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How
To Get Here
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Dorchester,
A354 from Weymouth, A35 from
Poole
Railway Station. |
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Dorset
Features
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Dorset
Guides & Maps
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 Dorchester
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| Dorchester, a
large country town with Roman origins, lots of shops, and a
market on Wednesday. Georgian buildings off the main streets.
Famous for Judge Jefferies' Bloody Assizes, sentencing 282
men to death, and the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs who were
deported and later pardoned, as well as being the home of
Thomas Hardy who used the town as the basis of The Mayor
of Castlebridge as well as Far from the Madding Crowd,
Jude the Obscure, and the Return of the Native.
Tourist Information Centre in the town.
Don't forget to visit
Cerne Abbas, north on the A352, and visit The Giant, etched
into the hillside.
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Location
Map of Dorchester |
What
To See -
Dorchester Tourist Attractions
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 Shire
Hall, High West Street, the trial of the Tolpuddle
Matryrs was here and the room is preserved.Map |
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| Judge
Jefferies Lodgings, High West Street, is where the notorious
judge stayed, and possibly his ghost is still there.Map |
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| Elbridge
Pope's Brewery, tours on Wednesday in the summer,Tel:
01305 251251 Map |
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County
Museum, local exhibits and Hardy's study from his house,
new gallery on Thomas Hardy and other Dorset authors which opened
in 1996, shop, etc Tel: 01035 262735 
Map
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| Dinosaur
Museum, Icen Way, a hands-on museum of Dorsets famous
fossils and dinosaurs, shop, etc, Tel: 01305 269741
Map
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| Tutankhamun
Exhibition, High West Street, Tel: 01305 269571
Map
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| Max
Gate, east on A351, Hardy's home designed by himself
and he lived here until his death in 1928, National Trust, drawing
room and gardens, the study is in the County Museum, shop, Tel;
01305 262538
Map
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| Keep
Military Museum, in Victorian Barracks, Bridport Road,
recently renovated with modern displays, 300 years of military
history in Dorset and neighbouring Devon. Tel: 01305 264066
Map
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| Maiden
Castle, Iron Age fort over 47 acres, take the A354 south.
Map
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Kingston
Maurward Gardens,
2 miles north east, 35 acres of gardens around a Georgian house,
Tel: 01305 215003
Map
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| Cerne
Abbas, north on
A352, nice village with ruined abbey, famous for The
Giant, etched into the chalk hills above the village,
and there is a walk along the ridge.Map |
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| Minterne
Gardens,
north on A352, to Minterne Magna, gardens with lakes, etc Tel:
01300 341370
Map
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 Hardy's
Cottage, at Higher Brockhampton, 3 miles east of the
town on the A35, Hardy was born here 1840 in this small thatched
cottage.National Trust, walks, garden, Tel: 01305 262366
Open: Easter - end Oct garden only, house by
appointment Map |
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| Stinsford,
A35, visit this small village on the way to Hardy's Cottage,
this is where his heart is buried, next to his wife in the churchyard,
he set his book Mellstock here. Map |
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| Clouds
Hill, north of
the A352 between Dorchester and Wareham, a small cottage used
by T.E. Lawrence, better
known as 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Map
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| Ilsington
House, east on
A35 at Puddletown, A William & Mary house with paintings
and sculptures
Map
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Athelhampton
House, east on
A35 a few miles, 15th century, with a Great Hall, all rescued
from a fire in 1993, gardens, Tel: 01305 848363
Open:
Mar-Oct Sun-Fri; Nov-Feb Sundays.Map |
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| Bovington
Camp Tank Museum
, head north of the A352 between Dorchester and Wareham, to
see armoured vehicles from all over the world, last Sunday in
July is Battle Day, and on Thursdays Jul-Sep the tanks are used,
assault course, shop, etc.Tel: 01929 405096
Map
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| Wolfeton
House , north on the A37 outside Dorchester, a
Tudor and Elizabethan
manor house
with furnished rooms and paintings
Map
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Where
To Stay in Dorchester
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Guest
Houses, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Other Hotels
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £89 a room a LivePriceTM
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Charminster Dorchester DT2 9PZ MAP
Little Court is a delightful Edwardian Country House in the Lutyens style with fabulous gardens. The accommodation designed for business and leisure travellers combines high standards with excellent value.
More... |
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £60 a room a LivePriceTM
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11 Bridport Road Dorchester DT1 2NG MAP
Set in the lovely market town of Dorchester in Dorset, the heart of Hardy County, this traditional English pub provides 5 newly-built letting rooms finished to a high standard.
More... |
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £89 a room a LivePriceTM
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Ansty Dorchester DT2 7PN MAP
Located in the village of Ansty, buried deep in the beautiful Dorset countryside, this inn is steeped in history and is famous for its food and accommodation.
More... |
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £50 a room a LivePriceTM
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Dagmar Road Dorchester DT1 2LW MAP
Situated in Victoria Park, this hotel is within 5 minutes’ walk of the town centre, close to the Dorchester bypass and adjacent to the county hospital. There is a car park for guests and plenty of street parking.
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £50 a room a LivePriceTM
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Winterbourne Abbas near Dorchester DT2 9LS MAP
Situated in the small village of Winterbourne Abbas, this delightful 17th century guesthouse provides an ideal base for touring and walking in Thomas Hardy's beautiful West Dorset.
More... |
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Lower Bockhampton Dorchester DT2 8PZ MAP
AA 5 Diamond thatched country cottage hotel in the heart of Thomas Hardy country, approximately halfway between his birthplace and Max Gate, where Hardy died. The restaurant and lounge have exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces, while the bedrooms..
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Yellowham Wood Dorchester DT2 8RW MAP
Situated in the very heart of Hardy Country on the edge of the idyllic Yellowham Wood in 120 acres of farmland. The farm contains an abundance of flora and fauna which has been encouraged over the years..
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Askerswell Dorchester DT2 9EJ
Set at the head of the Asker valley beneath the Iron Age hill fort of Eggardon Hill lies the unspoilt and picturesque village of Askerswell. For over three centuries Court Farm has stood alongside the parish church. The accommodation was ... Sleeps 7 /4/4/5
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Po Box 5304 Dorchester DT1 1ZN
These one and 2-bedroom apartments are close to Dorchester town centre. The train station, local attractions, pubs, bars and restaurants are all within a short walk.
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Coombe Road Winterbourne Steepleton near Dorchester DT2 9HD
Nestling in beautiful countryside just 5 miles from West Bay these comfortable lodge style properties offer an ideal base from which to explore the Jurassic Coast and glorious landscape inland. Along with five caravans tucked into a field behind them they Sleeps 4
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Lower Bookham Buckland Newton near Dorchester DT2 7RP
In an elevated setting affording the most wonderful panoramic views from almost every window this very comfortable single storey property makes an ideal base for exploring one of England's loveliest counties. Cerne Abbas with its famous chalk giant Sp ..Sleeps 4
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Toller Porcorum Dorchester
The Old School is set at the edge of the tranquil village of Toller Porcorum in a conservation area by the River Hooke valley in Thomas Hardy's beloved Dorset countryside which is within easy reach of the beautiful Heritage Coast. Both ... Sleeps 4 /4
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Tincleton Dorchester DT2 8QR
Clyffe Dairy Cottage and Old Dairy Cottage are two character cottages with 'olde-worlde' charm, both having beams and feature inglenook fireplaces. Tincleton is a perfect location in Thomas Hardy countryside, ideally positioned for ... Sleeps 3 /6
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Askerswell Dorchester DT2 9EJ
One of four cottages in a converted 17th century Grade II listed stone-built barn, The Haywain has it's own walled courtyard overlooked by the beautiful parish church of Askerwell. Sleeps 4
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Around
The Dorchester Area
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| Visit Abbotsbury
and then view the dramatic Chesil Beach before going on to the
resort of Weymouth. |
Tourist Information on Nearby Towns To Visit - straight line distance:
Weymouth (7.00 miles) Abbotsbury (7.82 miles) Wool (9.71 miles) Bere Regis (9.92 miles) Milton Abbas (10.24 miles) West Lulworth (10.53 miles) Portland (11.28 miles) Bridport (14.01 miles) Wareham (14.48 miles) Beaminster (14.95 miles) Blandford Forum (15.38 miles) |
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Area
Telephone Code
01305
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Information
Centre
1
Ackland Road
Tel: 01305
267992
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Our
Hotel Booking Line
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Call
0870 4786316
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