Local Attractions
There are a great many great things to do in and around the local area, and the list below is just a small sample of the attractions you could explore.
Shaftesbury and Gold Hill (8 minutes drive)
Shaftesbury is a small, picturesque market town made famous by Ridley Scott’s iconic ‘Hovis’ advert
featuring Gold Hill, and its links to Thomas Hardy. (The town features in his Wessex as Shaston and is of particular significance in the novel Jude the Obscure)
http://www.shaftesburydorset.com
Old Wardour Castle (9 minutes drive)
Old Wardour Castle is a grade I listed building managed by English Heritage which was built in the late 14th century and partially destroyed in the English Civil War. Its six-sided design makes it architecturally unique amongst castles in the UK, and The Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was filmed at the castle in 1991.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.16439
Stourhead House and Gardens (20 minutes drive)
Stourhead is a 2,650 acre estate at the source of the River Stour which has been owned by the National Trust since 1946. It features a world-famous 18th century landscape garden with numerous follies, including Alfred’s Tower which offers spectacular views across three counties. Stourhead was the most visited National Trust property in the UK in 2008.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-stourhead
Longleat House and Safari Park (30 minutes drive)
Longleat features grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, including a fantastic Hedge Maze. The House is one of the best examples of Elizabethan architecture, and was the first stately home to be open to the public. The Safari Park lets visitors get close to animals, and was the first of its kind outside of Africa.