Abbey Cwmhir – ‘the abbey in the long valley’ – was the largest of several Cistercian monasteries established in Wales in the medieval period. Only a few sections of the wall of the great 13th century church still stand today, but this wonderfully peaceful spot on the north bank of the Clywedog Brook, north of Llandrindod Wells, is well worth a visit.
The abbey was established as a sister house to Whitland Abbey in Carmarthenshire, south west Wales. It was originally founded in 1143 and then re-established in 1176, probably under the patronage of Cadwallon ap Madog, the ruler of Maelienydd, as the area was then called. Cadwallon was killed in 1182 by the Marcher lord Robert Mortimer and his followers. Even though Lord Robert was imprisoned in Winchester for this attack, by 1195 Maelienydd and Cwmhir had both fallen to his troops.
Both Anglo-Norman and Welsh lords had vested interests in the abbey, but by the mid-13th century Llywelyn the Great held sway over this part of the border. Under the patronage of Llywelyn, who died in 1240, the abbey enjoyed particular prosperity, and it was probably during Llywelyn’s reign that work on the vast church was begun. At 242 feet in length, this was designed to rival many English cathedrals in size – originally there were 14 arches. But it was never finished.
​Powys – the area in which the abbey stood – was fought over constantly by the English and Welsh, and the monks of Cwmhir often found themselves caught between these warring parties. In 1231 the Abbey narrowly escaped destruction by the English in retribution for the actions of a monk who had deceived the English army.
Cwmhir is widely believed to be the burial place of the headless body of Llywelyn the Last after his murder at nearby Builth Wells on 11 December 1282. A modern slab commemorates this, but there is no definite grave.
Free Entry
Take the B road towards the village of Abbeycwmhir, that runs to the west of the A483 4.5 miles north of Llandrindod Wells.
6.3 miles from Pen-y-Bont railway station.
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Take the B road towards the village of Abbeycwmhir, that runs to the west of the A483 4.5 miles north of Llandrindod Wells.
Take the B road towards the village of Abbeycwmhir, that runs to the west of the A483 4.5 miles north of Llandrindod Wells.
Easy. Walking boots advised. Dogs allowed.