Hill and views 2- The Knoll

The coast road between Bridport and Abbotsbury is one big viewpoint.. For ages, though,  I would catch a glimpse of this lonely, derelict building perched high on a hill above Bexington as I sped by.

Received wisdom somewhere down the line told me it was a fisherman's lookout for spotting shoals of fish. Whether this is true or not I can find no mention of the fact.




It's a romantic idea anyway and it was perfectly self contained with even a little fireplace to keep warm by. The Knoll is easy to reach as long as you don't miss the turning . A few minute scramble takes you to a thoughtfully placed bench at the feet of the little building.

The views are spectacular though the shoals long gone... served battered with chips, no doubt.

The Hidden Chapel

Close to the village of Abbotsbury a footpath wends its way to the centre of a small wood and a stone arch, all that remains of a medieval chapel. 

Unmarked by any signpost it is an evocative spot, standing above a tinkling stream and dappled by the sunlight slanting through the trees. In May bluebells carpet the ground with purple blue.

Within the ruined precincts lichen covered slabs commemorate recent landowners. An altar is crowned by a beautiful wooden crucifix, stained an  irredescent green by the damp. Across is surface lie the scattered offerings of coins or flowers left by passers-by.

It a spiritual place, a place for contemplation whatever your faith. A place to listen to the sounds of silence.
Grid ref: SY556 878

...And did those feet?...

As Easter is upon us I thought a little religious snippet may be appropriate.
A legend relates that 2000 years ago Jesus accompanied his uncle, Joseph of Arimethea on a business trip to Britain and spent time kicking his heels at Abbotsbury while Joseph went off to Cornwall to buy tin. 
No doubt the nearby Fleet lagoon would have made a great place to practise his water walking trick while the temptation to turn that vast watery expanse to wine would have been a mighty hit locally... circumventing the licensing laws, though, may have caused problems.
Jesus's brief stay was supposedly commemorated by the founding of Abbotsbury's Abbey
 of which just a few walls and the great Tithe barn now remain. Annoyingly, the barn is out of bounds for those without a handful of shekels, lying as it now does in the centre of a tacky theme playground. 
Haven't they heard the one about erecting market stalls in the Temple...Watch out!

Hills and views 4-St Catherine's Chapel

View from the road above Abbotsbury St Catherine's Chapel with The Fleet, Chesil Bank and Portland in the distance

St Catherine's Chapel dates from the 14thC and sits high on a hilltop above the village of Abbotsbury. It seemed the perfect place to sip and quaff a flask of coffee whilst offering thanks for the first cloudless day in weeks. 
Just a short scramble uphill from the village and you have gained an outlook that would bring out the poet in anyone.

The chapel is the focus to one of Dorset's most sublime views. 

Far below, the Fleet lagoon sparkles silver  and Chesil Bank sweeps away in a gentle crescent that culminates in the mysterious Isle of Portland in the blue distance, while at the foot of the hill, the village clusters around the scant remains of the Abbey that gave it its name.

Negotiating groups of inquisitive heifers, a scramble downhill brings you to the sloping shingle and the tumbling surf of Chesil Bank itself. If all this leaves you feeling spiritual, services are still held at the chapel several times a year.