Cerne Abbas Tourist Information

Cerne Abbas Tourist Attractions

Cerne Abbas is a small historic village in the valley of the River Cerne. Cerne Abbas lies between Sherborne and Dorchester, just off the main A352. Thomas Hardy used it in his novels but renamed it "Abbots Cernel".

A story tells of how Saint Augustine came to the village and although not being welcomed by the villagers he had a vision of God by the spring. The spot became holy, known as St Augustine's Well, and an abbey was founded here at sometime before the ninth century. This building did not survive and was replaced by Benedictine monastery in 987 AD and the village grew up around it. Very little remains of the Abbey today other than that found at the end of Abbey Street where you'll find the porch of Abbot's Hall and the Abbey's Guest House. The impressive looking St Mary's Church was built in the thirteenth century and retains many of its original features.

Cerne Abbas has some beautiful old buildings including medieval timbered houses with the original overhang still remaining. The old market town was once known for its brewing industry and had at one time fourteen pubs! The village still offers a good choice of watering holes some of which were once coaching inns and had their own forges.

The village store is a Tourist Information point and you can also pick up the Town Trail leaflet from here. This has been written by the Cerne Abbas Historical Society and will point out the historic buildings and sights in the village. There are several footpaths and bridleways around the village for walks up to the Cerne Abbas Giant for across the West Dorset hills.

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Cerne Abbas Giant

Cerne Abbas is most famous for the Cerne Abbas Giant. It is the largest hill figure in Britain and probably the most controversial as he's also known as the "Rude Man"!

The Giant is carved into the chalk bedrock which appears white against the grassy hillside. There is some confusion as to its origins, but it was first mentioned in 1751 by a Dorset historian, John Hutchins, who states that it was cut in the mid 1600s. Some believe it is a representation of the Greek god Hercules. Other theories date the figure much earlier and attribute it to the early Roman settlers between 180-193 AD at which time the Emperor Commodus believed himself to be a reincarnation of Hercules and promoted the worship of Hercules.

Due to its obvious anatomical realism it has been attributed with fertility powers and women wanting to fall pregnant would spend a night out on the hillside within the Giant's figure. Just above the figure is an Iron Age earthwork called the "Frying pan" or the "Trendle".

You can reach Cerne Abbas Giant by following the A352 where there's a large car park and viewpoint signposted from the road.

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