Abbotsbury is a very old village, settled amongst the hills behind the great Chesil Bank, and is one of Dorset’s finest, with a history going back some 6,000 years. It has been influenced by man from the Neolithic Age and is overlooked by an Iron Age hill fort.
High above the village on a lonely hill stands the 14th century St Catherine’s Chapel, built as a place of pilgrimage and retreat by the monks of the former Abbotsbury Abbey. From here there are superb views of Chesil Beach below. Abbotsbury today features thatched cottages built from local stone, some dating from the 16th century.
How to Get There
The Jurassic Coaster bus service runs through Abbotsbury. The nearest railway station is at Weymouth, nine miles away. By road, Abbotsbury is on the B3157 coastal road, halfway between Weymouth and Bridport. For more information, visit our Travel page.
Things to See and Do
Abbotsbury is world-renowned for its Swannery. The popular bird sanctuary is 600 years old and is home to over 600 flying swans. It is the only place in the world where you can literally walk among the breeding, nesting and hatching birds.
A short walk from the village is Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens. Founded in 1765, the gardens have developed into a 20-acre site filled with exotic plants. There are formal and informal gardens, woodland walks and walled gardens.
Abbotsbury’s central position along Chesil Beach also makes it a great base to explore the rich wildlife of the Fleet Lagoon.
One of the most spectacular views on the entire Jurassic Coast is from St. Catherine’s Chapel, a beautiful old church that overlooks Abbotsbury village. From here, you can look east to Portland, and see how it curves downwards like a giant wedge. You can turn your head and see over to the rolling cliffs of West Bay, Golden Cap and beyond.
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Beaches, Families, Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor, Parks & Gardens
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Walking
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Activities, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Beaches, Group Friendly, Outdoor Activity/Pursuit Centre, Watersports Centre
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Beaches, Boat Trips, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Beaches, Diving / Snorkelling, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Rock Pooling, Surfing
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Activity categories: Animal Collection, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Teenagers
Jurassic Coast
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Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Railway, Transport Attraction
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Swimming, Waterpark
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Animal Collection, Animals & Nature, Families, Free, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Families, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Cafes & Coffee Shops, Pubs & Bars, Restaurants
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Botanic Garden, Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
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Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Restaurant with Rooms, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast, lulworth-cove, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Apartments, Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Holiday Park, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Hotel
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Camping, Lodge / Beach Lodge, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Hotel
Jurassic Coast
exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering