St Catherine's Chapel
Crowning the hill above Abbotsbury, St Catherine’s Chapel is a sturdy, barrel-vaulted 14th-century chapel built by the monks of Abbotsbury Abbey as a place of pilgrimage and retreat. Cared for by English Heritage and free to enter, it is one of the most striking landmarks on this stretch of the Jurassic Coast.
Highlights
- Largely unaltered 14th-century chapel, Grade I listed
- Panoramic views over Chesil Beach, the Fleet and the Isle of Portland
- The famous ‘wishing holes’ where women once prayed to St Catherine for a husband
- Free entry; a wonderful spot for a picnic with a view
- Reached on foot up a steep half-mile path from the village
A little history
Dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria, the chapel survived the Dissolution — most likely because it was so valuable as a coastal beacon and sea-mark, with a navigation light once kept burning at the top of its stair turret.
Plan your visit
The chapel is an open-access site reached on foot up a steep incline; wear sensible footwear and keep dogs on leads as the path crosses grazing land. For access details and occasional services, see the English Heritage page (opens in a new tab).
English Heritage info ↗ Opens in a new tab — this page stays open.