Section: Seatown to Abbotsbury

Length: 12 miles (20km)

Distance from Minehead to Seatown: 553.8 miles (886.2 km)

Distance from Abbotsbury to Poole: 66.9 miles (107.1 km)

Grading: Moderate

Height gained (and also lost): 1264ft(358m)

Summary:

A walk along a spectacularly dramatic section of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site awaits as you set off from the little village of Seatown. The Coast Path begins with some short, steep climbs before easing as it becomes more level beyond Burton Bradstock.
After resting to enjoy the magnificent views and keeping a look out for peregrines from Burton Cliff, continue as the Path drops to pick up the spectacular, long pebbly sweep of Chesil Beach. It is no wonder that this truly breathtaking place is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and it is especially beautiful in the spring and summer months when there are many colourful flowers to enjoy.
The hundreds of mute swans of Abbotsbury Swannery make for an extraordinary sight at the end of your day and there is a small selection of welcome refreshments in the fascinating, historic village of Abbotsbury.

Highlights along the path:

• Walking along part of the Monarch’s Way which is based on the escape route taken by Charles II after the battle of Worcester in 1651.
• Climbing to the top of Thornecombe Beacon to be rewarded with breathtaking views.
• Looking back to the impressive yellow sandstone of the Golden Cap from Eype’s Mouth. At 626 ft (191 metres) above sea level, the Golden Cap is the highest point on the South coast of England.
• The immense sandstone cliffs of West Bay.
• Chesil Beach backed by The Fleet, which is the largest tidal lagoon in Britain: This extraordinary natural ridge of pebbles extends for over 17 miles from West Bay to Portland and is thought to be between 4000 and 7000 years old. Many ships have been lost along this stretch of coast, which was renamed Dead Man’s Cove by Thomas Hardy who was born in Dorset.
• The wildlife of Burton Cliff. There are many beautiful flowers along these cliffs, enjoyed by butterflies and birds. You may even see dolphins from here.
• The pretty village of Burton Bradstock: The church of St. Mary’s is a fine example of 14th to 15th century architecture and contrasts quite dramatically with the plain style of the 1825 Wesleyan Methodist chapel nearby. The West Country’s first 'flax swingling mill' was built here in 1803 establishing the village as a centre for the flax industry.
• Bind Barrow: A Bronze Age burial mound and the site of a Second World War pillbox.
• Cogden Beach and the reed beds and maritime flowers of Burton Mere.
• West Bexington Nature Reserve: The scrub and reed beds are visited by many varieties of birds, including Cetti's warblers, corn buntings, grasshopper warblers, snipe and water rails.
• Enjoying a cream tea in the historic village of Abbotsbury: There is much to see here, including taking a walk round the Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, browsing the art and craft galleries, exploring the great Tithe Barn and ruins of the Abbey and immersing yourself in the incredibly rich history of this area.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• Take the Monarch’s Way to the historic market town of Bridport.
• Abbotsbury Swannery: Originally established by Benedictine monks, the Swannery is open to the public daily from March to November. See the Swannery website for details of ‘Mass Feeing Time’ and other events.
• Climb to the 15th century St Catherine’s Chapel. The chapel served as an important beacon for seafarers, which is probably what secured its survival during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Shorter option:

Stop at West Bay (3 miles, 4.9 km)

Longer option:

We suggest you end the walk at Abbotsbury to avoid having to go too far inland for accommodation further on.

Public transport info:

There is a mainline train station in the cathedral city of Exeter. The First Dorset X53 runs 8 times a day from Exeter to Chideock, which is just inland from Seatown. It then continues on to West Bay, Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury. For further details visit Traveline

Refreshments:

You can stock up on refreshments at the beginning of the day in Seatown or Chideock. Further on, refreshments are available at Eype’s Mouth, West Bay, Burton Beach and West Bexington. Abbotsbury has a good, small selection of cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.

Nearest Car park:

Seatown, Eype Mouth, West Bay, Burton Bradstock, Cogden Beach, West Bexington and Abbotsbury.

Toilets:

Seatown, West Bay, Burton Bradstock, West Bexington and Abbotsbury.

More information:

Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre. Tel: 01297 442138
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Tel: 01297 560772. To find out more visit the Jurassic Coast website.

Booklets available: A 96 page guidebook ‘Wildlife of the Jurassic Coast’ is available from local Tourist Information Centres or can be purchased online from the South West Coast Path Association webshop for £4.95.

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