St. Catherine’s Chapel

Perched on a chalky hilltop between Abbotsbury and Weymouth, St. Catherine's Chapel cuts a striking silhouette against the Dorset sky. It's a small medieval ruin - nothing grand, but oddly moving in its solitude. The 14th-century structure sits alone on the downs with uninterrupted views across the Chesil Beach towards the sea. You can walk right up to it.

The chapel itself is compact, just a stone shell really, but that's precisely why it works. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation panels, no crowds - you're left alone with what remains and the landscape around it. On a clear day the views stretch for miles. On a grey one, it feels properly atmospheric.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's the sort of place you'd include as a stop on a longer ramble across the downs rather than make a destination of itself. Allow maybe twenty minutes at the chapel itself, though you'll want longer for the walk to reach it. There's a car park at nearby Abbotsbury, and from there it's an easy walk up to the ruins. Worth timing it for late afternoon when the light's at its best.

If you're camping at Chesil Beach Lodge Park or any of the touring parks clustered around Abbotsbury, this sits perfectly on your doorstep. It's the sort of quiet, contemplative stop that balances a holiday spent beach-combing on Chesil Beach or exploring the village itself.