20 Attractions to Explore Near Hardys Cottage

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Max Gate

Max Gate

3.24km from Hardys Cottage

Max Gate was the house which Thomas Hardy designed and his father and brother built, between 1883 and 1885. Contains several pieces of Hardy's furniture. Here he wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge. Visitors to the house can view the hall, dining room, drawing room and garden as well as the room where Hardy wrote his most provocative novel.

Dorset Teddy Bear Museum

Dorset Teddy Bear Museum

3.44km from Hardys Cottage

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is Dorchester's unmissable family museum, with Edward Bear and his family of people-sized bears, in Teddy Bear House. Meet all the family and enjoy his wonderful collection of teddy bears that can be seen throughout the house. Bears on display include Paddington Bear, Rupert Bear, and Winnie the Pooh. The earliest bear dates from 1906 and there are also life-sized bears.

Dorset County Museum

Dorset County Museum

3.71km from Hardys Cottage

The Dorset County Museum is located in Dorchester, Dorset, England. Founded in 1846, the museum covers the county of Dorset's history and environment. There are video displays, activity carts for children, and an audio guide. The collections include fossilized dinosaur footprints, Roman mosaics, and original Thomas Hardy manuscripts.

The Tutankhamun Exhibition

The Tutankhamun Exhibition

3.89km from Hardys Cottage

The Tutankhamun Exhibition in Dorchester was the first exhibition outside Egypt to feature an exact anatomical recreation of Tutankhamun's mummy. The mummy took over two years of research and experimentation to recreate, following x-rays and measurements of Tutankhamun's mummy. Explore the life of King Tutankhamun, and the storied discovery that captivated the world, through more than 150 authentic pieces from the tomb.

The Keep Military Museum

The Keep Military Museum

4.15km from Hardys Cottage

The Keep is the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset. Housed in an extraordinary castle-like building, the collection spans 300 years of history over 4 floors. You can walk through a World War One trench, try on uniforms and discover the amazing stories behind the Museum objects, at the end of your visit don’t forget to go onto the roof for amazing views of Dorchester!

Maiden Castle

Maiden Castle

7.1km from Hardys Cottage

One of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Its huge multiple ramparts, mostly built in the 1st century BC, once protected hundreds of residents. When it was first built, the gleaming white chalk ramparts would have towered over the surrounding landscape. It is situated just 2 miles south of Dorchester in Dorset. It is truly an amazing place: even after more than 2000 years, the earthworks are immense, some ramparts rising to a height of 6 meters.

Clouds Hill

Clouds Hill

9.88km from Hardys Cottage

This tiny isolated cottage situated on the slopes of Clouds Hill above Bovington Camp was the peaceful retreat of T.E. Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) when he re-joined the RAF in 1925. It was, in fact, a 'pied a terre' used by Lawrence as a quiet retreat to write and entertain guests while he was stationed at the nearby army base at Bovington.

Bowleaze Cove

Bowleaze Cove

10.67km from Hardys Cottage

Bowleaze Cove is a sand and pebble beach just over two miles northeast from Weymouth. In summer the beach is popular with families as well as jet-ski enthusiasts and the water is zoned for the safety of bathers. Children might enjoy paddling in the shallow waters of the cove or in the River Jordan which enters the sea at the beach. A short pier leading out from the beach makes a good spot for fishing and the views towards Portland on a clear evening are quite spectacular.

Cerne Abbas Giant

Cerne Abbas Giant

11.03km from Hardys Cottage

Cerne Abbas Giant, a 180-foot-tall chalk drawing of a nude man wielding a club, dates to 1694. the giant geoglyph is carved in solid lines into the chalk bedrock and stands an impressive 180 feet, making it especially visible from up high. In fact, during WWII, the figure was disguised to prevent Germans from using it as an aerial landmark.

SEA LIFE Centre Weymouth

SEA LIFE Centre Weymouth

12.25km from Hardys Cottage

Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park offers you an amazing underwater world and takes a fascinating journey to the ocean depths. Meet the world’s smallest penguins in their new interactive Fairy Penguin Island walk-through adventure. It aims to combine modern display technology, biological expertise, and entertainment to provide themed journeys through European and tropical waters.

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre

12.69km from Hardys Cottage

Monkey World was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide a permanent, stable home for abused Spanish beach chimpanzees. The 65-acre park is home to the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Life’ and ‘Monkey Business, and provides sanctuary for rescued and endangered primates from around the world. Monkey World features the largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa which are housed in four different social groups.

Greenhill Beach

Greenhill Beach

12.85km from Hardys Cottage

Greenhill is a suburb to the northeast of Weymouth in Dorset, England, with a sand and shingle beach. Most of the beach is pebbles rather than sand but on the shoreline between tides, there’s plenty of sand for the sandcastle building. The entire beach is bordered by a pleasant promenade, take a lookout for the renovated Victorian lamp stands these were originally the lighting on the main Esplanade.

The Esplanade

The Esplanade

13.65km from Hardys Cottage

The Esplanade is a wide walkway and street on the seafront at Weymouth, Dorset on the south coast of England. The Esplanade is immediately next to the sandy Weymouth Beach, It is the section of the Legacy Trail that joins wildlife sites in the Lorton Valley Nature Park to Radipole Lake reserve. To the south at the end of the Esplanade are Weymouth Pier,the Condor Ferries terminal for ferry service to the Channel Islands and the Pavilion Theatre.

RSPB Radipole Lake

RSPB Radipole Lake

13.7km from Hardys Cottage

RSPB Radipole Lake is an 83-hectare nature reserve owned by Weymouth and Portland Council and managed by the RSPB for wildlife since 1976. It is a quiet ‘wildlife oasis' in the heart of Weymouth and a great place to get close up with nature. Look for otter prints, go pond dipping and visit the bird hides.

Weymouth Beach

Weymouth Beach

14.04km from Hardys Cottage

Weymouth Beach is a curving arc of golden sand adjacent to the town centre, with Weymouth pier at the southern end. Weymouth has had a strong tourism tradition since the 18th century and the beach remains a busy place, home to a sand sculptor, a Punch and Judy show, a helter-skelter, swing boats and donkey rides. One of the family friendly beach in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Nothe Fort

Nothe Fort

14.18km from Hardys Cottage

Nothe Fort, a three-tiered fortification on a raised promontory next to Weymouth Harbour, is an unmistakable landmark in the region. Learn about military history and World War II in its museum, which is mostly set in a labyrinth of subterranean passageways. Enjoy the stunning views of the Jurassic Coast from the picnic areas on the ramparts and newly-opened terrace, or go underground and explore the many tunnels and secret passageways beneath the fort, including the spooky ghost tunnel.

Weymouth Harbour

Weymouth Harbour

14.33km from Hardys Cottage

Weymouth Harbour is a busy harbour at the heart of Weymouth’s Old Town, which retains much of its historic seafaring character, particularly along the seventeenth century waterfront. It is acclaimed for its fresh seafood including crabs, lobster and a range of sea fish landed daily. Weymouth Harbour has included cross-channel ferries, and is now home to pleasure boats and private yachts.

Durdle Door

Durdle Door

14.51km from Hardys Cottage

Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot. It was created when the sea pierced through the Portland limestone around 10,000 years ago. Looking west over the beach, isolated stacks out at sea show where an older coastline once lay. The arch has formed on a concordant coastline where bands of rock run parallel to the shoreline.

Brewers Quay

Brewers Quay

14.57km from Hardys Cottage

This former brewery site has been converted to a complex including a museum, shops and a public house. The main building dates from 1903 / 1904. Brewing took place on this site from 1252 until the 1980s. There were 3 separate breweries. The building is located at Hope Square, which holds a range of cafes, bars, bistros, while close by is the Tudor House Museum, and facing out to sea is Nothe Fort and its gardens.

Bennetts Water Gardens

Bennetts Water Gardens

14.66km from Hardys Cottage

Bennetts Water Gardens is a visitor attraction in Dorset. Set over 8 acres the gardens hold the National Plant Collection® of Water Lilies with a Claude Monet style Japanese Bridge, Tropical House, Woodland Walks, and Museum. The gardens hold the National Plant Collection© of Water Lilies with a Monet-style Bridge as the centerpiece. If you have never seen over 140 different varieties of water lilies producing thousands of flowers spread across acres of water.

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Know more about Hardys Cottage

Hardys Cottage

Hardys Cottage

Hardys Cottage, Dorchester DT2 8QJ, UK

Hardy's Cottage is a beautiful secluded place to visit if you are following the Thomas Hardy Trail through Dorset. The cottage stands at the top of the hill off Cuckoo Lane in Higher Bockhampton and behind it stretches Egdon Heath, which Hardy wrote of in 'The Return of the Native'. The super cosy home will charm you with its antique decor and authentic north Indian cuisine among other features.