Take to the trees: discover our new rope bridge

A new way to explore Dorset’s most exotic gardens

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is well known for attracting visitors with a sense of adventure and curiosity. Hidden paths, giant leaves, and glimpses of faraway landscapes are all part of what makes a trip to our gardens so memorable. 

Now, there’s an entirely new way to experience it – from above the water.

The Abbotsbury rope bridge, opened by plantsman Roy Lancaster to mark the Gardens’ 250th anniversary, stretches 36 metres across our largest pond – making it one of the longest rope bridges in the country, designed to bring a little extra excitement to the garden walk – and a unique view of the subtropical world below.

A bridge built for exploration

Linking two sides of the gardens, the bridge gives visitors the feeling of crossing through a jungle clearing. Beneath your feet, the pond supports an extraordinary mix of aquatic plants and wildlife. Around you, the warm, humid air creates the ideal growing conditions for tree ferns, giant rhubarb, and candelabra primulas.

In late spring and early summer, the primulas are particularly striking; flowers line the bridge with colour, ranging from deep purples to soft yellows and orange tones, reflecting across the still water below.

The area around the bridge is one of the most atmospheric spaces in the gardens, sitting near a grove of dawn redwoods, a tree species native to Hubei Province in China. The damp, sheltered conditions here perfectly mimic their natural environment, and the trees have positively flourished!

The bridge’s design takes inspiration from the original Burma rope bridges, first developed during World War II in Myanmar to help troops cross remote valleys and rivers. Built from simple, strong materials, they were practical and adaptable – qualities we’ve carried through to this modern interpretation.

A feature to celebrate

For visitors standing midway, surrounded by foliage, you can see how the gardens shift from formal planting to wild subtropical growth. It’s a reminder of how diverse the landscape has become over two and a half centuries of careful cultivation.

We may not quite hold the record for the UK’s longest rope bridge, but this one certainly offers one of the most beautiful settings. It’s already a favourite for families, photographers and anyone looking to see Abbotsbury from a new perspective.