Places To Visit near Abbotsbury

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

31 October 2021

Planted as a kitchen garden in 1765 by the first Countess of Ilchester, today Abbotsbury Gardens bring together rare and exotic plants from all over the world. Scintillate your senses with a visit to the world famous camellia groves and magnolias, enjoy a sedate stroll in the walled gardens or go wild for the stunning woodland valley views. The BBC's Alan Titchmarsh declared them to be 'one of the finest gardens I have ever visited'. See for yourself. If it leaves your green fingers itching for some action, you can choose from a superb range of quality plants at the Specialist Plant Nursery.

Abbotsbury Swannery

14 September 2012

Swans have lived here for 600 years; at around the end of May, visitors can watch cygnets taking their first tentative steps.

Abbotsbury Children's Farm

The fun includes goat racing, toy tractor racing and a smuggler's ship soft play area.

Hardy Monument

Not to be confused with perhaps Dorset's most famous son, Thomas Hardy, this monument was erected in memory of Vice Admiral Hardy of the HMS Victory (of "Kiss me Hardy" fame). Situated on Black Down near Portesham, it offers glorious views across the Dorset countryside to the sea, and is within a mile of the inland route of the South West coastal path (which avoids Chesil beach). National Trust owned.

South West Artwork CIC

Dedicated to providing and promoting contemporary art in the South West. SWA CIC makes use of historic venues and unusual spaces - a church, an old pumping station, a reclamation yard - to create eye-popping shows of contemporary art.

The Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

Run by a team of volunteers from Dorset Wildlife Trust seven days a week, the Centre has a shop, cafe, wildlife events and actitivities. A new boardwalk has recently been installed to give wheelchair users and pushchairs access to Chesil Beach. You can even sponsor a plank on the boardwalk and leave a message on a brass plaque as your lasting contribution.