Grays Farm | Toller Porcorum | Dorchester | Dorset DT2 0EJ | tel: 01308 485484 | email: lesley@lesleyslightpaintings.com

Try not to miss:

A walk on Eggardon Hill (scenes from the original 'Far From The Madding Crowd' were filmed here) – stunning views over the surrounding countryside and Lyme Bay.

A walk on Powerstock Common, the old railway line; much wildlife, and the old brick kilns.

Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve. Both these are walking distance from the Cottage.

A walk over Golden Cap, highest point on the south coast.

Abbotsbury Swannery and Sub-Tropical gardens

Cerne Abbas and the Giant, and the Manor House where the original 'Tom Jones' was filmed

Maiden Castle, Dorset County Museum (where many of Sir Mortimer Wheeler’s finds from his ‘30’s dig on Maiden Castle are housed); Maumbury Rings, all at Dorchester

Thomas Hardy’s birthplace - the cottage at Higher Bockhampton

Lyme Regis and the Cobb, second oldest harbour in the world ('The French Lieutenant’s Woman' was filmed here)

Milton Abbey and Milton Abbas

Lulworth and Durdle Door

Clouds Hill – T.E.Lawrence’s cottage. Lawrence is buried at Moreton, where the church has windows by Laurence Whistler - wonderful

Portland Bill and Pulpit Rock

Forde Abbey and its gardens

Further afield:

Wells Cathedral, the Bishops Palace & moat, & Vicars Close, the oldest inhabited street in Europe. This and the two below are only a few miles apart – a really good day out.

Wookey Hole, 1 ½ miles from Wells, with awesome caves “…..where Alph the sacred river ran, through caverns measureless to man…”

Glastonbury Abbey – 5 miles from Wells.

Eating out:

We are lucky to have so many places in the area which cater for all tastes. Here are some of them.

The Three Horsehoes, Powerstock – very good food, lovely views from pub garden – 3 miles

The Marquis of Lorne, Nettlecombe – ½ mile from above- good food.

Spyway Inn, Askerswell – pub food, very friendly place – 3 miles

The Hive Restaurant & Café on Burton Bradstock beach – lovely food, café on beach – 7 miles

Beach & Barnicott, Bridport – well priced, imaginative food; eat in the lovely 1st floor lounge

Taj Mahal, Bridport – Friendly,family run restaurant serving excellent Indian food for 25 years

The Greenyard Café, Bridport – well priced ‘wholefood’ cafe

The Riverside Restaurant, West Bay – one of Rick Stein’s favourites. Good but pricey

The Watch House Cafe, West Bay – the Hive's sister Café, just yards from the sea

Down House Farm, Eype – their own organic food – very nice, closes October

The Anchor Inn, Seatown – eat your crab sandwiches overlooking the sea.

Town Mill Tea & Dining Rooms, Lyme Regis – excellent -lovely food by PM’s ex chef

River Cottage Kitchen & Deli Axminster

Village gardens:

Open on various days – see info in Cottage

Garden lovers - there are many lovely gardens both large and small in the area, and there is a
Yellow Book available if you wish to check. Some of our favourites are:

Mapperton Gardens, Beaminster

Cranborne Manor, Cranborne

Forde Abbey and its gardens, near Chard

Stourhead – magnificent Humphrey Repton garden/landscape