Thomas Hardy’s Dorset

Custom made & crafted walking to suit you!

Thomas’s Hardy’s Dorset is an inn to inn style walking trip – a linear (one-way!) trail that leads from one country inn to another, spending two nights at each location on route.

Your vacation will be custom made to suit your requirements and the season. Daily trails vary in lengths from 8 to 12 miles (13km to 20km). It’s possible to include rest days, sight seeing days and have airport transfers to meet you.

4 to 7 night itineraries are available. All transfers during your holiday are included so you can enjoy a car-free break (just you and your feet!). Arrive by public transport or bring your car to the start (we can organise a transfer to collect your car at the end of your holiday).

Trail highlights include:

• Connect with the stories of Thomas Hardy’s Dorset including Tess D’Urbervilles and Jude Obscure
• Explore little known Dorset villages with their rural traditions
• Wander through water meadows where Kingfishers, Herons & Otters can be found
• Be transported back in time by a working 17th century water mill on the river
• Feel delighted and inspired by spectacular views of Dorset’s countryside
• Walk the very landscapes which inspired author Thomas Hardy to write his novels

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>

Getting here…

Getting here is easy, your trail is located near Shaftesbury, Dorset

It’s about a 2 hour car journey from London, about 1 hour from Bristol.

For a truly car-free option the nearest train station is at Gillingham, Dorset. Transfer from the station to your inn is about 15 minutes.

For overseas guests the nearest airport is at Bristol or Southampton. London Heathrow is also easy to get to. Airport transfers can be arranged, just ask.

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>

Where you stay

One of the reasons guest choose Foot Trails is for our choice and quality of accommodation.

Largely independent and privately owned, we enjoy a close and strong working partnership with all our country inns. Small, personal and friendly each is located in a beautiful English village and is personally chosen by Founder Alison Howell. On Thomas Hardy’s Dorset you can enjoy a timber frame building which has been an inn since medieval times, an 18th century country pub with flagstone floors and a 16th century inn with local food, largely sourced from within a 30 mile radius.

All bedrooms have their own private and en-suite bathrooms.

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>

Cost & Availability

4, 5 or 6 night holidays are available all year round. Your trip will be planned for you to your dates and for how long you wish to stay. There are no fixed scheduled dates. We do recommend booking in advance as places each month are limited.

Example budgeting costs:

From £635 per person* for 4 nights
From £780 per person* fro 5 nights
From £940 per person* for 6 nights

*Based on two sharing an en-suite bedroom, staying on a bed & breakfast basis. Includes all luggage transfers and transport during your holiday.

Included:

• Independent (self guided) walking days tailored to you and the season
• Tailored walk and explore pack
• Local Ordnance Survey™ maps (waterproof)
• Trail guide cards (waterproof one for each day with easy to follow instructions)
• Local stories and histories
• Recommended lunchtime stops at country pubs and cafes
• Nature cards for identifying wild flowers, trees and animals
• Seasonal nature guide book
• Sweets (for a boost on route)
• Your en-suite accommodation
• Breakfasts
• One bottle of wine
• A decade of expertise and know-how
• Inn to Inn luggage transfers with Foot Trails trusted team of drivers
• Drop off services when it makes a walk better.
• Help and support before your trip

How to book?

Just get in touch to let us know your preferred dates and we will look after the rest.  We strongly recommend booking in advance. Places in our small country inns are limited each month. You can call us on +44 (0) 1747 820626 or use the form to your right to send a message or request an itinerary.

You will receive a full and detailed itinerary with price quote before you book.

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>

Read our reviews on Trip Advisor

Thanks for a fantastic holiday. From start to finish – a dream. Paradise is this piece of land called England.Thanks for our holiday.
Guru and Val

Thank you for everything you and your colleagues did to make our walking break so enjoyable and stress free. It was just what we both needed. We really enjoyed all the walks and we thought the accommodation was spectacular. We hope to be back again at some stage soon.
Anon

Absolutely brilliant. Everything we wanted and more.
Lucy and Duncan

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>

How do I find my way?

Trails are devised using our local knowledge and rigorously tested and checked. Find your way using either the easy to follow trail cards if you prefer not to map read, or the local Ordnance survey maps provided. Or a combination of both. For peace of mind an on call service is provided every day including weekends between 8am and 6pm.

Where will I be walking?

Your walks are on public rights of way and a mixture of paths, tracks and trails through woodland, on farm land, village country lanes and countryside. Most walking is away from roads. Everything you need will be provided in your walk and explore pack.

To request a detailed 20 page mini brochure with example itinerary for this trip or ask questions – please use the form to your right >>