Abbotsbury

Surrounded by hills, picturesque Abbotsbury is one of the county’s most popular tourist spots and by any standards one of the loveliest villages in England. Its most striking feature as you approach is the 14th century St Catherine’s Chapel, perched on the hill-top. Only 45 feet by 15 feet, it is solidly built to withstand the Channel gales with walls more than 4 feet thick. St Catherine was believed to be particularly helpful in finding husbands for the unmarried and in medieval times spinsters would climb the hill to her chapel chanting a dialect jingle which concludes with the words ‘Arn-a-one’s better than Narn-a-one’ – anyone is better than never a one.

Abbotsbury takes its name from the important Benedictine Abbey that once stood here but was comprehensively cannibalised after the Reformation, its stones used to build the attractive cottages that line the village streets. What has survived however is the magnificent Great Abbey Barn, 247 feet long and 31 feet wide, which was built in the 1300s to store the abbey’s tithes of wool, grain and other produce. With its thatched roof, stone walls and a mightily impressive entrance it is one of the largest and best-preserved barns in the country.

About a mile south of the village is the famous Abbotsbury Swannery, established in Saxon times to provide food for the abbey during the winter months. More than 600 free-flying swans have made their home here and visitor figures rocket from the end of May to the end of June – the baby swans’ hatching season. Don’t miss the mass feeding daily at noon and 4pm. Another highlight, the Giant Willow Maze, opens during the May half-term holiday.

Just to the west of the village, Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, which comes under the umbrella of the Abbotsbury Swannery, enjoy a particularly well-sheltered position and the 20 acres of grounds contain a huge variety of rare and exotic plants and trees. Other attractions include an 18th century walled garden, beautiful lily ponds, quality gift shop and plants sales area. To complete the Abbotsbury experience visit the Children’s Farm, where there are numerous farm animals to meet, greet and feed. There are pony and tractor rides, opportunities to cuddle small furry creatures and bottle-feed goats. A large play area, café and gift shop completes the picture. The Abbotsbury Passport Ticket enables visitors to visit each of the three attractions on any day or days of their choice.