Three of us and two dogs spent a wonderful couple of hours in the gardens. It was a beautiful day, sun was shining and the gardens were magnificent. The range of planting was lovely and the hydrangea's were in full glorious bloom, with so many shades of white, pink and blue. We made our way up to the viewing platform and enjoyed half an hour just sitting and taking in the views. I would definitely go again, I could have happily spent another couple of hours, it was so tranquil. My only regret is that we should’ve taken a picnic and enjoy the calm atmosphere for a while longer. Enjoyed an obligatory cake and coffee at the end of the session at the cafe.

We did not know what to expect, but these gardens are amazing. Beautiful planting, impressive and enormous mature trees all set to the backdrop of the waves hitting Chesil Beach. This was so relaxing and the autumn colours glorious. The Dorset Apple Cake with Cornish cream a perfect ending.

Nice place. Lots of mature tropical plants and unusual trees to surround yourself and get lost in or follow the guided pathway and soak up the serenity! Make sure you take the short steep climb up to the viewpoint over Chesil beach and see the coast - it's quite unique! Cafe is good with friendly staff and outdoor/indoor seating but outdoors you are enveloped in the lush greenery!

I had a lovely relaxing time in the garden and walked up to the viewpoint where there were brilliant views. It's steep but worth it. There was a lot to see even in mid September and if it had been drier I would have sat longer to enjoy it all.

We enjoyed are visit, the plants, trees and ferns are beautiful, the views stunning, some of the garden was roped off for a wedding, so didn’t see the rope bridge! We couldn’t enjoy are coffee in the sun, because of the wasps! However It’s worth a visit if you are in the area.

Really great place to visit, the gardens are beautiful and well laid out. There are plenty of other routes you can take to explore a bit more. Maps are well placed throughout and lots of benches to sit and rest. The cafe was well priced and the coffee was amazing! The staff were friendly and the place was clean. Ended up buying some plants on the way out and they were cheap and there were loads to choose from.

This has been a family favourite for many years. There are so many paths and plants to explore it's easy to get lost in time and wonder whatever the season. We arrived at lunchtime and ate sandwiches and cake in the cafe before exploring the gardens. The cafe was busy and well organised but seating was in limited supply and we had to be quick to grab a table as soon as someone left. The presence of a pheasant sandwich was a surprise so I had to try it and it was nicer than a BLT I usually have. Exploring the meandering paths is so peaceful and you never know what you'll find around the next corner, whether it's bright flowers, ornamental trees, bridges or statues. The walk up to the viewpoint on the cliff top is steep, but the views across chesil beach and the surrounding area are amazing and well worth the effort.

We visited today for an ice cream and what a charming discovery. A beautiful garden with plants for sale and multiple nooks to sit and enjoy a quiet moment. The animals these people have rescued are housed in the garden so you can pop by for a look and say hi to Tortilla the tortoise or Beaker the silky hen. Lovely staff and great ice cream.

Really interesting garden with quirky items for sale. Beautiful location and small garden to sit in to enjoy tea and cakes. A great find to enjoy some peace and quiet and a friendly chat with the owner.

Loved our visit today, beautiful secret gardens, and rescued animals. Lovely pot of tea, staff very friendly, want to go back with our granddaughter and look forward to the butterfly house. Lots of things and plants to buy.

So quaint, especially this year with the addition of two tortoises, and the new layout is lovely. Found so many unique items and ornaments, it was a shame a lot of the little farm animals ornaments weren't there this year, but had many other new ones. Excited to see what it'll be like next time we visit.

So glad we stopped here. Excellent food at a reasonable price. Idyllic charming setting in a beautiful garden with stunning views. A warm welcome too! Cosy tucked away tables. Very unique. With parking. Worth a look for sure. Highly recommended.

Lovely place offering light refreshments a place to relax in their gardens with their own free roaming fluffy chicken.Friendly service genuinely welcoming. Thank you.

Such a lovely welcoming place. We spotted the big ice-cream on Abbotsbury West Street and stopped in for refreshment. We also had a pot of tea for 2 and bought some knicknacks. The gardens are beautiful and there are lots of friendly animals. Useful parking at rear

What a great day I had attending a ‘Wet Felting’ workshop at Duir in Abbotsbury recently. A big thank you to Jane for such a wonderful day, I really appreciate everything you did to make it so enjoyable. Your shop/workshop is a lovely space to showcase your creative skills and talents and perfect for sharing with others who are interested to learn. I was definitely not expecting the one-to-one tuition! I drove home with my head spinning full of ‘wooly facts’ that I shall try hard to remember, I and my flowery achievements have been much admired. Thank you also for the regular cups of tea and the great lunch - particularly the ginger cake! I wish you well with your venture in the future and will definitely keep in touch with my progress in felting - I think it’s going to become a bit addictive!!

During a Duir soapmaking workshop, Jane shares her enthousiasm and expertise in an informative enjoyable manner. She shows tips and tricks, the do’s and don’ts and gives the helpful advice and guidance you need to ensure your soap making experience is special. Thankyou Jane, for inspiring me to take on my own soap making adventure.

Wow, what an amazing few hours with Jane & Dean. Both such expert crafters and just lovely to spend time with. Jane worked with me to create 2 different large blocks of soap, each chosen by me for different fragrances, colouring & finishes. Jane was a great, patient teacher and was good about health & safety - in a lovely relaxed way. Nothing was too much trouble. Jane was an endless source of information, inspiration and her love and knowledge of soap-making is incredible. Super patient too! Lunch at The Cherries cafe was a very good. I'm so happy I went to The Duir Crafts soap making workshop, and can absolutely recommend.

We had a lovely morning with Jane . Wet felting work shop. Jane and her partner go that extra mile to make the experience special.

Did the soap felting workshop, it was a fabulous afternoon. So relaxing and fun 5⭐️ plus

Dorset Button Workshop. A lovely workshop. Learnt loads. And would certainly take part in another workshop in the future.

Lovely playground there were lots of different things for the kids to play on (we did also have a go on the swings as it wasn't busy). All with lovely views. Would definitely recommend if you have kids and are in the area

Not toddler friendly minus the two swings , bridge badly built with gaps even a grown human could fall though, unlevel ground with mole hills and rabbit holes , no soft grounding even near the climbing frames , no monkey bars , no water /splash areas . Football pitch not well maintained a little out the way Nice when you want peace but alot of improvements could be made

Lovely little adventure play ground. Well maintained and worth the drive from Weymouth. Very scenic and peaceful location. Well enjoyed by children aged between 3-6

Lovely park but a little tired looking now and it's a little walk away from the nearest place to park your car. Some of the equipment needs updating as doesn't really work anymore.

Great park, lovely location, nice wooden play equipment

Beautiful well maintained and clean playground for all ages.

Gorgeous place to take the kids, so quiet and safe.

Quite a hike up the hill but worth it; beautiful little Chapel on a day with sun streaming in and great views of Abbotsbury and the beautiful countryside and seaside. Cows in field so beware if taking a dog (I wouldn't).

I waited until midwinter to visit in order to avoid hordes of tourists! It was desolate and atmospheric, well worth the trek up in windy and chilly conditions. Slightly disappointed that English Heritage don’t appear to love the building as much as passers-by!

This is a lovely old chapel, that can be viewed from all around Abbotsbury and worth the short walk up the hill to see the magnificent views over the hills and chesil beach from the Abbey itself. It's open so free to enter and there is an information board to read about the history of the Abbey. From here you can take a short walk down to the beach or towards the Swannery.

Distinctive little chapel on top of a small hill, overlooking stunning views of Chesil Beach and the picturesque village of Abbotsbury. Dating back to the 14th century, the chapel features a barrel vaulted ceiling and robust buttresses. It originally served as a retreat for monks from Abbotsbury Abbey. The few surviving abbey ruins in the village below are clearly visible from the chapel. English Heritage does a very good job of maintaining this local landmark, and it was open and free to visit when I saw it on a Sunday evening in April. An information board is provided to give a bit of history about the site. It's easily accessible from Abbotsbury. Alternatively, it's just within an hour's circular walk from Chesil Beach West parking area.

Absolutely astounding place. Must see. Wonderful walks and views.

Located a quick 10min walk from Abbotsbury on a not too steep path This chapel is stunning ! Make sure to stop by, you cannot miss it when you drive from east to west

An absolutely stunning building with incredible views, well worth the walk. I'd recommend walking up to the Abby when the cows aren't grazing on the hill though.

Abby Farm Flowers provided a lovely flat basket arrangement for my Mums farewell flowers. Amy suggested some seasonal flowers/ bulbs, which we could then take home and re-plant. Sometimes the simplest of suggestions goes a long way in a difficult situation. We will now have fond memories of Mum every year. Thankyou for the beautiful arrangement x

Abbey Flowers made bridal and bridesmaids bouquets for us last weekend, and picked loads of flowers for us to fill 2 milk churns and bud vases. I don't know much about flower species so gave a vague brief of "bright, happy and colourful" and wow did Abbey Flowers deliver!!!! The flowers were so gorgeous and have lasted really long. I really appreciated Amy's relaxed approach - giving us time to decide what we wanted - and can't wait to return for one of the brilliant-sounding events I've seen on the newsletter. Here are some snaps whilst I wait for the professional pics to come through! Thank you!

My daughter picked flowers to create an arrangement for her wedding breakfast table. The flowers were beautiful. It’s a lovely setting and the staff were very helpful. It made the day feel even more special.

A gorgeous little pick your own plot, with friendly staff, gorgeous trinkets to buy and delicious ice cream for those warmer days. We go back year on year, and always have a lovely time. Well worth a visit!

Abbey Farm Flowers was such a treat. We spent a lovely couple of hours picking our flowers and just wandering through the garden. The area is so picturesque. The lady was so helpful and friendly. We then went for some lunch in the Cherries cafe and enjoyed shopping in the craft shops. Highly recommend. A great way to spend a few hours.

Had a fabulous time picking flowers for my Wedding Anniversary....such a peaceful setting Amy was very helpful and a special memory to remember doing on a special occasion....so much nicer than buying a shop bouquet and supporting a small local business.

We had an excellent time picking flowers here, such a lovely relaxed experience, made even better by the appearance of Pepper (black lab) who enjoyed a game of fetch in the field! 10/10 would definitely come back

Absolutely brilliant day out for all ages. The location is stunning, and on arrival you are greeted by a cafe and play park with a small river running by. There are multiple picnic opportunities around the site if you prefer to bring a picnic. A scenic wander beyond the gift shop brings you alongside the go cart race track (no charge, first come first served) and a willow maze. Amble on further to a large picnic area and wild flower meadow. You'll need to refuel as there is so much more to see yet. Some lovely displays, including a human sized nest, a medicinal herb garden and some artefacts to view. Keep walking and you will discover nesting swans barely an arms length from the path and even more stunning walks. I ran out of time at this point so I will be back. We had a very happy day at the Swannery and came home refreshed and relaxed. A slice of paradise set just outside the idyllic village of Abbotsbury. 🥰

What a fantastic place! The Swannery is located a few minutes walk from the car park but once you’re here it’s a lovely piece of nature. There’s a trail you can follow to see all the places where the swans are and also other birds like ducks. It’s a nice walk and also an interesting one watching the birds and learning more about them. We only stayed for around an hour because I wanted to use the bathrooms and there’s only one at the car park unfortunately. Or else I would have loved to stay a bit longer. If you love animals and specifically birds, you’ll love this place.

You likely will never see so many swans in one place in all your life away from here. We would definitely recommend coming for 12pm or 4pm before the mass feeding. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and we only got hissed at once (but a swan, not the staff!) You can also get value for money with a ‘passport’ ticket for both the Abbotsbury swannery and the Abbotsbury subtropical gardens.

Perfect spot to enjoy tranquility with nature and August is perfect time. All you need to go there and all sets on their own. Nice breakfast coffee shop and welfare facilities. Nice gift shop v cute swan 🦢 gifts as memory. Really enjoy the place and definitely worth it, surrounded swannry have many place to go by walk. Easy to spend whole day. Staff v friendly. Nature is so wonderful 🦢🥰if you notice their response.

A beautiful autumn day , a real place to relax watching nature at its best. The swans were so relaxed, not at all bothered as you walked past them. A real joy. ( if you want to loose yourself , try the swan maze )

After years spent living in Dorset and never getting to Abbotsbury, we finally got there, and it did not disappoint. Seeing so many swans and recently hatched cygnets was lovely. Very much recommend going to one of the daily feeding times, very informative and nice to give a hand feeding the birds. All in all lovely day out!

Absolutely outstanding. This is a must‑visit for anyone who loves swans. Abbotsbury Swannery is the world’s only managed nesting colony of mute swans, with about 600 (!) birds drawn to the ideal conditions of „The Fleet“ lagoon beside Chesil Beach. The team are welcoming, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to the swans’ welfare and habitat. I had the chance to work alongside them for 2 days — feeding the swans, assisting during ringing, and helping with routine chores (such as hand‑gathering washed‑up eelgrass for the cygnets’ feed) — and their professionalism and care were evident throughout. Having come all the way from Germany, the journey was completely worth it, and this unique place is easy to recommend to anyone visiting the area. A memorable, peaceful experience in a beautiful, historic setting. Tip: aim for the daily feeding sessions at 12:00 or 16:00 — you can help feed the swans, which is a special highlight.

Beautiful shop in a fabulous location. Love my Summer Dreams kimono and gorgeous earrings I'll be back x

The remains house a couple of artists, shops and a couple of cafés. It is worth a visit.

Very atmospheric and interesting place. It looks like everything is old. It's a pity that a lot has been destroyed. There is a cafe on the territory, although it is closed in winter. The place is worth visiting.

Sadly little to see here. Little in the way of ruins to see or explore, and sadly the craft shops were either closed or out of business (perhaps this will be better in the summer). The tithe barn was closed, and nothing indicated if it is ever open to visit.

Amazing place,great feel to it to be walking where others walked 700 yes ago just amazing. Great great craft shops and cafe nearby parking.

We’ll preserved ancient building with sitting views over the countryside. Abbot is open allowing you to view the inside ad well Worth a look if you’re in the area.

There is little left of this abbey other than one building, a pond and a large gable but it is a pretty place to stop especially as you can use the parking to go up to St. Catherine's Chapel on the hill. The site is owned by English Heritage and is free to visit. This is quite an isolated spot now but must have been even more so when the monastery was flourishing (before the Reformation).

We stopped in the carpark overnight. Will definitely return here when we come back to Dorset. Stunning little area to visit.

A surprisingly significant church for a village. Set in the village of Abbotsbury, St Nicholas Church is more substantial than would be expected for a village. Unusually, it has the Ten Commandments displayed at the head of the Altar and a balcony, which would normally be associated with Chapels. Don't miss the Organ Pipes, which are beautifully decorated. St Catherine is depicted in the centre of the stained glass window to the right of the Altar and St Nicholas depicted on the left hand side of the window. Surprising considering that the church is dedicated to him. Could that be because the near by St Catherine's Chapel was more significant. We don't know. Whilst we visited in April 2025, there was a panel of embroideries for the months of the year. An unexpected craftwork in a special church. It's clearly a well loved church. Visit and spend a quiet moment to reflect on life.

This church is quite near the former Abbey and would likely have been built as a replacement church after the dissolution of the Abbey and its fall into repair. The building is set in a scenic graveyard. Even at 7 on an evening, the church was open to go and look in. It is also clearly seen from the surrounding countryside particularity from St Catherine's Chapel

Beautiful. Situated in the village of Abbotsbury near the village car park. Open to the public. Wonderful setting.

Very nice old church, look out for the windows, and the old village stock upstairs!

What a lovely church in a lovely village. Peaceful.

(Translated by Google) Small church in a small town, the kind you see often but you always discover something new. Like the very colorful patchwork blanket or cloth here. (Original) Kleine Kirche in einem kleinem Ort, wie man sie oft sieht aber doch entdeckt man immer wieder etwas neues. Wie die hier sehr bunte Patchwork Decke oder Tuch.

(Translated by Google) Nice church that is normally open. (Original) Schöne Kirche, die normalerweise geöffnet ist.

A treasure trove of beautiful wood craft from some 850 artisans all over the UK. There were beautiful pieces of home display, utility (furniture & kitchen), sculptures, down to small take-away items, and finely crafted greeting cards. Many pieces exhibited a high sense of artisanship and a great eye. There were even pieces of wood to try your own hand! Saw many objects we wished we could own, but alas, no more space in our home. It was worth a visit!

We visit here whenever we're on holiday in the area. Always so many lovely wooden items to look at with a range of prices. We always purchase something every time we visit.

Interesting gallery featuring great collection of products sculpted from natural wood - ranging from contemporary furniture, clocks to coasters!! Stunning selection all for sale. One of the few galleries remaining in the country to showcase such art.

It would be a hard, unappreciative, sooulless type that walked in here and didn't wonder at the creativity of his/her fellow humans. The woodcraft is truly magical. There is enough in everyone's budget to buy a unique piece of craft that would carry you through harder times thereafter from this place. Honestly, if I won the lottery, this place would be my first stop; I'd willingly live among the beauty of the stuff I'd buy here.

We spotted the Dansel Gallery as we were driving through. As wood lovers we had to pull over and take a look. It's well worth a visit!

A welcoming gallery with stunning wood work of all sorts from a variety of makers. Beautiful wall art, furniture, jewellery, gorgeous pieces, and in the run up to Christmas, charming and unusual nativity sets.

What a great place to see a stunning display of artisanal boxes, plates, kitchen & homeward items, and furniture purely of wood.

On the edge of village with plenty of spaces and sensible fees. If you are touring in you motorhome can you pay £8 & stay all night. Plenty of interesting things to see close by.

A bit bumpy, but cheap, well located car park with trees for shade, and one can pay by card and cash.

Not the car park.. But the wood carvers And the beautiful Oak Sheltering it.. 💖 And the gnomes 💖

Always a space in here and if you're in a motorhome/campervan you can overnight here for a fee. No toilets in the car park but you have a pub next to it (the Swan inn) and a short walk (roughly 500m) down the road to a public toilet, a little bakery which is open early plus a little spar shop.

Great flat and peaceful car park with lovely views. You can pay by phone and in walking distance of the pretty village.

Only good if you want to visit the town (that is closed on Sunday). The Swanery and the Garden have their own free car parks and it is a long walk to go there.

Stayed overnight in our campervan for just £8, toilets 3 minute walk away, amazing views and very peaceful for an overnight stay. Easy to pay by phone, really no hassle at all. Great walks and just 20 minutes away from wonderful coastal views. Beautiful village and a great pub next door too!

The walk there took about 30 mins due to the long grass. Parked at Gorwell Farm cattle grid and followed signs. Path is inbetweeen farmers field and full of nature and thousands of butterflies. Just be careful to cover your legs due to ticks. I'm 5'6 and the grass was up to my thighs in places- we visited late July. Stone circle is no stonehenge but gives a nice destination for a walk and is nice to preserve these things.

Short walk from the road, with signposted route. The walk to the circle also passes the Grey Mare and her Colts, a neolithic barrow. Well worth the stroll!

Two-legs accessible (20-min walk)! Somewhat bleakly windswept, but atmospheric.

Good fun tracking them down. Not an easy task as the path is not clear. The location is best found off Bishops road. The path is between a cattle grid which marks the entry to a farm and another path. Went in July and the path was full of butterflies. But beware...there are also ticks...so wear suitable clothing and avoid long grass and remember to check after. There are also large stones which look as though they mark a burial barrow on route / return to the stone circle called 'The Mare and her Cobs'. The whole area is covered in flint stone. Barrows can be seen on adjacent hill sides.

Lovely hill top location with splendid views. The postcode on the English Heritage website takes you to the wrong access point, where there is no signage to the circle. It is best to access the stone circle from the direction of Abbotsbury.

The largest of the Dorset stone circles. The stones form a flattened shaped circle situated on top of a chalk ridge overlooking the surrounding downland. The monument has a maximum diameter of 30m and contains 18 visible stones. The site is almost circular in plan and the interior of the monument is set on level ground. The stones, which are of sarsen or conglomerate, are now all recumbent and vary in size from 2m by 0.5m to 1m by 0.3m. Partial burial may mean that some stones are significantly larger than the current exposure would suggest. Well worth a visit. See also the nearby Nine Stones, Hampton, The Grey Mare and her Colts and The Hell Stone.

Part of our Dorset Pilgrimage trail.