Abbotsbury - West Bexington - Chesil Beach - Abbotsbury

Brian and Anne Sandland

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

You park at the swannery (free), where there are toilets and an excellent restaurant. Climbing past Chapel Hill (Walk 3354 visits the summit) and through Abbotsbury you use the Inland Coast Path to travel west. The path along the ridge affords superb views in all directions. There is the option to shorten the walk to five miles and miss West Bexington, but the full walk takes you for three miles alongside Chesil Beach. At the eastern end the beach is made up of pebbles whose average size is that of a pea. As you travel east the average size increases gradually. If you were to follow the full 29 kilometres of the beach to Portland, you would find the average there to be the size of an apple! It is said that fishermen lost in fog who landed on the beach could tell where they were from the size of the pebbles. Two other walks from Abbotsbury (3349 and 3354) complement this walk.

England - South West England - Dorset - Coast

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Castle, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Museum, National Trust, Play Area, Pub, Sea, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

9/24/2017 - Eric Roberts

I have just submitted a comment under the "navigation correction" heading and have since read that you take this as an indication that I don't want it to be made public. This is not the case. I am happy for my navigational correction and my general comments to be made public. Thanks. ericroberts97@gmail.com

9/24/2017 - Eric Roberts

My wife and I did this splendid walk in September 2017. The views from the North Dorset Ridgeway were superb, despite two heavy showers. The gardens of the Manor House in West Bexington were a lovely spot for afternoon tea, but a bit pricey at £7 each. The directions were good, but the final sentence of direction number 8 caused a little confusion. It says "you need to take a signposted footpath right off the coast path, which continues round to the left of Chapel Hill." On first reading it is unclear whether it is the footpath or the coast path goes to the left of Castle Hill. On reflection, I am sure that the coast path goes to the left of Chapel Hill, not the footpath . I suggest that it would be clearer to say: - ...."take a footpath right off the coast path" and put in brackets in a new sentence "(The coast path continues round to the left of Chapel Hill)." Sorry to be pedantic, but it might help walkers in the future.

4/27/2010 - Judy Brua

We did this walk in April 2010, and it was wonderful. It is very windy up on the ridge (waymarks 4-6), so take a hat! I would suggest that the directions at Waymark 8 be changed slightly to add the words: 'Stay straight on the coastal path past the car park' before the words: 'in due course'. This would just be a bit clearer. But a great walk.

12/27/2007 - Robin Philpott

I did this walk on 26/12/07. Very enjoyable and superb views from up on the inland coast path. Note that at waymark 7, on the short road down to the shore in West Bexington. there is a very welcoming pub serving real ales and decent pub food.

10/1/2006 - Steve Shanahan

We did this walk on 27/9/06, excellant views from the top but take plenty of cash if you plan to eat at the Swannery. Steve & Debbie