Such a lovely peaceful spot. The Abbey was gorgeous (as they all are). We enjoyed our walk around the site today. Took lots of photos. The ruins are in really good condition. Just wish parents would stop their children from climbing on it. Free parking and free entry to the Abbey. Run by CADW. There is a campsite next to it with toilet facilities and a restaurant. The staff in there are lovely, friendly girls. Make a decent brew too. Thanks girls.

Stunning place, so photogenic. Free parking. Dog friendly and a restaurant on site.

We love the ruins here. Always try and visit if we are in the area. No entrance fee and now not manned by any staff . There are information boards up around the site. It must have been very impressive in it's day. Parking in the lane down to the abbey next to a campsite. Also watched some red kites overhead..

Valle Crucis Abbey is a wonderful place to explore and a real hidden gem. Founded in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, a Welsh prince, it was a Cistercian monastery that played an important role in religious life in the region for over 300 years. The abbey was dissolved in 1537 during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, leaving the impressive ruins that remain today. The ruins are very well preserved, and as you walk around you can still see a lot of fascinating stonework, arches, and details that give a strong sense of how impressive the abbey once was. Across the grounds, information boards explain the church, cloister, and surrounding buildings, which makes it easy to understand the history and layout even if you’re not familiar with monastic sites. There is plenty to see, from the remains of the abbey church and cloister to the surrounding walls and grassy areas. One of the highlights is the pond at the back of the ruined church, which adds to the calm and reflective atmosphere and makes the whole visit feel very peaceful. Entrance used to be paid, but it now seems to be free, which makes it even better value and more accessible. The car park is right in front of the gate into the abbey grounds, so it’s very easy to visit without any long walk or hassle.

Upon a fair and temperate day did I, in good fellowship with my beloved Annette and our faithful hound, make our way unto the ancient and reverend ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, a place wherein time itself seemeth to walk more softly. There, amid broken stone and arch unroofed, we found a quiet so profound that the very air appeared steeped in devotion and remembrance. The Abbey, though long despoiled of roof and choir, yet standeth noble in its decay, each weathered wall bearing silent witness to prayers once uttered and lives long since yielded unto God. As we paced the cloister’s bounds, our hearts were stirred with a gentle awe, for the stones spake more eloquently than any living tongue, telling of monks at their offices and bells that once summoned the faithful. Great was our comfort in the stillness of that place. No rude clamour troubled the mind, but only the whisper of the wind and the soft tread of our dog upon the grass, who himself seemed to sense the sanctity thereof and kept close at heel, calm and content. Annette walked beside me, and together we lingered long, reading history in shadow and light, and finding solace where centuries have passed. In sooth, Valle Crucis Abbey is a balm to the spirit, a retreat wherein the soul may rest from the burdens of the world and commune quietly with what hath been and what endureth. We departed thence enriched in mind and heart, thankful for the peace granted us, and bearing with us the memory of a place where tranquillity and history dwell hand in hand.