Abbotsbury in Dorset

Abbotsbury in Dorset, with its world famous Swannery, a grade one listed Subtropical Garden and the wonderful Children’s Farm offers a unique experience for group visitors.

The Swannery has been voted best family attraction in Dorset by the Good Guide to Britain. A visit here is very special because it is the only place in the world that you can walk amongst a colony of breeding swans. At any one time there may be up to 1000 friendly mute swans on the site.  Friendly, because they are not like angry river swans.

They are very happy to have visitors. In fact during the hatching season, the end of May to the end to June, if you are careful and considerate, you an walk amongst their nests, which are full of hatching eggs. At this time the baby swans can be photographed leaving their shells!

Added in 2009: - The Giant Willow Maze in the shape of a swan, opens at the end of May. Can you find the path that leads to the giant willow egg?

The Swannery also has a charming coffee house, a quality gift shop, toilets including disabled ones and free car parking. There is also a rustic play area with swinging nests for children as well as an audio-visual show.

Open every day from 10.00a.m. to 5.00p.m.or 6.00p.m. March 21st to November 1st. Last admission 1 hour before closing. Telephone 01305 871858 to confirm opening date and closing time.

The Subtropical Gardens Our favourite Garden ”by the Daily Telegraph Readers is amongst the best in England”. Covering thirty acres this grade one listed garden is famous for its Camellias, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas and its wonderful exotic atmosphere. In September 2008 Alan Titchmarsh wrote in BBC Gardeners World - "One of the finest gardens I have ever visited”.

Established in 1765 the gardens have been the site of many plant introductions to this country. The first Camellias introduced to Great Britain in 1792 are now magnificent tree groves.

At the heart of the garden is the colonial tea house with its splendid veranda, which overlooks the sunken garden. There is also a very well stocked plant centre and a superior quality gift shop, a children’s play area and free car parking.

Witness the stunning views of the Jurassic Coast from a viewing point in the Garden, at the top of the Magnolia Walk.

The gardens are open every day (except Christmas and New Year Period) from 10.00a.m. to 5.00p.m.or 6.00p.m in the summer and 10.00a.m. to 4.00p.m. in the winter, last admission one hour before closing.  Telephone 01305 871387 to check opening times.

The Jurassic Coast Garden which came second in the people’s vote in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show was planted by our curator Stephen Griffith with plants from Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

The Children’s Farm is a must for families with young children. The farm is home to a host of friendly animals many of which can be cuddled and bottle-fed by the children. Bottle-feeding of lambs and baby goats takes place regularly throughout the day. The Guinea pig house is also very popular; children will cuddle the guinea pigs for ages.  Don’t miss the kuni kuni pigs, the budgie aviary, the donkeys, the children’s play area, the toy tractors, the pony rides* and do not miss the Goat Racing!! Great fun twice a day, no betting please!

The Great Barn at the centre of the Farm houses a wonderful soft play area with slides and a ball pool. Also inside the Barn parents and children can learn about Abbotsbury’s smuggling past from family friendly information boards, and enjoy together a short film about Isaac Gulliver the infamous Dorset smuggler during the 1700s.

The Children’s Farm is open daily from 10.00a.m. To 5.00p.m.or 6.00p.m. March 21st to  Sept 6th, weekends only Sept 7th to Oct 23rd and daily October half term 24th Oct to 1st Nov (last admission one hour before the close).

*There is a small extra charge for pony rides.

Visit www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk for more information.