St Catherine’s Chapel, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset
St Catherine’s Chapel stands high on a hilltop, silent and isolated, as it has stood for over 800 years. Down in the folds of the hills is the peaceful village of Abbotsbury; the views out over Chesil Beach and The Isle of Portland are staggering, sweeping along the coastline, stretching out along the clifftops.
St Catherine’s Chapel was built in the 14th century by the monks of Abbotsbury Abbey and used for pilgrimage and retreat; chapels like this were often built away from the monasteries so that monks could spend time in seclusion for private prayer and meditation during Lent. It’s worth the steep but steady climb up to the chapel because this place has such an incredible ambience, an almost other worldy feel and to be up there on a summers’ evening at sunset is quite magical. Walk around, look at the stonework, marvel at its age, think of those who carved it, and imagine the women trudging up the hill to pray at the ‘wishing holes’ for St Catherine to find them a husband (St Catherine was the patron saint of virgins). The tiny chapel is still used throughout the year for services and is sometimes open to the public; if you’re able to venture inside, look up and you’ll see an amazing barrel vaulted roof.
Park in the car park in the village and if you have dogs keep them on a lead because there may be cattle grazing in the fields on the way up the hill. Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens are just a stone’s throw away so plan it well for a full day out.
All information correct at the time of writing