ABBOTSBURY ESTATE
An area of scenic, scientific, historic and architectural importance lying mostly within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Estate includes a large proportion of Abbotsbury Village, The Swannery, the Tithe Barn, St Catherine's Chapel, the sub-tropical gardens and Chesil Beach.
Access
Directions: Abbotsbury Estate lies on the coast between Weymouth and Bridport in Dorset. The Estate can either be approached from the east off the A35 or from the west off the A35 via Burton Bradstock. There are many public rights of way together with permissive paths giving access to large parts of the estate, apart from the network of public roads. Car and coach parking is provided at Rodden Row, the Gardens, Abbotsbury Beach and the Swannery. Several parts of the estate are open to the public: the Swannery, the Tithe Barn, St Catherine's Chapel, and Abbotsbury Gardens are all open mainly throughout the summer and early autumn months. In addition there is unlimited pedestrian access to Chesil Beach and Bank except during the breeding season of certain ground nesting birds when access is restricted to certain parts of the Bank in accordance with management advice from English Nature.
The owner's binding undertakings
(i) To take reasonable steps for the maintenance of the property and the preservation of its character and for securing reasonable access for the public as set out in the Ilchester Estates Heritage Land Management Plan completed in 1996. (ii) In addition to the steps at (i) above to publicise the terms of the undertaking by:- (a) Providing at reasonable cost a copy of the undertaking to any member of the public who requests it. This will exclude the Heritage Land Management Plan but will include a summary of it. Alternatively, the Management Plan can be inspected on request on normal working days at The Estate Office, Melbury Sampford, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0LF (telephone 01935 83222) between 10am and 1.00pm and between 2.00pm and 4.00pm subject to 48 hours' prior notice. (b) Providing for the Revenue's use details of how the public may obtain copies of the terms of the undertaking …