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Glenluce Abbey is in Galloway southwest
Scotland, 10 miles east of Stranraer, 64
miles west of Dumfries, off the A75 road, by
Glenluce village, built from 1190.
Open 1st April - 30th Sept with a small
entrance fee. Postcode: DG8 0AF
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This was a Cistercian Monastery founded
around 1190 by Rolland, Lord of Galloway.
After the Scottish
Reformation in 1560, the Abbey was
abandoned with much of the stonework taken for
other buildings in the area.
The Reformation ended Catholic worship in
Scotland, leading to most Abbeys being
abandoned, or converted to Protestant
Churches.
Roland used Monks from the larger Dundrennan
Abbey by Kirkcudbright to set up this
Abbey.
The Chapter House has been partially
restored with period windows. The Chapter House
is open only during visitor times. You can view
the exterior and grounds all year round.
The Abbey is often visited by people also
visiting Whithorn Priory, St Ninian
Cave, St Ninian Chapel at the Isle of
Whithorn, and Dundrennan Abbey, extremely
popular Religious Sites in the area for people
on the St Ninian
Pilgrim Journey.
King Robert the Bruce visited the Abbey in
1329 when he was making a Pilgrimage to St
Ninian's Shrine at Whithorn Priory. This was
the area Bruce began to build up his Army of
followers, and had his first victory in Battle
at the extremely scenic and remote area of
Glentrool, 23 miles northeast of
Glenluce.
Gilbert
Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis, gained
control of Glenluce Abbey during the
Reformation.
Kennedy was accused of forcing a Monk to
sign over Glenluce Abbey land to him, had the
Monk killed, then had the Killer of the Monk
killed to cover his tracks.
Kennedy was later accused of gaining
Crossraguel
Abbey lands in Ayrshire, by torturing the
commendator at his Ayrshire stronghold of
Dunure Castle,
53 miles north of Glenluce.
The Kennedy's were vast landowners in the
Ayrshire and Galloway area, with their
ancestors having given land to many Abbeys when
they were established. No doubt, Kennedy
believed he was just taking back their land.
Clan Kennedy
Page.
Monks were allowed to continue living in the
Abbey, with the last one dying in 1602. The
building was used as a Manse for a Church from
1619.
1993 - the remains of Glenluce Abbey were
acquired by Historic Environment Scotland. It
has since been maintained and partially
restored to serve as a Tourist Attraction.
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