The Place
If you love 19thC English literature, then this could be for you. This pretty 17thC thatched cottage is an ideal base for exploring Thomas Hardy’s Wessex. He was born a mile away in Higher Bockhampton and set all fiction in this area, widely known as Thomas Hardy’s Wessex.
With eight bedrooms, this is a personal and characterful place to stay. Rooms are tastefully decorated using creams, whites and lilacs. There is also a sitting room for guests’ use. Pre-dinner drinks are at seven o’clock. The cosy and highly rated restaurant accommodates just 26 people and serves earthy food in hearty portions. On Sundays, a special lunch is prepared using local ingredients purchased from the local Farmer’s Market earlier in the day.
If the Thomas Hardy trail is not for you, there is still plenty to do. Dorchester is just two miles away, with its Roman remains and architecture, shops and museums. From there, it’s another 15-minute drive to the famous Jurassic Coast (including Chesil Beach), and the popular seaside town of Weymouth.