Hardy's Monument from Abbotsbury - Wednesday 2 May 2012
Route
Abbotsbury - South Dorset Ridgeway - Portesham Hill - Hardy's Monument - Portesham - Abbotsbury
Parking
Abbotsbury (Charge) - Grid Ref SY579852
Mileage
7 miles
Terrain
Mainly grassy paths with some road walking on leaving Portesham before joining an old railway line back to Abbotsbury
Weather
Dry and overcast with sunny spells
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
1368ft (417m)
Map
OL15 - Purbeck & South Dorset
Abbotsbury - South Dorset Ridgeway - Portesham Hill - Hardy's Monument - Portesham - Abbotsbury
Parking
Abbotsbury (Charge) - Grid Ref SY579852
Mileage
7 miles
Terrain
Mainly grassy paths with some road walking on leaving Portesham before joining an old railway line back to Abbotsbury
Weather
Dry and overcast with sunny spells
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
1368ft (417m)
Map
OL15 - Purbeck & South Dorset
GPX File
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Walk Description
We were down in Dorset again visiting family and with a spare few hours on our hands decided to walk up to Hardy's Monument. The walk starts in the delightful village of Abbotsbury. The path to the Monument follows the South Dorset Ridgeway which runs from nearby West Bexington to Osmington Mills the other side of Weymouth. Once at the Monument, the return leg makes its way down to another lovely Dorset village, Portesham where there is a super pub which we have eaten at since the walk - The King's Arms http://www.kingsarmsportesham.co.uk. The walk passes through the village and out the other side where you join the route of an old railway line back to Abbotsbury. We ate at the Ilchester Arms in Abbotsbury that evening and for other days there are various tea shops plus the lovely pub in Portesham.
Waymark at the start of the walk in Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury
The excellent path up to the South Dorset Ridgeway
Milestone on the South Dorset Ridgeway
Hardy's Monument on Black Down Hill
The plaque on Hardy's Monument - as you can see the Monument was to honour Nelson's Flag Captain at the Battle of Trafalgar and not as is widely believed, the author of the same name. This topic generates much discussion and various members of the local WI have almost come to blows arguing about this very point.
Sign in the village of Portesham just before joining the railway path back to Abbotsbury