Deserted town of Milton Abbas
14 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome14 ha
Getting here
50.81654, -2.28427
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦72+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chiffchaff and Blue Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦72+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chiffchaff and Blue Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Blackbird +69 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Birds — Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Blackbird +69 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White +24 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Wessex RidgewayWalking route▾
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeListed length 207km
1 public path nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
Photos
Milton Abbas: Private lake
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
4,609 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
4,609 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
springautumnwinter
2025▾
Tawny Owl · Blue Tit · Carrion Crow · Robin · Canada Goose +24
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- CootFulica atra
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Great TitParus major
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
Green-veined White · Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Speckled Wood · Ringlet +10
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
- GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta
🌿Plants57 species
winterautumn
2024▾
Dogwood · Wood Avens · Bramble · Yorkshire-fog · Perennial Rye-grass +52
- DogwoodCornus sanguinea
- Wood AvensGeum urbanum
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
- Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
- Hedera helixHedera helix
- White Clover
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,609 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
springautumnwinter
2025▾
Tawny Owl · Blue Tit · Carrion Crow · Robin · Canada Goose +24
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- CootFulica atra
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Great TitParus major
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
Green-veined White · Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Speckled Wood · Ringlet +10
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
- GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta
🌿Plants57 species
winterautumn
2024▾
Dogwood · Wood Avens · Bramble · Yorkshire-fog · Perennial Rye-grass +52
- DogwoodCornus sanguinea
- Wood AvensGeum urbanum
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
- Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
- Hedera helixHedera helix
- White Clover
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2024
2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024Large WhitePieris brassicae2024Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia2024Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia2024PeacockAglais io2024PeacockAglais io2024Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2024Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2024BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2023Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2023Black Oil-beetleMeloe proscarabaeusBlack Oil-beetleMeloe proscarabaeusOil BeetleMeloeOil BeetleMeloeTrifolium repens
Trifolium repens
Common NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaHazelCorylus avellanaHazelCorylus avellanaBeechFagus sylvaticaBeechFagus sylvaticaButterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiButterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensCurled DockRumex crispusCurled DockRumex crispusYewTaxus baccataYewTaxus baccataGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysDouglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiDouglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiWavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosaWavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosaEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaGarden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollisGarden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollisAshFraxinus excelsiorAshFraxinus excelsiorHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumRed FescueFestuca rubraRed FescueFestuca rubraGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusCherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasusCherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasusCat's-earHypochaeris radicataCat's-earHypochaeris radicataCrocosmia aurea x masoniorum x pottsiiCrocosmia aurea x masoniorum x pottsiiCrocosmia aurea x masoniorum x pottsiiCrocosmia aurea x masoniorum x pottsiiDaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseMeadow Crane's-billGeranium pratenseMeadow Crane's-billGeranium pratenseCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaSalad BurnetPoterium sanguisorbaSalad BurnetPoterium sanguisorbaSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusField MapleAcer campestreField MapleAcer campestredaffodilsNarcissusdaffodilsNarcissusElderSambucus nigraElderSambucus nigraDandelionTaraxacumDandelionTaraxacumLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumSummer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivumSummer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivumPrimrosePrimula vulgarisPrimrosePrimula vulgarisCreeping BentAgrostis stoloniferaCreeping BentAgrostis stoloniferaWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumDockRumexDockRumexDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleBluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaBluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaYarrowAchillea millefoliumYarrowAchillea millefoliumCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumHawthornCrataegus monogynaHawthornCrataegus monogynaRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareSpear ThistleCirsium vulgare