Explore the abbey ruins
The nave, chancel, tower, chapel and cloister of the 1200 Cistercian monastery still stand, cared for by the OPW. Guided tours are offered, or you can wander on your own.
Tintern Abbey
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About
Founded around 1200 by William Marshal and later turned into the Colclough family home, Tintern Cistercian Abbey still stands beside a restored Georgian walled garden on the shore of Bannow Bay.
Things to Do
Hunt out the medieval carvings
Look high on the outside walls of the chancel for the decorated corbel tables with 22 carved heads of humans, monsters and fantastical hybrids. The cloister kept the abbot's seat and collation bench.
Step into the Colclough tower house
After the dissolution, the church became a private dwelling. The Lady Chapel kitchen chimney survives, and the family library has a 19th-century Gothic window with views to Bannow Bay, a 16th-century bridge and a limekiln.
Wander the Colclough Walled Garden
This 2.5-acre Georgian garden, restored to its 1830s layout, is split into ornamental and kitchen halves with a stream crossed by five bridges. A combined abbey-and-garden ticket can be bought at reception.
Walk the Tintern Trails
Four looped walks start at the abbey trailhead: the 0.9 km Gardeners Trail, 2.4 km Tintern Demesne Trail, 3.5 km Foxboro Trail and the 7.2 km Bannow Bay Trail. Suitable footwear is advised on the rougher routes.
Old bridge, mill and Bannow Bay
A short stroll reaches a rare 16th-century three-arched bridge and the ivy-covered shell of an 18th-century flour mill. Bannow Bay, where the Normans landed in 1169, is a prime spot for waders, shelduck and Brent geese.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: 5 March to 4 November 2026. 1 March–31 May and 1 September–4 November: daily 10:00–17:00. 1 June–31 August: daily 10:00–17:30. Last admission 45 minutes before closing. Closed outside the season.
- Admission: Adults €5.00, group/senior €4.00, child/student €3.00, family €13.00 (cash only).
- Parking: Car park at the abbey with an overflow area, plus coach and bicycle parking. A separate walkers' car park sits about 100 m inside the gates. Entrance gates lock each evening, so check the notice if returning late.
- Food: A tea-rooms sits at reception. Nearby Fethard-on-Sea, about a 10-minute drive away, has shops, pubs and cafes.
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