Dundrennan Abbey

Today's the day ………………………. to be at peace

The route of Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race would have brought the cyclists past this abbey on Saturday - not that any of them would have time to notice it.

Dundrennan was one of the abbeys set up during the reorganisation of the Scottish Church, which began in the early 12th century. It was founded in 1142 for Cistercian monks, either by King David I, or by the great magnate of the area, Fergus Lord of Galloway. The first monks were brought from the Cistercian order's northern missionary house at Rievaulx in Yorkshire.  The peaceful woodland location would have fitted very much with the Cistercian ideal, described by Abbot Ailred of Rievaulx as: “Everywhere peace, everywhere serenity, and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world”.

It was also the secluded spot where Mary Queen of Scots sheltered during her last hours in Scotland before heading south to England and her eventual demise on the executioner's block …………………….