DESCRIPTION:

1. The walk starts following the South West Coast Path westwards from the car park at Abbotsbury Beach. In spring and summer Chesil’s flowers burst into colour, with Sea Kale, Mallow, Sea Campion, Thrift and the gloriously named Yellow-horned Poppy joining, with many others, in the show. So don’t forget to bring along a flower book!

2. After leaving the beach the walk climbs up to the Inland Coast Path and follows the ridgeway back in the direction of Abbotsbury. It crosses Abbotsbury Hill Fort, an Iron Age fortification constructed by the tribe who lived in this area before the Roman invasion in 43/44AD. From Wears Hill there are views along the Jurassic Coast that are often described as being the best in Dorset. The South Dorset Ridgeway is also studded with one of the highest concentrations of ancient burial mounds in the country and is often described as a ‘ceremonial landscape.’

3. The route then descends down Blind Lane, an ancient trackway dating from Abbotsbury’s monastic past. The red Abbotsbury Ironstone now forms the soils (now there’s a story, but not room to tell you about it here) and the track enters the beautiful village of Abbotsbury. So named because of the huge monastery that once stood here, you can explore the village or perhaps buy refreshments from the various inns, tearooms or shops.

4. You could also start and finish this walk from here in Abbotsbury.

5. The walk then skirts around the edge of St. Catherine’s Hill with its stone chapel before returning to the car park at Abbotsbury Beach.

6. Other attractions around the village include the world famous Abbotsbury Swannery, the Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens and the Children’s Farm in the old monastic Tithe Barn.