← Back✦ Historic site

St Catherine's Chapel, field system and quarries at Chapel Hill

17 ha

BirdsHeritageWildlife

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome17 ha

Getting here

50.66011, -2.60507

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Teal and Chiffchaff
✦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

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Teal and Chiffchaff
✦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

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingParking· Paid

Best for

7 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Teal, Chiffchaff, Herring Gull +93 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Teal, Chiffchaff, Herring Gull +93 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site with public access

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Deciduous woodland priority habitat; Birds — Teal, Chiffchaff, Herring Gull +93 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Hiking

Good match

Named hiking route nearby: South West Coast Path (Section 47: Seatown to Abbotsbury)

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 13 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Macmillan WayWalking route290 km

Named routeRef MWALength 290 kmListed length 461Regional walking route

Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

South West Coast Path (Section 47: Seatown to Abbotsbury)Walking route

Named routeRef SWCPNational walking route

South Dorset RidgewayWalking route

Named routeRef SDRRegional walking route

A nature walk at West Bexington, Hive BeachWalking route4 km

Named routeLength 4 kmDuration 1:00Round tripLocal walking route

Rope Walkpublic footpath · 235 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 235 mSurface unpavedPath type: footway

Rope Walkpublic footpath · 78 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 78 mSurface unpavedPath type: path

🚴

Cycling

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 2Cycling route

National Cycle Route 2 Christchurch to Axminster

Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route1.6 km

Named routeRef 2Length 1.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route2.6 km

Named routeRef 2Length 2.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route735 m

Named routeRef 2Length 735 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.5 km

Named routeRef 2Length 1.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route668 m

Named routeRef 2Length 668 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🐴

Horse riding

7 public paths nearby

Public paths

Hannah's Lanebridleway · 157 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 157 mSurface unpavedPath type: unclassified

Town Lanebridleway · 241 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 241 mSurface unpavedPath type: unclassified

Chapel Lanebridleway · 203 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 203 mSurface unpavedPath type: service

Seaway Lanebridleway · 1 km

Public pathbridlewayLength 1 kmSurface unpavedPath type: track

Seaway Lanebridleway · 11 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 11 mSurface unpavedPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

77,409 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

77,409 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds101 species

autumnwinter

2026

Teal · Marsh Harrier · Chiffchaff · Herring Gull · Tufted Duck +96

TealAnas crecca2025
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
GadwallMareca strepera2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Baikal TealSibirionetta formosa2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
CootFulica atra2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
ScaupAythya marila2025
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
Great TitParus major2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicus2025
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
DunlinCalidris alpina2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2025
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus2025
Siberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita tristis2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2025
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2025
RazorbillAlca torda2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Desert WheatearOenanthe deserti2025
Light-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla hrota2025
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

77,409 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds101 species

autumnwinter

2026

Teal · Marsh Harrier · Chiffchaff · Herring Gull · Tufted Duck +96

TealAnas crecca2025
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
GadwallMareca strepera2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Baikal TealSibirionetta formosa2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
CootFulica atra2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
ScaupAythya marila2025
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
Great TitParus major2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicus2025
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
DunlinCalidris alpina2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2025
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus2025
Siberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita tristis2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2025
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2025
RazorbillAlca torda2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Desert WheatearOenanthe deserti2025
Light-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla hrota2025
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 don cload · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

St. Catherine's Chapel on the hill

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦St Peter's AbbeyHistoric site600 m→🌱Broad GardenUrban park500 m→🌱Stavordale WoodUrban park900 m→⛪St Nicholas's ChurchReligious grounds700 m→🌱Arboretum & ApiaryUrban park900 m→🌱West LawnUrban park1.1 km→

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