Greenwood Grange offers the ideal holiday combination - premium quality accommodation, fine facilities with an aim to achieve a Green Tourism Business Scheme Award Gold standard by 2009 within a family-run friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Set at Higher Bockhampton (which is Hardy's `Upper Mellstock'), Greenwood Grange is a secret hideaway set in its own 4 acres of peaceful grounds and landscaped gardens. All the cottages have undergone a major refurbishment and offer the very highest quality accommodation and facilities, with each cottage having its own individually styled interior using natural and recycled materials where possible.

As well as offering plenty of space for strolling and relaxing, there are two en-tous-cas tennis courts, lawns for croquet and badminton, a children's play area with swings and Wendy house and a dogs' exercise paddock, in addition to the newly established organic vegetable garden and pick your own fruit area to be enjoyed by all the family. There is also a magnificent Roman-style indoor heated swimming-pool (complete with mural!) with full changing facilities, a large sauna and sitting area. At the entrance of Greenwood Grange is Thorncombe Wood - a wildlife sanctuary from which a nature trail leads through magnificent chestnuts, beeches and oaks, and through 70 acres of black heath, furze, birch, holly, heather and rhododendrons. This is just one of many walks directly from the door over some of the most beautiful countryside in Dorset, perfect for healthy walks for dog lovers and all the family. Greenwood Grange offers bicycles for hire and a drop-off and pick-up service by prior arrangement.

Those interested in the literary landscape can explore the locations of Hardy's famous novels. Steeped in history, Greenwood Grange was built by Thomas Hardy's father, whilst a short distance away is the thatched cottage where Hardy himself was born, built by his great-grandfather and little altered. At Lower Bockhampton, Hardy went to school and there is a lovely walk from there to the next village, Stinsford, where his heart is buried. All around is a wealth of glorious National Trust countryside, pretty towns and villages as well as the beautiful coastline just 6 miles away. Excellent local village restaurants and pubs can be recommended. Kingston Maurward College with animal park, gardens, conference, function and education centre is within walking distance. Dorchester (Roman Durnovaria and Hardy's `Casterbridge') is a pleasant walk away (2 miles) and a most attractive country town, with museums of the dinosaur and the military, swimming-pool, golf (good golf can also be found at Weymouth and Charminster) and has plenty of good shops, restaurants and pubs. Also of interest is Prince Charles's development at Poundbury, near Dorchester. Weymouth is 8 miles with its Georgian seafront Blue Flag beach - ideal for castle building! It is overlooked by an elegant 3-mile level esplanade; there is swimming from the beach, and there are lots of traditional entertainments.

Two nearby RSPB reserves are at Lodmoor and Radipole which has nature trails from which grebes, swans and warblers may be seen. Nearby Portland is set to hold Olympic sailing events in 2012. The beach at Ringstead Bay (6 miles) is known for its geology, fossils and the vegetation and wildlife of its undercliff; nearby can be seen the outlines of a village abandoned in the Middle Ages. The Dorset World Heritage Coastal Path offers magnificent views and surprising sights, such as the natural arch of Durdle Door, and the almost circular cove of Lulworth, about 7 miles away. Further west dotted along the coastline towards West Bay and the market town of Bridport are the `chocolate box' villages of Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury (famous for its swannery and gardens). The area offers abundant river stretches for coarse or trout fishing, and sea angling from the coast. Gardens flourish in the mild climate, and there are many to choose from: Mapperton Gardens, Kingston Lacey, Knowle Gardens, Compton Acres, Forde Abbey Gardens and the subtropical gardens at Abbotsbury are well worth an excursion.

A detached stone cottage in the garden of the owner's home. Quenington is situated on the River Coln, where you will find good trout fishing.

There are riverside walks to Fairford, Bibury and beyond. Cheltenham, Burford, Stow and Oxford are within easy reach, as are several National Trust properties as well as Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace. Visit the Cotswold Water Park, Westonbirt Arboretum or Shakespeare's Stratford, for an alternative day out. Restaurants, supermarkets and pubs can be found in nearby Fairford. Shop/PO and pubs within 1 mile.

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