Abbotsbury
We highly recommend a day trip to Abbotsbury during a stay at Newlands Holiday Park in Charmouth. This delightful coastal village is simply picture perfect with it's traditional thatch cottages and pretty streets to explore. Below we have listed just some of the attractions, we think you should check out. Abbotsbury is well suited to couples or families with young children.
Things to Do in Abbotsbury
Jurassic Coast Road
Whilst the Coast Road is not an attraction in the traditional sense, it's certainly well worth a mention. The drive from Charmouth to Abbotsbury follows the highly acclaimed Jurassic Coast Road and offers stunning views out to sea and across the surrounding countryside. On a clear day you can see the length of Chesil Beach stretching out in front of you as well as the Isle of Portland in the distance. St Catherines Chapel is perched high on the hilltop and the Fleet Lagoon Nature Reserve streteches out below.
Abbotsbury Swannery
Abbotsbury Swannery is a fantastic attraction which offers visitors a truly unique experience. This six-hundred-year-old site was built to house a monastery; however, it is now home to rare mute swans. These swans are fed twice dailyand you can help give them their breakfast and dinner!
If you feel a little peckish whilst visiting Abbotsbury Swannery, there is an excellent café onsite, where you will find a wide selection of light bites to eat, including homemade cakes, soups, sandwiches, cream teas as well as drinks such as coffee, tea, beer, cider, and refreshing glasses of wine.
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens are well known for their exotic and vast collection of rare plants from across the globe. This impressive collection includes plants originating from various regions of every continent, from South America to East Asia and even New Zealand.
We recommend dedicating a day to wander around the network of routes which lead you through the various woodlands, lakes and formal gardens including the Camellia Walk, Magnolia Avenue, and the Subtropical Plant Nursery. The Subtropical Gardens plays host to an exciting events programme throughout the year. This inlcudes live theatre performances, outdoor cinema and lighting displays.
Abbotsbury Abbey Ruins
The Abbotsbury Abbey Ruins are all that is left of a Benedictine monastery, which offers visitors insight into what life was like for those living in Dorset during the 11th century. Although the once-great monastery is now in ruins, guests are welcome to freely explore the atmospheric remains and imagine what life was once like here all those years ago. Visitors are encouraged to walk through the weathered stone arches whilst taking in the beautiful countryside surroundings. A visit to these ruins provides plenty of amazing photo opportunities, so remember to bring your camera!
Abbey Farm Flowers
Pop into Abbey Farm Flowers if you're visiting Abbotsbury over a weekend and take part in the Pick Your Own Bouquet experience. Spend a couple of hours exploring the stunning gardens whilst you select your favourite flowers to bring home. The offering changes throughout the spring and summer, but's there's always a colourful blooms to choose from. Simply snip your favourite stems and the friendly team will wrap them for you to take home.
The garden is set within the grounds of a Medieval abbey. There's a little gift shop, where you can buy dried flowers, soaps and crafts from local artisans. There's also a small selection of ice cream to enjoy on hot days!