Thomas Hardy is one of the UK’s most celebrated writers of all time, the author of such classics as Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the D’Ubervilles, and The Mayor of Casterbridge. His home for most of his life, and the place that inspired his novels, was the picturesque market town of Dorchester in Dorset.

More than a century on, Dorchester has become a site of pilgrimage for lovers of Hardy’s work, and there’s plenty for literature fans to see in and around the town. The townsfolk are rightly proud of their most famous son, as evidenced by the eye-catching statue of Hardy sitting at the end of the High Street.

A short 3 mile drive from Dorchester is the author’s birthplace, often referred to as Hardy’s Cottage. It was built by his grandfather in 1800 and it was from here that he wrote Far From the Madding Crowd, perhaps his most famous and popular novel.

The beautiful cob and thatch cottage and its gardens have been lovingly restored, and on a summer’s day it is one of the prettiest sights in Dorset. To go inside the cottage and look around is to step back in time and get a really authentic sense of how Hardy and his family lived all those years ago. The admission price for entry to the cottage is £4.75 for adults and £2.20 for children.

Just one mile east of Dorchester town centre is Max Gate, the tall, imposing brick house designed by Hardy himself and in which he spent the last 40 years of his life until his death in 1928. He wrote many famous works in his study here, including Tess of the D’Ubervilles, the landmark epic novel which celebrates its 120th birthday this year.

After many decades of private ownership, Max Gate is now in the hands of the National Trust and is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Sadly the interior of Max Gate retains little of the house’s original furnishings. To see it as it was in Hardy’s time, you must visit the Dorset County Museum, situated just down the road from the Thomas Hardy statue on Dorchester High Street.

The museum is home to a replica of Hardy’s study, painstakingly recreated to show how it looked in his final years. The room includes his desk, pens, and his violin, along with a calendar stopped on the day of his death.

As well as the study, the museum also houses the world’s largest collection of Hardy memorabilia, donated to the museum by His second wife Florence. The exhibits include manuscripts, books, diaries, photographs, notebooks and paintings which provide fascinating insights into Hardy’s life and works.

The beauty and rich history of Hardy\’s Dorset makes it a wonderful destination for holidays and short breaks . With good, direct road and rail links from London and Bristol, Dorchester is easily within reach whether you are already in the UK or are visiting from overseas.

If you’ve ever read Hardy’s work and been enthralled by his beautiful descriptions of idyllic pastoral landscapes and quaint old towns, don’t miss the opportunity to experience this magical world for yourself by visiting Hardy’s Dorset this year.

Dorchester BID is a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting business and tourism in Dorchester. Visit the BID website for more information on Thomas Hardy Dorchester and the Hardy Trail

Dorchester BID is a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting business and tourism in Dorchester. Visit the BID website http://www.dorchesterdorset.com/index.php for more information on Thomas Hardy Dorchester and the Hardy Trail

Author Bio: Dorchester BID is a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting business and tourism in Dorchester. Visit the BID website for more information on Thomas Hardy Dorchester and the Hardy Trail

Category: Travel
Keywords: thomas hardy dorchester, hardy trail, dorchester, max gate, hardy country