About
Crossraguel Abbey stands alone in Ayrshire farmland two miles south-west of Maybole, one of only two Cluniac monasteries in Scotland, and visitors marvel at how complete it is. Duncan of Carrick founded it in the early 1200s, and its name probably means the cross of Raighail, an Irish saint. The monks' loyalty to their patron Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, saw the abbey badly damaged in the Wars of Independence, so the church and cloister you see date mostly from the 1300s and 1400s. The choir is a 15th-century masterpiece with an elegant polygonal apse, and the chapter house still has the monks' stone benches and the abbot's ornate seat. Beyond the cloister are tiny dwellings for aged monks, the remains of an early 1500s tower house, a doocot where young pigeons were raised as a delicacy, and an imposing gatehouse. Reviewers say it is much bigger than it looks, praise the long-serving custodian, and recommend the climb up the gatehouse tower for the views.
ClosedPick a day for times and prices
- Until 31 Mar
- Closed
- From 1 Apr
- Thu–Sun 10:00–16:30, last entry 15:30
Today, Saturday 24 October
- Crossraguel AbbeyClosed
Opening times may change at short notice.
1 April to 30 September Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, closed Mondays to Wednesdays; last entry 1 hour before closing; closed 1 October to 31 March. Historic Scotland recommends booking an entry slot in advance to guarantee entry. Notice on 18 October 2026: most of the abbey is open, including the cloisters, nave, some of the choir, gatehouse, stone collection in the cellars, chapter house and shop, but the high altar, sacristy, inner court and dovecote are closed during conservation works.
The main routes are gravel or well-kept grass, firmer in dry weather, with archaeological remains in the grass that can be hard to see; some rooms have a step at the threshold, off the main routes. The gatehouse is up a stone spiral stair with no handrail, uneven steps and very low light. The visitor centre is step-free. Toilets, a small shop and a picnic area on site; no adapted toilet, the nearest is in Maybole. No cafe or audio guide; children's explorer packs to borrow.
Photo: Crossraguel Abbey's ruined choir with its traceried windows and the gatehouse tower beyond, seen across a grassy court under a blue sky. August Schwerdfeger, CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crossraguel_Abbey_2017-05-17.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
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