Rating
4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)
User Reviews
W Bagehot (39 days ago)
We were driving from Llanberis to Hay-On-Wye and it only took a small detour to pay a visit to Strata Florida. Oh boy it was worth it…it was the middle of Autumn and we had the whole place for ourselves. We wandered around in silence, enjoying these amazing ruins. Would we have liked to have the little museum open during our visit? Well, yes, perhaps, but still, we enjoyed immensely the solitude of the place and to be there alone. If you are lucky enough to be there on a day like this, you will remember the experience for years to come.
We were driving from Llanberis to Hay-On-Wye and it only took a small detour to pay a visit to Strata Florida. Oh boy it was worth it…it was the middle of Autumn and we had the whole place for ourselves. We wandered around in silence, enjoying these amazing ruins. Would we have liked to have the little museum open during our visit? Well, yes, perhaps, but still, we enjoyed immensely the solitude of the place and to be there alone. If you are lucky enough to be there on a day like this, you will remember the experience for years to come.
Helen Kendrick (4 months ago)
Atmospheric place in idyllic location. Better to visit when visitor centre and indoor display also open. Check website.
Atmospheric place in idyllic location. Better to visit when visitor centre and indoor display also open. Check website.
Anthony Hurdidge (4 months ago)
We visited Strata Florida on a warm and sunny day and incredibly had the place to ourselves, just about. We got a sense of it being a special place from the drive from the village, through the woods, and finally arriving. We felt we were in for a treat, and we were. Parking in the carpark, we visited the museum, which gave us the history of the Abbey, the monks who lived and worked here, from the 11thC until the Dissoloution of the Monestries during Henry V111's reign. With funding from various sources, the site has restored a building into the museum, and plans are afoot to upgrade the adjoining buildings, including the house. The volunteer was busy trimming flowers to make the museum look inviting, and it worked. We spent a while looking at the exhibits and reading the information. We saw a pair of children's shoes in a doorway, and they were left where they were found during restoration. They were glass covered as you walked over them to look in the next room, laid out as someone's home, with an open fireplace, writing desks, and other pieces of furniture. From here, we walked to the ruins and especially the huge archway, which is all that is left standing. Walls depicting the size of the Abbey surround you, with the outer ones about 3m high and the internal ones about 1m high. Walking around the walls, we were amazed at how large the Abbey was, considering its location, mile's from any town, and in the Cambrian Mountains. Apart from another couple, we had the place to ourselves. We sat at picnic tables for our lunch before walking around to the small chapel, which still holds services today. We went inside and felt at peace. Afterwards, we walked along the river up through the woods, along an ancient cart trail to a gate into open countryside. Due to the wet and boggy ground, we returned to the car, stopping on a bridge to play Pooh Sticks. It has to be the fastest games we have ever played, as the bridge was narrow and the river fast flowing!! From here, we drove half a mile to a carpark, which was close to the main gate to the Abbey when it was first built. The Abbey was believed to be one of the largest clerical estates in the UK, at 12,000 hectares. We walked around the two short wooded walks, Aspen and Birchwood, before walking along a trail up a long hill, with interesting views over the countryside. Along the trail, we read the notice boards depicting what wildlife could be observed. We saw a couple of Red Kites circling on the thermals and lots of dragon flies. The weather had been glorious all day, and after blowing bubbles amongst the trees, we set off home. I had read up about Strata Florida Abbey online and was fascinated to visit the site for myself, and we were not to be disappointed. My wife and I felt very "at home" here, a place to come to for relaxation, for mental calming and be at one with nature. This is definitely worthy of a visit.
We visited Strata Florida on a warm and sunny day and incredibly had the place to ourselves, just about. We got a sense of it being a special place from the drive from the village, through the woods, and finally arriving. We felt we were in for a treat, and we were. Parking in the carpark, we visited the museum, which gave us the history of the Abbey, the monks who lived and worked here, from the 11thC until the Dissoloution of the Monestries during Henry V111's reign. With funding from various sources, the site has restored a building into the museum, and plans are afoot to upgrade the adjoining buildings, including the house. The volunteer was busy trimming flowers to make the museum look inviting, and it worked. We spent a while looking at the exhibits and reading the information. We saw a pair of children's shoes in a doorway, and they were left where they were found during restoration. They were glass covered as you walked over them to look in the next room, laid out as someone's home, with an open fireplace, writing desks, and other pieces of furniture. From here, we walked to the ruins and especially the huge archway, which is all that is left standing. Walls depicting the size of the Abbey surround you, with the outer ones about 3m high and the internal ones about 1m high. Walking around the walls, we were amazed at how large the Abbey was, considering its location, mile's from any town, and in the Cambrian Mountains. Apart from another couple, we had the place to ourselves. We sat at picnic tables for our lunch before walking around to the small chapel, which still holds services today. We went inside and felt at peace. Afterwards, we walked along the river up through the woods, along an ancient cart trail to a gate into open countryside. Due to the wet and boggy ground, we returned to the car, stopping on a bridge to play Pooh Sticks. It has to be the fastest games we have ever played, as the bridge was narrow and the river fast flowing!! From here, we drove half a mile to a carpark, which was close to the main gate to the Abbey when it was first built. The Abbey was believed to be one of the largest clerical estates in the UK, at 12,000 hectares. We walked around the two short wooded walks, Aspen and Birchwood, before walking along a trail up a long hill, with interesting views over the countryside. Along the trail, we read the notice boards depicting what wildlife could be observed. We saw a couple of Red Kites circling on the thermals and lots of dragon flies. The weather had been glorious all day, and after blowing bubbles amongst the trees, we set off home. I had read up about Strata Florida Abbey online and was fascinated to visit the site for myself, and we were not to be disappointed. My wife and I felt very "at home" here, a place to come to for relaxation, for mental calming and be at one with nature. This is definitely worthy of a visit.
alice ineveryland (4 months ago)
So much work is going into restoring the Abbey and grounds..I can't wait to visit again when it's refurbished. The exhibition was exciting and informative. Staff friendly.
So much work is going into restoring the Abbey and grounds..I can't wait to visit again when it's refurbished. The exhibition was exciting and informative. Staff friendly.
Joanne (5 months ago)
Had a great afternoon out at the Archeology Open Day. Very interesting and a lovely friendly atmosphere. The choir was awesome too #Choirsforgood
Had a great afternoon out at the Archeology Open Day. Very interesting and a lovely friendly atmosphere. The choir was awesome too #Choirsforgood
