Caldey Abbey is an abbey of the Trappists situated on Caldey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, south of Tenby. Caldey Island thrived as a centre of Cistercian activity in the Middle Ages. The current abbey is modern; it was built in 1910 by Anglican Benedictine monks; they converted to Catholicism and became members of the Trappist Order in 1929.
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Caldey Priory is a Grade I-listed priory on Caldey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, some 300 metres south of the modern Caldey Abbey. The priory gardens are listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
493 m
Caldey Island is a small island near Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, less than 1 mile off the coast. With a recorded history going back over 1,500 years, it is one of the holy islands of Britain. A number of traditions inherited from Celtic times are observed by the Cistercian monks of Caldey Abbey, the owners of the island.
The island's population consists of about 40 permanent residents and a varying number of Cistercian monks, known as Trappists. The monks' predecessors migrated there from Belgium in the early 20th century, taking over from Anglican Benedictines who had bought the island in 1906 and built the extant monastery and abbey but later got into financial difficulties. Today, the monks of Caldey Abbey rely on tourism and making perfumes and chocolate.
The usual access to the island is by boat from Tenby Harbour, 2.5 miles to the north. In the spring and summer, visitors are ferried to Caldey, not only to visit the sacred sanctuary but also to view the island's rich wildlife. Following a rat eradication programme, red squirrels were introduced in 2016. Alongside rare breed sheep and cattle, the island has a diverse bird and plant life.
639 m
Caldey Lighthouse is located on the south end of Caldey Island, three miles off the south Pembrokeshire, Wales coastline, a small island inhabited by a Cistercian monastery.
2.3 km
St Margaret's Island is a small tidal island to the northwest of Caldey Island in Carmarthen Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
3.5 km
Penally railway station serves the village of Penally in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is on the Pembroke Dock branch of the West Wales Line operated by Transport for Wales.
As of 2018, there are about 10 members.
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