieter than some of the other nearby trails). Here’s an overview of each trail:

• The Gardener’s trail (blue waymarks) : 0.9km in length and can be completed in about 20 minutes
• The Demesne trail (red waymarks) : 2.4 km in length and follows the Tintern River. Takes around 40 minutes
• The Foxboro trail (purple waymarks) : 3.5 km long, and leads you to tranquil landscapes. Takes around 1 hour
• The Bannow Bay trail (green waymarks) : 7.2k in length and takes around 1.5 hours to complete
• The Buggy Trail (pink on blue waymarks) : 5km in length and takes around 75 minutes to complete

4. Visit Colclough Walled Garden

Just a 5-minute walk from Tintern Abbey you will also find the Colclough Georgian Walled Garden. It was built more than 200 years ago and features the same design it had back in the 1830’s. A river flows through the garden and two intramural structures divide the terrain in half.

The east part served as an ornamental garden while the west side was used to cultivate plants and herbs for the kitchen. Colclough Walled Garden is situated in a verdant tranquil valley regularly visited by a variety of birds. If you’re lucky you may even be able to spot a Colclough eagle!

Things to do near Tintern Abbey

One of the beauties of Tintern Abbey is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Wexford .

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Tintern Abbey.

1. Duncannon Fort and beach (15-minute drive)

Located in the heart of Duncannon, this ancient fort dates back to 1587-88. Its construction was ordered by Queen Elizabeth I to protect Waterford city from an attack by the Spanish Armada. Next to Duncannon Fort , you will also find the sandy Duncannon Beach .

2. Beaches galore (20-minute drive)

Photo left: @ameliaslaughter. Right: @justpatcassidy

There’s heaps of beaches in Wexford and you’ll find some of the best, such as Dollar Bay and Booley Bay , a short drive from Tintern Abbey. Dollar Bay, in particular, is an absolute stunner.

3. Loftus Hall (20-minute drive)

Loftus Hall is a large country house is known by the locals for being haunted by the ghost of a young woman. In 2011, this mansion was bought by Aidan Quigley who organised tours of the allegedly haunted house and in 2020, the house was again put on the market for sale. 

4. Hook Lighthouse (25-minute drive)

Hook Lighthouse is another building whose construction was ordered by William Marshal. This is the world’s oldest operational lighthouse and it was built more than 800 years ago. Guided tours are available on a daily basis and will take you to the top of the lighthouse from where you will have a spectacular view of your surroundings. 

FAQs about visiting Tintern Abbey

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Which of the Tintern Abbey walking trails is the easiest?’ to ‘Where is Tintern Abbey?’ (there’s one in Wales and another in Wexford).

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is Tintern Abbey worth visiting?

Yes! You can explore the Abbey, head off on one of the Tintern Abbey walks and then visit the nearby walled garden.

Are the Tintern Abbey walks any use?

The Tintern Abbey walking trails are well worth sauntering along. They vary in length and difficulty and each makes a pleasant morning ramble.

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The EPIC Tour Continues – Next stop Tintern Abbey

Visit Wales’ EPIC art installation now continues on its tour of Wales as it travels south to Tintern Abbey.

This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government

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EPIC will appear at the popular Cadw site in Monmouthshire on Thursday 18th August and remain there until the 25th of August. 

The giant mirrored letters, reaching 4 meters high and 11 meters wide, forming the word EPIC is part of the latest phase of Visit Wales’ marketing campaign to promote Wales as an adventure destination.  It will pop up unannounced at locations across the length and breadth of Wales over the summer. 

The installation comes in a week where the Welsh Government’s historic environment service (Cadw) has released a stunning 360° video capturing the sun setting at the iconic abbey.

Part of a social media series, aptly named Epic Moments, the 60 second video, filmed as an evening to night time-lapse at the abbey, aims to showcase the iconic site in a new and imaginative way. 

The short film, created by Cadw, gives viewers an immersive experience, allowing them to have control over what they see using virtual reality headsets or low-cost technology such as Google Cardboard.

Fiona Wilton Vice Chair of Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism Association and local business owner of Monmouthshire Cottages is delighted that the area is hosting EPIC and said: 

“Guests in the Wye Valley have such a choice of wonderful adventures and are enjoying them immensely. From kayaking down the Wye to superb local geocaching or exploring the art of Turner who painted the Abbey or tasting something new at one of our brilliant eateries they are totally spoiled for choice. Right now everyone is taking to two wheels as we are all thrilled by the success of the Welsh cyclists in Rio. On September 8th the mighty Tour of Britain comes through Tintern and locals and guests alike are sure it will be Epic indeed!”

Nicola Edwards, Food & Tourism Manager, Monmouthshire County Council, said: 

“Located within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the birthplace of British tourism, the atmospheric ruins of Tintern Abbey make a truly epic location and now we’ll have the letters to prove it! On the back of the Monmouthshire & District Eisteddfod held in Abergavenny earlier this month and the dragon flying into Chepstow Castle last week, Monmouthshire has already had a fantastic summer, and we look forward to this success continuing.” 

This innovative travelling art installation will act as a focal point for visitors’ selfies and is designed to encourage image and content sharing on social media using the campaign hashtag #FindYourEpic.  The tour is supported by an integrated campaign consisting of PR and other media activity including digital advertising, e-mail marketing and social media activity targeting families and visitors in our core regions in North West England, The Midlands, Yorkshire, London and the South East.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, said: 

“This is an incredible time for tourism in Wales. We are seeing record numbers of people coming here and staying here and it’s all because of our increasing profile on a world stage." “The buzz from the Euros is fantastic and I’m confident that with the development of new innovative attractions, the quality of the tourism offer and more of these kind of epic adventures, we will see a further increase in tourism in Wales.  “The EPIC letters are huge in scale and will be popping up in destinations right across Wales, encouraging people to find their own epic experiences in the Year of Adventure.” 

Designed by Visit Wales’s creative agency, Smorgasbord, the EPIC letters have been made by Wild Creations, the Cardiff-based company that created the ‘Ball in the Wall’ at Cardiff castle for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 

The EPIC word has been produced with a mirror coating designed to reflect the beauty of the Welsh landscape.  The installation took three weeks and four people to build, and each letter weighs a staggering 350kg. Ten people will be needed to install it in each location.

First published

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Luke Jerram

Tintern abbey.

Luke Jerram commissioned a new choral musical piece by Stanton Delaplane to play in the space. Listen to this here.. 

History of Moon Viewing at Tintern

This isn’t the first time the moon has drawn visitors to the Abbey from far and wide. After the Wye Valley railway opened in 1876 Tintern Abbey became a very fashionable destination, especially to see the harvest moon, rising through the Abbey’s rose window. It was a spectacle that attracted thousands of visitors in the 1880s.

Tintern Abbey Summary & Analysis by William Wordsworth

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

“Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798”— commonly known as “Tintern Abbey”— is a poem written by the British Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Wordsworth had first visited the Wye Valley when he was 23 years old. His return five years later occasioned this poem, which Wordsworth saw as articulating his beliefs about nature, creativity, and the human soul. “Tintern Abbey” was included as the final poem in Lyrical Ballads , a 1798 collection of poems by Wordsworth and his friend and fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

• Read the full text of “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”

The Full Text of “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”

1 Five years have past; five summers, with the length

2 Of five long winters! and again I hear

3 These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs

4 With a soft inland murmur.—Once again

5 Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,

6 That on a wild secluded scene impress

7 Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect

8 The landscape with the quiet of the sky.

9 The day is come when I again repose

10 Here, under this dark sycamore, and view

11 These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts,

12 Which at this season, with their unripe fruits,

13 Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves

14 'Mid groves and copses. Once again I see

15 These hedge-rows, hardly hedge-rows, little lines

16 Of sportive wood run wild: these pastoral farms,

17 Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke

18 Sent up, in silence, from among the trees!

19 With some uncertain notice, as might seem

20 Of vagrant dwellers in the houseless woods,

21 Or of some Hermit's cave, where by his fire

22 The Hermit sits alone.

23                                               These beauteous forms,

24 Through a long absence, have not been to me

25 As is a landscape to a blind man's eye:

26 But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din

27 Of towns and cities, I have owed to them,

28 In hours of weariness, sensations sweet,

29 Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart;

30 And passing even into my purer mind

31 With tranquil restoration:—feelings too

32 Of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps,

33 As have no slight or trivial influence

34 On that best portion of a good man's life,

35 His little, nameless, unremembered, acts

36 Of kindness and of love. Nor less, I trust,

37 To them I may have owed another gift,

38 Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood,

39 In which the burthen of the mystery,

40 In which the heavy and the weary weight

41 Of all this unintelligible world,

42 Is lightened:—that serene and blessed mood,

43 In which the affections gently lead us on,—

44 Until, the breath of this corporeal frame

45 And even the motion of our human blood

46 Almost suspended, we are laid asleep

47 In body, and become a living soul:

48 While with an eye made quiet by the power

49 Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,

50 We see into the life of things.

51                                                         If this

52 Be but a vain belief, yet, oh! how oft—

53 In darkness and amid the many shapes

54 Of joyless daylight; when the fretful stir

55 Unprofitable, and the fever of the world,

56 Have hung upon the beatings of my heart—

57 How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,

58 O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,

59          How often has my spirit turned to thee!

60    And now, with gleams of half-extinguished thought,

61 With many recognitions dim and faint,

62 And somewhat of a sad perplexity,

63 The picture of the mind revives again:

64 While here I stand, not only with the sense

65 Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts

66 That in this moment there is life and food

67 For future years. And so I dare to hope,

68 Though changed, no doubt, from what I was when first

69 I came among these hills; when like a roe

70 I bounded o'er the mountains, by the sides

71 Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams,

72 Wherever nature led: more like a man

73 Flying from something that he dreads, than one

74 Who sought the thing he loved. For nature then

75 (The coarser pleasures of my boyish days

76 And their glad animal movements all gone by)

77 To me was all in all.—I cannot paint

78 What then I was. The sounding cataract

79 Haunted me like a passion: the tall rock,

80 The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,

81 Their colours and their forms, were then to me

82 An appetite; a feeling and a love,

83 That had no need of a remoter charm,

84 By thought supplied, not any interest

85 Unborrowed from the eye.—That time is past,

86 And all its aching joys are now no more,

87 And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this

88 Faint I, nor mourn nor murmur; other gifts

89 Have followed; for such loss, I would believe,

90 Abundant recompense. For I have learned

91 To look on nature, not as in the hour

92 Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes

93 The still sad music of humanity,

94 Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power

95 To chasten and subdue.—And I have felt

96 A presence that disturbs me with the joy

97 Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime

98 Of something far more deeply interfused,

99 Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

100 And the round ocean and the living air,

101 And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:

102 A motion and a spirit, that impels

103 All thinking things, all objects of all thought,

104 And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still

105 A lover of the meadows and the woods

106 And mountains; and of all that we behold

107 From this green earth; of all the mighty world

108 Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create,

109 And what perceive; well pleased to recognise

110 In nature and the language of the sense

111 The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,

112 The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul

113 Of all my moral being.

114                                             Nor perchance,

115 If I were not thus taught, should I the more

116 Suffer my genial spirits to decay:

117 For thou art with me here upon the banks

118 Of this fair river; thou my dearest Friend,

119 My dear, dear Friend; and in thy voice I catch

120 The language of my former heart, and read

121 My former pleasures in the shooting lights

122 Of thy wild eyes. Oh! yet a little while

123 May I behold in thee what I was once,

124 My dear, dear Sister! and this prayer I make,

125 Knowing that Nature never did betray

126 The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege,

127 Through all the years of this our life, to lead

128 From joy to joy: for she can so inform

129 The mind that is within us, so impress

130 With quietness and beauty, and so feed

131 With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,

132 Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men,

133 Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all

134 The dreary intercourse of daily life,

135 Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb

136 Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold

137 Is full of blessings. Therefore let the moon

138 Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;

139 And let the misty mountain-winds be free

140 To blow against thee: and, in after years,

141 When these wild ecstasies shall be matured

142 Into a sober pleasure; when thy mind

143 Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,

144 Thy memory be as a dwelling-place

145 For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then,

146 If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,

147 Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts

148 Of tender joy wilt thou remember me,

149 And these my exhortations! Nor, perchance—

150 If I should be where I no more can hear

151 Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams

152 Of past existence—wilt thou then forget

153 That on the banks of this delightful stream

154 We stood together; and that I, so long

155 A worshipper of Nature, hither came

156 Unwearied in that service: rather say

157 With warmer love—oh! with far deeper zeal

158 Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget,

159 That after many wanderings, many years

160 Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,

161 And this green pastoral landscape, were to me

162 More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!

“Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” Summary

“lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” themes.

The Restorative Power of Nature

• See where this theme is active in the poem.

Awe and the Sublime

Perception, Creativity, and the Imagination

Time and Change

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey”.

Five years have past; five summers, with the length Of five long winters! and again I hear These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs With a soft inland murmur.—Once again Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,

That on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect The landscape with the quiet of the sky.

The day is come when I again repose Here, under this dark sycamore, and view These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts, Which at this season, with their unripe fruits, Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves 'Mid groves and copses.

Lines 14-22

Once again I see These hedge-rows, hardly hedge-rows, little lines Of sportive wood run wild: these pastoral farms, Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke Sent up, in silence, from among the trees! With some uncertain notice, as might seem Of vagrant dwellers in the houseless woods, Or of some Hermit's cave, where by his fire The Hermit sits alone.

Lines 23-29

These beauteous forms, Through a long absence, have not been to me As is a landscape to a blind man's eye: But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din Of towns and cities, I have owed to them, In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart;

Lines 30-36

And passing even into my purer mind With tranquil restoration:—feelings too Of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps, As have no slight or trivial influence On that best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered, acts Of kindness and of love.

Lines 36-47

Nor less, I trust, To them I may have owed another gift, Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood, In which the burthen of the mystery, In which the heavy and the weary weight Of all this unintelligible world, Is lightened:—that serene and blessed mood, In which the affections gently lead us on,— Until, the breath of this corporeal frame And even the motion of our human blood Almost suspended, we are laid asleep In body, and become a living soul:

Lines 48-50

While with an eye made quiet by the power Of harmony, and the deep power of joy, We see into the life of things.

Lines 51-56

If this Be but a vain belief, yet, oh! how oft— In darkness and amid the many shapes Of joyless daylight; when the fretful stir Unprofitable, and the fever of the world, Have hung upon the beatings of my heart—

Lines 57-59

How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee, O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,          How often has my spirit turned to thee!

Lines 60-67

   And now, with gleams of half-extinguished thought, With many recognitions dim and faint, And somewhat of a sad perplexity, The picture of the mind revives again: While here I stand, not only with the sense Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts That in this moment there is life and food For future years.

Lines 67-74

And so I dare to hope, Though changed, no doubt, from what I was when first I came among these hills; when like a roe I bounded o'er the mountains, by the sides Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, Wherever nature led: more like a man Flying from something that he dreads, than one Who sought the thing he loved.

Lines 74-80

For nature then (The coarser pleasures of my boyish days And their glad animal movements all gone by) To me was all in all.—I cannot paint What then I was. The sounding cataract Haunted me like a passion: the tall rock, The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,

Lines 81-95

Their colours and their forms, were then to me An appetite; a feeling and a love, That had no need of a remoter charm, By thought supplied, not any interest Unborrowed from the eye.—That time is past, And all its aching joys are now no more, And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this Faint I, nor mourn nor murmur; other gifts Have followed; for such loss, I would believe, Abundant recompense. For I have learned To look on nature, not as in the hour Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes The still sad music of humanity, Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power To chasten and subdue.

Lines 95-101

—And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:

Lines 102-104

A motion and a spirit, that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things.

Lines 104-113

Therefore am I still A lover of the meadows and the woods And mountains; and of all that we behold From this green earth; of all the mighty world Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create, And what perceive; well pleased to recognise In nature and the language of the sense The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul Of all my moral being.

Lines 114-116

Nor perchance, If I were not thus taught, should I the more Suffer my genial spirits to decay:

Lines 117-122

For thou art with me here upon the banks Of this fair river; thou my dearest Friend, My dear, dear Friend; and in thy voice I catch The language of my former heart, and read My former pleasures in the shooting lights Of thy wild eyes.

Lines 122-131

Oh! yet a little while May I behold in thee what I was once, My dear, dear Sister! and this prayer I make, Knowing that Nature never did betray The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege, Through all the years of this our life, to lead From joy to joy: for she can so inform The mind that is within us, so impress With quietness and beauty, and so feed With lofty thoughts,

Lines 131-137

that neither evil tongues, Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all The dreary intercourse of daily life, Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold Is full of blessings.

Lines 137-142

Therefore let the moon Shine on thee in thy solitary walk; And let the misty mountain-winds be free To blow against thee: and, in after years, When these wild ecstasies shall be matured Into a sober pleasure;

Lines 142-149

when thy mind Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms, Thy memory be as a dwelling-place For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then, If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief, Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts Of tender joy wilt thou remember me, And these my exhortations!

Lines 149-158

Nor, perchance— If I should be where I no more can hear Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams Of past existence—wilt thou then forget That on the banks of this delightful stream We stood together; and that I, so long A worshipper of Nature, hither came Unwearied in that service: rather say With warmer love—oh! with far deeper zeal Of holier love.

Lines 158-162

Nor wilt thou then forget, That after many wanderings, many years Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs, And this green pastoral landscape, were to me More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!

“Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” Symbols

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The Mansion

“lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” poetic devices & figurative language.

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Personification

End-stopped line, juxtaposition, polysyndeton, alliteration, “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• Tintern Abbey
• Orchard-tufts
• Groves and copses
• Unintelligible
• Exhortations
• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”

Rhyme scheme, “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” speaker, “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” setting, literary and historical context of “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey”, more “lines composed a few miles above tintern abbey” resources, external resources.

Visual Depiction of Tintern Abbey — View an 1835 visual depiction of Tintern Abbey by the British artist Samuel Palmer. Like Wordsworth’s poem, this depiction removes evidence of the local people and industry in the area, presenting a Romantic vision of the ruins of the abbey within a natural landscape.

Biography of William Wordsworth — Learn more about Wordsworth's life and work via the Poetry Foundation.

Facsimile of Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals — View a facsimile of two pages from Dorothy Wordsworth’s journals, and read about an example of how Wordsworth used her imagery and writing in his poems.

British Romanticism — Read more about the British Romantic movement at the Poetry Foundation website.

Essay about "Tintern Abbey" and Facsimile Images of Lyrical Ballads — Read an article about the poem and view facsimile images of the original Lyrical Ballads, at the British Library.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Wordsworth

A Complaint

A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Expostulation and Reply

Extract from The Prelude (Boat Stealing)

It Is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free

I Travelled Among Unknown Men

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Lines Written in Early Spring

London, 1802

My Heart Leaps Up

Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room

Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways

She was a Phantom of Delight

The Solitary Reaper

The Tables Turned

The World Is Too Much With Us

Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower

To a Snowdrop

We Are Seven

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