Guided Walk from Hardy's Cottage to Hardy's House, Max Gate

Sun Sep 21 2025 at 10:30 am to 03:00 pm UTC+01:00

Thomas Hardy's Cottage | Dorchester

National Trust North and West Dorset
Publisher/HostNational Trust North and West Dorset
Guided Walk from Hardy's Cottage to Hardy's House, Max Gate
Advertisement
Join us on a free guided walk from Thomas Hardy's birthplace to Max Gate, the house Hardy designed, built and lived in until he died.
This is a peaceful walk starting at the birthplace of Thomas Hardy and continuing through the landscape he grew up, before arriving at Max Gate, the house Hardy lived and died.
We will also take a detour to Stinsford St Michael, the resting place of Thomas Hardy's two wives and where Hardy's heart was laid to rest.
It is 5km from Hardy's Cottage to Max Gate, making the walk 10km in total. We will walk back the same way we came so this is a linear route. You have the option of ending the walk at Max Gate if you wish, please inform our guide of this when you arrive.
We expect the itinerary for the walk to look like this: 10.30 - Meet at Hardy’s Cottage, 12.00 – Reach Max Gate, 13.00 - Depart Max Gate for Hardy’s Cottage, 14.30 – Arrive back at Hardy’s Cottage. There is then the option for walkers to join a tour of Hardy's Cottage, which must be booked and paid for independently and in advance.
It is important to note the walk goes to Max Gate where you will have the opportunity to spend one hour at the house. You do not need to book for this but you will have to pay an entrance fee to enter the house, or if you are a National Trust member you can enter for free, please bring your membership card.
If you wish to visit Hardy's Cottage please book this independently, in advance, via our website or by calling 0344 249 1895. We would recommend booking onto the 15.00 tour. Hardy’s Cottage tickets are released every Thursday and will open four weeks in advance.
Please bring weather appropriate clothing and your lunch and refreshments. We will have our lunch at Max Gate.
For more details follow: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/hardys-cottage/events/ce088d0c-c36a-4493-9c6b-1bfecaf21ec8
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Thomas Hardy's Cottage, Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom

Tickets

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Dorchester

Woof Fest at Selwood House Care Home
Sat, 20 Sep at 01:00 pm Woof Fest at Selwood House Care Home

Chestnut Road, DT2 9FN

Justin Moorhouse | Dorchester Comedy Club
Sat, 20 Sep at 07:30 pm Justin Moorhouse | Dorchester Comedy Club

The Hardye Theatre

Couples Birth Preparation Group Course
Sat, 27 Sep at 10:00 am Couples Birth Preparation Group Course

The Prince of Wales School

Dorchester Prison Ghost Hunt
Sat, 27 Sep at 09:00 pm Dorchester Prison Ghost Hunt

Dorchester Prison Events and Experiences

Mutley Mayhem
Sun, 28 Sep at 07:00 am Mutley Mayhem

DT2 9PW Dorchester, United Kingdom

Top Secret: The Magic Of Science
Sun, 28 Sep at 02:00 pm Top Secret: The Magic Of Science

The Corn Exchange, High East Street, DT1 1HF Dorchester, United Kingdom

Dorchester is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Dorchester Events