For over 6,000 years the area around Abbotsbury has been inhabited. This was a time of course when the whole landscape was different from what we see today. The area then was just a vast woodland, but gradually over time the land was cleared for farmland and dwellings. There is evidence that not only was Neolithic man (4500-2000BC), living here for there is evidence of the bronze age man (2000-500BC) and iron age man (500BC-50AD),The iron-age Hill fort known as Abbotsbury Castle was built on Wears Hill north-west of the village; it was  these early people who shaped the land, until it resembled the area as we know it today. Yes with primitive tools they cleared the tree no-doubt using the timber to build their shelters and as fuel. The nearby Ridgeway Hills not only sheltered the villagers from the worst of the weather, for storms heading in land from the Atlantic often broke over the Ridgeway, they also gave them a sense of security for it was from these hills they could scan the area for any signs of danger, approaching by sea for nearby is a stretch of water called the fleet a  stretch of water lying between  Chesil Bank and the mainland which broadens out in a sheltered lagoon to form The Swannery It is possible that the visible foundations of the medieval mill in the village are Roman. It is suspected that a Roman villa was in Abbotsbury, if only because it is one of a small number of sites in Dorset - indeed in Britain - that are very fertile and had easy access to navigable water. The Roman Army in Britain depended heavily on sea borne transport for its supplies. It is possible that the visible foundations of the medieval mill in the village are Roman; making people believe Abbotsbury might have been a military farm providing grain for the garrisons at Exeter, Chester, Dover and Colchester.

The Chapel of St Catherine stands high on a hill and casts its benevolent gaze over Abbotsbury. The church dates from the 14th century and was built by the monks of Abbotsbury.  Possibly as a beacon for pilgrims coming by sea to worship at the abbey in the village below. The chapel survived Henry V111's Protestant Reformation, The Abbey below did not, survive. It is believed the church was spared because it was so valued as a navigational beacon to ships making the crossing of Lyme Bay.The chapel is built entirely of local stone, hauled up the hill to the building site. There is a small oratory in the turret, although the church's interior is spartan. Surrounding the chapel are a series of medieval strip lynchets; terraces cut into the hillside for agricultural purposes. The lynchets are known locally as Chapel Rings, and are quite striking when seen from the village below.

What of Abbotsbury today? Well the visitor's first impression of Abbotsbury is of a picturesque, rural village nestled between a backdrop of rolling hills, however, there is far more to Abbotsbury than meets the eye! To fully appreciate Abbotsbury's awe-inspiring setting; If you are driving pull over in one of the convenient lay by at the summit of Abbotsbury Hill. For from this vantage spot you can enjoy; a quite spectacular panoramic view of the whole village and the beautiful countryside it sits in. The view is truly amazing you can see eastwards along the Chesil Bank to the Island of Portland. Down to your right, screened by trees lies Abbotsbury's Sub-Tropical Gardens and just beyond them is the Fleet the stretch of water between the Chesil Bank and the mainland the Fleet broadens out in a sheltered lagoon to form The Swannery. And of course the church of St. Catherine's Chapel can be seen in all its  solitary solitary magnificence high upon the hill.

The village consists of pretty cottages mostly from they 16th century although there are some even earlier ones. Abbotsbury boast some nice shops, great traditional pubs, and of course; café's and restaurants for the visitor to enjoy a relaxing meal in beautiful surroundings. There is the world renowned Swannery, where you can walk amongst  hundreds of pairs of nesting Mute Swans every spring. the Sub-tropical Gardens set in 20 acres, are a blaze of colour, at the heart of the gardens is the colonial Tea House with a splendid veranda the gardens are famous for their Camellias, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas and exotic atmosphere. The delightful Smugglers Barn is a must visit for families inside the barn is a full size Smugglers' Lugger and a Revenue Cutter from the 1700s. It also tells you all about Dorset's most nefarious smuggler; Issac Gulliver.  The area was historically used by the smuggler Isaac Gulliver who lived in Kinson now a suburb of Bournemouth, Gulliver had several properties in the area, however all of the contraband were stored in the tower of St Andrew's Church Kinson (the marks of the ropes used to haul it up can still be seen in the soft sandstone walls of the tower) and in several stone graves in the church yard which were constructed for this purpose and never saw a coffin. A tunnel was also reputed to exist to allow smugglers to escape to the local river under cover (this has never been proved, however). Two events meant that this incorrigible villain escaped punishment, first he provide the Royal Navy with two seamen for which he received a Royal Pardon, then it is said he foiled a plot to assasinate King George which effectively meant he could please himself from then onwards. Gulliver eventualy  retired and re-invented himself as a country squire. He lived in the grand brick-built Gulliver's House, West Borough, Wimborne and died there on Friday 13th September 1822, leaving an subtastial estate worth £60,000, a vast amount for the time, he also left numerous properties in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset as well as those in Dorset, which given today's values would be multi-millions. His gravestone is in the floor of Wimborne Minster.

'Midsummer Merriment' Held on Saturday 21st June, Abbotsbury Heritage Fayre, will be held for a second year running, The inaugural one being such a success they are having a second one this  year by popular request, the fayre is held in the wonderful and historic Tithe Barn in Abbotsbury, yes the historic barn ( The Barn was built by Benedictine Monks in the 1390's.)
is the ideal place for a relaxed evening of fun, feasting and frivolity. The Children’s Farm is also in the barn and is ideal for under 11’s, and harrassed dad's. There are opportunities to cuddle rabbits and guinea pigs; hand feed baby goats with bottled milk, pony rides and: ‘Goat races’ morning and afternoon. As well as the animals there is much playtime activity along with a bale mountain to explore and climb, toy tractors to race, sand pits and bouncy swings. All this in the historic setting of the largest thatched barn in the UK.The farm is open as usual. At Portesham, Nr Abbotsbury is a monument to Thomas Hardy. However this is not the Thomas Hardy: Dorsets most famous son; it is in-fact a monument to the Captain of Nelson's flagship Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Who also happens to be named Thomas Hardy. He lived in Portesham until 1781 when he joined the Navy. Abbotsford is great walking country and where walkers set out to walk the length of Chesil beach, there are also plenty of other nice walks in the Abbotsbury area. 

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