I followed the South West Coast Path (SWCP) from Abbotsbury to Weymouth, both in Dorset. Here's a map.
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. You can download the Google map info, as a KML/KMZ file, then convert to GPX using a site like GPS Visualiser.
Essentials:
Start/Finish: In Abbotsbury, park at the village car park (£8 for 24 hours). In Weymouth, park in one of the pay car parks (for example, the train station). Or arrive by train at Weymouth Station. Return to your start using the X52 or X53 bus: in Weymouth, stop K6 at the King's Statue or at the station. In Abbotsbury, outside either the Swan Inn (next to the village car park), or the Ilchester Arms.
Walk: Join the SWCP just south of Abbotsbury, passing by the Swannery (optional excursion up to St Catherine's Chapel). The first part is inland, before joining the shore of the Fleet at Rodden Hive. The SWCP follows the shore to the Ferrybridge causeway to the Isle of Portland; the Rodmell shared use trail to Sandsfoot Castle; and the sea wall around the Nothe headland, before winding around Weymouth Harbour to the prom at Weymouth Beach.
Distance: 16 miles (could cut short at Ferrybridge and catch a bus into Weymouth)
Refreshments: Abbotsbury has a SPAR and several eateries. Bellenie's Bakehouse opens early for coffee etc, the Swan Inn is a no-nonsense traditional pub, but the Ilchester Arms was closed as of September 2025. The Swannery cafe is open to non-paying visitors. There is a pub, the Elm Tree Inn, a short way off the route in Langton Herring. The Moonfleet Manor Hotel caters for passing walkers. There is a cafe in Sandsfoot Castle Gardens. Numerous options in Weymouth: takeaway Fish and Chips eaten beside the Harbour is a popular option.
Notes: Reasonably well signed as 'Coast Path' and/or National Trails Acorn logo, but there are gaps and a GPX file will be invaluable. Earth/grass surface to East Fleet (expect some mud), then stone chip track to Ferrybridge. Tarmac or hard surfaces from Ferrybridge.⚠️A short diversion must be followed if the red flags are showing at Chickerell Rifle Range. There is also a short inland diversion around the perimeter fence of the Wyke Regis Camp. The last half mile of the path to Ferrybridge has been reinstated following erosion, so the diversion shown (as of September 2025) on the SWCP official website is no longer necessary.
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| The Fleet and Chesil Beach with Golden Cap beyond, from Littlesea |
I returned to Abbotsbury, this time parking in the spacious village car park. The village is a good 'pit stop' with several eateries, a 'Spar' village shop and well maintained public toilets. I could have walked direct from the car park via the abbey ruins to join the SWCP, but instead I went via the village centre (Bellenie's Bakehouse opens early for coffee etc) and retraced my steps via the village store and climbed once again to the fabulous viewpoint of St Catherine's Chapel, where you can see much of the route spread out to the East, with the massive shingle Chesil Beach enclosing the Fleet lagoon.
The Fleet is a tidal lagoon which joins the sea at its Eastern end at Portland Harbour. Whilst it is possible to walk the 12 miles along Chesil Beach from where it joins the 'mainland' at Abbotsbury Beach, my previous experience of walking just one mile along Cogden Beach indicated that this would be extremely arduous. The stones get coarser the further East you go, and the beach rises to up to 15 metres in height. It is mainly the preserve of anglers, whose tiny silhouettes can be seen on the skyline. There are several buildings with landing stages on Chesil Beach, and I imagine most anglers take a boat along or across the Fleet, rather than walking.
I descended to pick up the SWCP at Abbotsbury Swannery (the cafe is open to non paying visitors). The 'coast path' then heads inland, perhaps because no right of way was available along the Fleet shore, or to avoid disturbing the birdlife (the Fleet and Chesil Beach is designated a National Nature Reserve). There are good sea views from the high ground to start with, but soon one moves into undulating farmland, pleasant enough, but with no sea views. There is the possibility to divert to the village of Langton Herring, which has a pub, the Elmside.
The path finally emerges on to the Fleet shore at Rodden Hive, one of a succession of sheltered bays on the lagoon, which support a large variety of wildfowl and waders, especially as roost sites.
The Moonfleet Manor is on the path, an upmarket hotel, which nevertheless provides refreshments to passing walkers. The author J Meade Faulkner set his smuggling adventure 'Moonfleet' hereabouts, but I don't know if the Moonfleet hotel was named after the book, or vice versa.
The path ambles pleasantly if circuitously along the shore. At the village of East Fleet, the path changes from earth and grass to a well made track surfaced with stone chippings. At Chickerell (or Tidmoor) Rifle Range, I was lucky to find the red flags down, avoiding the need for a short diversion. After passing through the Littlesea holiday park, the path climbs around a 'headland'. The small gain in elevation affords an excellent view back Westwards, where finally you can see the full length of Chesil Beach with the cliffs around Golden Cap in the distance.
The path follows the inland perimeter fence of the Royal Engineers Wyke Regis Bridging Camp. As its name suggests, this is where our military engineers can learn about bridging techniques. At this point, the Fleet is at its narrowest, and Chesil Beach reaches its greatest height.
And so finally, one arrives at Ferrybridge, where the Fleet disgorges into the sea (or more strictly, Portland Harbour). Originally, I suppose there was a ferry crossing here to link to the Isle of Portland. Now there is a bridge carrying the causeway road. The looming mass of the Isle, and the harbour walls extending across to the mainland, make an impressive sight. Weymouth and Portland Harbour hosted the sailing events in the 2012 Olympics, and were spruced up accordingly. The Rodmell Trail is a tarmacced shared use path along the former railway, great for cyclists though perhaps rather enclosed and dull for walkers. The SWCP branches off at Sandsfoot Castle. The picturesque ruins overlook the Harbour and the grounds have been made into an attractive park with colourful flowerbeds.
I descended to Castle Cove, a delightful sandy beach, hoping to pick up a footpath adjacent to the shore, but this seems to have been closed, and instead the SWCP follows the road through the upscale houses of Rodmell, before returning to the seaside again at Newton's Cove. There is an attractive walk along the sea wall to the Nothe headland, home to the Nothe Fort and surrounding gardens.
The route makes its way around Weymouth Harbour via the Town Bridge (you can short circuit this if the rowboat ferry is operating) to finally reach the prom along Weymouth Beach. Head for the bus stops at the King's Statue if you want the X52/X53 bus back to Abbotsbury.
This was another very enjoyable walk showcasing the variety of England's coastline, especially the unique landscape of the Fleet and Chesil Beach. I left Abbotsbury at around 10am and arrived at the King's Statue in Weymouth at around 6pm, so a full day, and just in time to catch the last bus. Don't underestimate all the ins and outs getting round the Fleet bays, and the circuitous route through Weymouth. You could shorten it by getting a bus into Weymouth from Ferrybridge.
My other coast walks can be found on this page. With this walk, I have walked almost the entire coast from Seatown in Dorset round to Whitstable in Kent.
Nearby walks along the SWCP
West Bay to Abbotsbury
Isle of Portland
Weymouth to Lulworth Cove
Photos: sunny day in mid-September
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| Abbotsbury village car park |
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| St Catherine's Chapel |
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| View along the route (Isle of Portland in the distance) |
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| Swannery cafe |
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| Looking back to St Catherine's Chapel |
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| Swans on the Fleet |
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| The SWCP along an inland ridge |
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| Mud after rain |
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| Typical farmland scenery |
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| You can break off to Langton Herring at this gate |
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| Joining the Fleet at Rodden Hive |
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| Walkers on Chesil Beach |
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| West Fleet shoreline (note building on Chesil Beach) |
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| Coastguard Cottages at Langton |
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| NNR info board |
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| Typical SWCP beside the Fleet |
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| Gore Cove |
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| Moonfleet Manor Hotel |
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| Between Moonfleet and East Fleet |
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| Butterstreet Cove nr East Fleet |
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| East Fleet slipway |
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| Rifle Range warning signs |
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| Rifle range bund |
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| Stone track heading toward Littlesea Holiday Park |
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| Littlesea Holiday Park |
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| View West from Littlesea Park |
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| View west along the whole length of Chesil Beach |
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| Wyke Regis Camp (note very high Chesil Beach) |
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| Path round the perimeter fence |
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| Path descends on Camp road ..... |
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| ... but you can continue over the grassy headland |
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| SWCP crosses the beach at Pirate's (Martleaves?) Cove |
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| Beach |
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| One of many WW2 pillboxes |
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| Isle of Portland |
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| Ferrybridge |
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| Small Mouth |
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| View across Portland Harbour |
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| Rodmell Rail Trail info board |
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| Great for cycling, rather dull for walking |
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| Castle Cove Sailing Club (Sandsfoot Castle on headland, also the coast beyond Weymouth can be seen right round to St Aldhelm's Head) |
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| Sandsfoot Castle Gardens |
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| Sandsfoot Castle ruins |
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| Castle Cove (note no access to SWCP) |
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Thomas Foxwell Buxton monument, Bincleaves Green
(1786-1845; anti-slavery campaigner; monument put up in 2016) |
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| Newton's Cove, Nothe Fort on the headland |
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| The Portland Harbour wall or breakwater |
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| Prom round to Nothe Gardens |
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| Nothe Fort |
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| Weymouth Harbour |
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| Harbourside dining |
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| Weymouth Prom |
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| King's Statue (George III) |
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