Stage 48 of 52 · South West Coast Path

Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge

Abbotsbury → Ferrybridge
10.9 mi
Distance
17.5 km
Metric
5 h 54 min
Walking time
Moderate
Difficulty
335 m
Ascent
344 m
Descent
82 m
Highest point
Coastal
Terrain

Elevation profile

Climbs 335 m and descends 344 m, topping out at 82 m and dropping to 0 m. Measured along the mapped route.

0 km5 km10 km15 km 82 m

Underfoot

What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).

Footpath 97% · 16.8 kmRoad & lane 3% · 0.4 km

Difficulty breakdown

Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.

Terrain grade · SAC T1Mostly easy walking on good paths
Physical3/5 Moderate
Fitness — distance & ascent
Terrain3/5 Moderate
Underfoot — rock, steps, scrambling
Navigation2/5 Modest
Route-finding — waymarking, open ground
Remoteness2/5 Modest
Exposure — escape routes, signal

Conditions & season

Best months
March to October
When this leg is usually at its best
Water
Scarce — 6 mapped water points on this stage
Refill points along the route
Shade
Minimal
Open cliff-top walking has little cover
Terrain grade · SAC T1
Easy
Hiking — mostly well-made path, falling is largely unlikely
⬇ Download this stage (GPX) ⬇ Whole route (GPX)

Beside the Fleet lagoon and the great shingle bank of Chesil Beach to Ferrybridge near Weymouth.

Highlights

Know before you go

Planning guides for this stage

South West Coast Path Packing List, With or Without Bag TransferAll South West Coast Path guides

Questions about this stage

How long is the walk from Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge is 10.9 miles (17.5 km). Allow about 5 h 54 min of walking, before stops.

How much climbing is there between Abbotsbury and Ferrybridge?

Stage 48 climbs about 335 m and descends about 344 m, with a high point of about 82 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.

How hard is Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

It is graded moderate. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T1 — mostly well-made path, falling is largely unlikely.

What is the path like underfoot on Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

By distance the surface is footpath 97%, road & lane 3%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.

When is the best time to walk Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.

Is there drinking water on Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

Water on this stage is scarce. We map 6 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.

What is there to see between Abbotsbury and Ferrybridge?

Highlights on this leg are Chesil Beach, The Fleet & Abbotsbury Swannery, Ferrybridge.

What should I know before walking Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge?

Flat but long and exposed.