Activities

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is a renowned English poet, novelist and also an architect. He drew inspiration from the beautiful Dorset countryside, its nature and working people. Dorset is the setting for his famous novels including Tess of The D’Ubervilles, Far from The Madding Crowd and The Return of the Native.  His novels have beautifully written prose but I also recommend the film version of Far from The Madding Crowd with Carrey Mulligan (2015) which depicts the beauty of the countryside that Hardy fictionalised as ‘Wessex’.

We are very fortunate to have Mark Chutter, Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society as our guide. We will travel by train to Dorchester and stay at The King’s Arms, a hotel with Hardy connections (10 minute walk from the train station). 

Tour includes:

Friday 18 October, 5:00pm – 7:00pm:

• Dorchester and its Hardy connections.

Saturday 19 October, 10:00am -4:00pm:

• Hardy’s Cottage, his birthplace and where he wrote his early works.
• Max Gate, Hardy’s marital home designed and built by him in 1885 and where he lived until his death. 
• Dorset Museum & Art Gallery which houses a recreation of Hardy’s study.
• And St. Michael’s Church in Stanford where Hardy’s funeral was held and his heart is buried. 

Travel by train is direct from Waterloo to Dorchester South Station and takes two hours. Please book your train travel yourself to arrive in time for the 5:00pm tour on Friday 18 October. We can liaise to travel together.

There are rooms reserved, single occupancy, at The King’s Arms at £155.00 for a “snug” room or £180.00 for a “cozy” room, breakfast and VAT included. Please email the Activity Leader on [email protected] once you have booked a ticket to obtain contact information for the hotel.

Cost is: 

£65.00 for the tour guide and one museum entry (Dorset Museum & Art Gallery).

If you are a National Trust Member, Max Gate and Hardy’s Cottage are free of charge, otherwise it costs an additional £10.00 for each of them. Tickets payable at the door.

Included in cost: guide, taxis and entrance to Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. 

Not included: train, hotel, meals, entrance to Max Gate and Hardy’s Cottage.