Day 79 Hardy’s Birthplace Cottage Walk

Hardy's Birthplace Cottage

A varied walk from the car park at Hardy’s Birthplace Cottage (NT) on Dorset heath, through woodland, field paths amongst the newborn spring lambs and the water meadows by a tributary of the River Frome.  We take the newly laid path up the hill sign posted Hardy’s Cottage and then descend once more to the Visitor Centre as we have failed to obtain our entrance tickets. Then the climb once more to the viewpoint of the cottage beyond the orchard and surrounded by productive vegetable plot. It’s picture postcard Dorset.

A proper start to the walk is postponed while we visit the Cottage, birthplace of author Thomas Hardy and enjoy wandering through the rooms of this tiny cottage furnished as it would have been during Hardy’s childhood.

Vandalism was taken seriously

Then we embark on the walk proper, climbing once again to the open heathland of Duddle Heath with its wild ponies and desperate attempts to clear back the gorse scrub. This is a lovely walk with open views to the south and west and we follow the path as it descends and enters a forest of pine trees.  A small navigational error before we regain the route and cross farmland on field paths with sheep and lambs on either side.

At Lower Bockhampton we take a raised causeway with fast flowing water on either side of the track and into the village of Stinsford. The small church is an important stop on the Hardy tourist trail as he was christened here, played viola for weddings and is the location of the graves of many members of his family. Although his ashes are buried in Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey his heart was buried here along with his first and second wives. Close by is the grave of Cecil Day Lewis, poet laureate, who requested  to be buried alongside his inspiration, Thomas Hardy.

The Church where Hardy's heart is buried

The return walk crosses further fields and a gentle climb back to our starting point. Once again we are just too late for lunch so it has to be tea and cake!

"Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change."

Thomas Hardy

7 miles