Hidden along the tranquil green Cerne Valley, in the agricultural county of Dorset in southern England, is the village of Cerne Abbas, a region immortalized by the great writer Thomas Hardy. Join me on this Online Experience to discover a charming village with an infamously carved hillside and some extraordinary ties with Washington. 

We will begin our exploration with a view of the famous and mysterious 180 ft Naked Giant carved into a hillside just outside the village - a symbol of ancient spirituality a few thousand years old, or perhaps just a few hundred and meant as a joke against one of England's tyrant rulers. Continuing for a few minutes along the peaceful River Cerne, we will arrive in the village chosen recently as being Britain's most desirable village to live in.
Cerne Abbas owes its existence as a settlement to establishing of a Benedictine Abbey over a thousand years ago. As we walk around this historic village, you will get to know various details about the history of what was the third richest Abbey in the country and see the romantic ruins and remaining buildings. Walking in the steps of pilgrims, we will reach the ancient Wishing Well, which the legend tells us was established by Saint Augustine, who was sent here in the 6th century to convert the local population on behalf of the Pope.
Continuing our stroll down to the 14th-century parish church, we will discover some surprising American connections whilst passing rows of medieval houses. At some of the Dorset pubs, I will take you to next, learn about the famous beer brewed by the monks a thousand years ago, and look at the traditional Dorset cream teas from the village tearooms.

Our walk will round up at the end of the village - we will say our goodbyes while admiring some more peaceful views of the Cerne riverfront dotted with cottage gardens.