The Cerne Valley lies in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The valley follows the course of the River Cerne which rises to the north at Minterne Magna and flows through Cerne Abbas and Godmanstone on its way to Dorchester and the sea. The iconic Cerne Giant can be seen carved into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas. The people who live in the Cerne Valley know it to be a very special place and invite you to share it with them. Cerne Abbas is the centre for visiting and exploring the local area. It was the site of an important Benedictine abbey and that heritage can be seen to this day. A thriving village with its own Church, School, Post Office and Surgery, it offers the visitor places to stay, to eat and to drink. There is also a range of small shops to help you to enjoy your visit. Minterne House, home of the Churchill and Digby families since 1620, is about two miles north of Cerne Abbas on the A352. It has unique gardens which are open for most of the year. Explore this website and find out more about the Cerne Valley.

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