Abbotsbury and Chesil Circular
9 people attending
16 places left
Walking through the valley to Abbotsbury, a beautiful and historic village comprising of mainly stone and thatched cottages. The village was originally recorded in the 10th Century and had an abbey situated there for 500 years until the dissolution of the monasteries. The tythe barn still remains and we will see this on our way through. A walk around the base of the hill, on which is situated St Catherines Chapel and onto the the Chesil bank. Walking along the lane beside the beach until we get to West Bexington, then a steep climb through the village and up onto the hill. Heading east, back towards Portesham, we will pass Abbotsbury Castle, an iron age fort and then remaining on the hill will follow the route onwards to Portesham. Where a pint will be in order!
(Photo credits images 1-3 geograph-2917126-by-Philip-Halling Abbotsbury.jpg, geograph-758981-by-Nigel-Mykura Abbotsbury Castle.jpg, geograph-2122654-by-Mike-Searle St Catherine's Chapel.jpg, images 4-6 Andy Martin)
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and water