Dundrennan Abbey

Overview

Once home to a community of Cistercian monks and now under the care of Historic Scotland, Dundrennan Abbey is amongst the best preserved late 12th century Cistercian architecture in Scotland. As you explore the abbey you can't fail to be charmed by the peaceful beauty of Dundrennan's ruins which stand in a beautiful small and secluded valley - the remoteness is in keeping with the strict rules and observance of the Cistercian order.

Dundrennan's church is without doubt the most impressive one to survive from Scotland's 13 Cistercian monasteries and today many of the stone carvings around the abbey can be still touched.

There is reasonable wheelchair access for wheelchair users as the abbey is laid out on three levels with a step up to the ticket office and a step down to the cloisters. There is also a step down and a gate stone to get to the abbey. The abbey's gravel surface can make access difficult for visitors using wheelchairs and the grassed areas can be difficult to negotiate when the ground is wet.