Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey lies in a green valley on the edge of Dartmoor at Buckfastleigh, Devon, and is a working Benedictine monastery. A religious house was founded on the site in the early medieval period, but the original abbey was dissolved in 1539 under Henry VIII and fell into ruin. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a community of monks re-established themselves here and, remarkably, rebuilt the abbey church largely by their own hands, completing it in 1938 on the medieval foundations.

As an ancient and much-rebuilt religious site, Buckfast attracts occasional talk of the uncanny, and its long history invites atmospheric associations. Any such impressions are subjective and are not part of a strong or documented tradition; the abbey presents itself firmly as a place of prayer and welcome rather than a haunted site.

The real story of Buckfast is one of loss and renewal: a medieval foundation dissolved, then painstakingly rebuilt by a modern monastic community. That well-documented history, together with the gardens, church and the monks' produce, is the abbey's genuine draw.

Buckfast Abbey is a living Benedictine monastery that welcomes visitors, with the abbey church, gardens, exhibition, shops and a restaurant. Entry to the grounds and church is generally free, with free parking, though donations are encouraged and some events or accommodation are charged.

Because it is an active place of worship and monastic life, visitors are asked to dress and behave respectfully, keep noise down in the church, observe service times and follow guidance around the community's private areas.