Abbotsbury — Dorchester

Abbdor one
Not verified

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Abbdor here.

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021

Distance

16km/10mi

Ascent

388m

Descent

368m

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So far it has been reviewed by two people and surveyed by two people and

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Abbotsbury and Dorchester.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Abbotsbury and Dorchester.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 2 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Abbdor one

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.

Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 2

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (2)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 14

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 3X based on 2 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.		 Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 2 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (2)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (2)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (2)
Not present at time of survey Restaurant (2)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (2)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (2)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (2)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (2)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (2)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (2)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (2)
Mobile phone coverage (0)
Not present at time of survey Train station (2)
Present at time of survey Bench (2)
Present at time of survey Picnic table (2)
Not present at time of survey Bus stop (2)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (2)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (2)
Not present at time of survey Wading (2)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (2)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (2)
Stepping stones (0)
Maybe present Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (2)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (2)
Crops encroaching on path (0)
Maybe present Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (2)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (2)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (2)
Not present at time of survey Flights of steps (2)
Present at time of survey Gates (2)
Kissing gates (0)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (2)
Maybe present Disables access gates (1)
Maybe present Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (2)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (2)
Not present at time of survey Fords (2)
Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges (2)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (2)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (2)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (2)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (2)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (2)
Walking on verges beside roads (0)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (2)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (2)
Present at time of survey Cattle possible (2)
Present at time of survey Horses possible (2)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (2)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (2)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (2)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (2)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (2)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (2)
Present at time of survey No visible path (2)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (2)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (2)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (2)
Present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (2)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (2)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 60.0cm (2)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 19.0% (2)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 27.0% (2)

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (2)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Present at time of survey Small Labrador-sized dog (1)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Present at time of survey Small Labrador-sized dog (1)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

30.0% of the route is on roads (2)

20.0% of the route is lit at night (2)

30.0% of the route is paved (2)

There is no data on muddiness

2.0% of the route is over rough ground (2)

10.0% of the route is through long grass (2)

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2 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

3X August 2021 by Pmostert
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3X May 2023 by Helen Gough
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Abbotsbury
Grid Ref SY5759885385
Lat / Lon 50.66657° / -2.60134°
Easting / Northing 357,598E / 85,385N
What3Words amicably.exhaled.stockpile
Dorchester
Grid Ref SY6926690722
Lat / Lon 50.71530° / -2.43669°
Easting / Northing 369,266E / 90,722N
What3Words similar.presuming.fevered

Abbdor One's land is

Arable 45.3%
Pasture 28.2%
Urban 18.7%
Woods 7.7%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews

Helen Gough

29 May 2023 Spring
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I can't recommend this route enough. All the Abbotsbury routes are good, but I think this may be my favourite. I walked on a perfect weather day, and can tell you that the views are stunning, and go on and on.
The route takes you out of Dorchester along tree lined residential avenues, and as soon as you leave town the view is dominated by the immense Maiden Castle, an iron age hill Fort. It's an English Heritage site, so you can find plenty of info on the Fort and nearby, and of course there is access all over it if you want a closer look.
After passing the Fort the route crosses farmland. The route has been plotted along the field edge, but there is a well maintained wide path through the crops, so that's a minor plotting error.
You soon realise that you are walking through a huge historical site as there are tumuli, barrows and stone circles all over the landscape. There is also the more recent Hardy Monument that the route heads towards for some time. This is a great viewpoint, but honestly there are so many great views on this walk, it's only worth mentioning as here there are benches, so you can park your bum for a bit.
The route has some climbs, but for Dorset they aren't too strenuous. The route is well maintained, except for a small section where the path is becoming overgrown. It's part of the South Dorset Ridgeway and the Coast path, so I'd be surprised if it wasn't cut soon. I missed one gate at Portesham Hill, as the route isn't quite aligned with the footpath there. I ended up climbing over a locked farm gate, only to find a pedestrian gate a few yards further on. If you walk from Abbotsbury, the pedestrian gate is obvious.
Brilliant walk, try it!.

Pmostert

29 Aug 2021 Summer
Report

It is a beautiful countryside route, only on paved roads at the very beginning and the final kilometers.
After a winding ascent from Abbotsbury one meets the South Dorset Ridgeway, with beautiful views. Thomas Hardy's monument [this is not the author but the captain during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805] is visible all the way, until one turns north towards Maiden Castle and Dorchester.
The Ridgeway is signposted, but with some gaps. No facilities on this route, except a picnic table at the monument.

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Overall ratings

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