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Thomas Hardy Country

Stay at luxury Summer Lodge located in the beautiful Dorset countryside.

Book through a South West Specialist travel agent.

Each day out itinerary is colour coded on a map.

Day 1 (red route)
A Thomas Hardy day - head south to Dorchester visiting the Dorset County Museum amongst other Hardy connections in Dorchester, and including a visit to Max Gate and Stinsford church at Stinsford, and Hardy's Cottage at Higher Bockhampton.

Day 2 (blue route)
Head south west to Mapperton Gardens today. Then continue on to the coast to West Bay for lunch at the Riverside Restaurant. After lunch, head west to Lyme Regis an attractive coastal fishing town and film location for the French Lieutenant's Woman. Walk along the Cobb where Meryl Streep stood, and wander along the high street with it's many individual shops.

Day 3 (pink route)
Head north today to for another Hardy day, visiting the attractive town of Sherborne with it's Abbey and numerous antique and craft shops, Sturminster Newton, and Marnhull where you can find Tess Cottage reputed to be the original Durbeyfield's home.

Day 4 (green route)
Head south east today, through Dorchester, and on to Wareham, Corfe Castle, Swanage, and Studland Bay.

Day 5 (orange route)
For Garden lovers, head into Somerset to visit a couple of the many beautiful gardens in the area - East Lambrook Manor, Barrington Court, or Forde Abbey as well as perhaps doing some cider tasting at Kingstone.

Chauffeur driven tours of Thomas Hardy country are available from Summer Lodge with Wessex Heritage Tours.