Max Gate is the former home of Thomas Hardy and is located on the outskirts of Dorchester, Dorset, England. It was designed and built by Thomas Hardy for his own use in 1885 and he lived there until his death in 1928. In 1940 it was bequeathed to the National Trust by Hardy’s sister and is now open to the public.

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset, England. It is situated between Poole and Bridport on the A35 trunk route. A historic market town, Dorchester is on the banks of the River Frome to the south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway that separates the area from Weymouth

Founded by the Dean Forest Railway Society in 1970, the Dean Forest Railway runs along part of the old Severn & Wye Railway lines, which were first built as a tramroad over 200 years ago.

The current railway line is approximately 4 1/2 miles long, running from Lydney Junction Station (close to the mainline railway station and a short walk from the harbour) at the south end of the line to Parkend (a small forest village) at the north end of the line. The main station of the railway is located at Norchard, on Forest Road, in the middle of the line, where you will find a large, free car park and our shop, museum and café.

We run our steam train services on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-March to early November, plus our Santa Specials in the run up to Christmas and our Mince Pie Specials after Christmas up to New Year’s Day. We also run lots of evening specials, including our Evening Fish & Chip Suppers, Dining Trains, Murder Mysteries and Gin Trains.

We pride ourselves on offering a friendly service, and giving you a relaxing journey through the beautiful, scenic forest.

Torre Abbey is an archaeological site of national importance. Founded in 1196, it became the wealthiest English monastery of the order of Premonstratensian canons. The extent of its survival makes Torre Abbey the best-preserved medieval abbey in Devon and Cornwall. After King Henry VIII closed the monastery in 1539, two of its former ranges were adapted for use as a private house. From 1662, this house became the home of the Cary family, who lived here for nearly 300 years. Set within 18 acres of garden and parkland. It’s also a multi-award-winning visitor attraction housing an impressive art collection boasting over 600 incredible works of art from the 18^th century to the present day.

Dyffryn Gardens, is a collection of botanical gardens located near the villages of Dyffryn and St. Nicholas in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The gardens were selected by the British Tourist Authority as one of the Top 100 gardens in the UK and are in the care of the National Trust.

Positioned in a gorgeous setting, the American Museum and Gardens was created by an Anglo-American couple, Dallas Pratt and John Judkyn, and opened to the public in 1961 with the ambition to showcase American decorative arts and dispel stereotypes of American culture.

Today our estate is composed of:

• Museum – located in a Grade I listed building, the Museum features collections from the United States where you can visit room sets that recreate periods of American history giving the feeling that someone has just stepped out, as well as our world-renowned folk art, quilt and map collections.

Castle Drogo is situated high above the Teign Gorge. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for self-made millionaire Julius Drewe. It looks ancient, but this remarkable building was only constructed 100 years ago, the last castle ever built in England.

From the beginning it has suffered from water penetration and has for the last 8 years been undergoing a conservation project to make the Castle watertight.
As the building work comes to an end the interior of the castle has been redisplayed after years in storage. Once reopened, you can explore the castles refreshed layout, discover its precious treasures, fascinating stories, and unique history.

Experience serenity and an inspirational day out at Buckfast Abbey. Nestled in a valley on the edge of Dartmoor, the Abbey is home to a working community of Benedictine monks and is one of the top tourist attractions in the Westcountry.

This jewel in Devon’s crown boasts a fascinating history: Founded by King Canute in 1018, Buckfast Abbey was at the heart of the community until Catholic monasteries were dissolved by King Henry VIII.

The site gradually fell into ruins, but several hundred years later, it was brought back to life by a group of exiled French monks. Between 1906 and 1937, they lovingly re-built the Abbey Church on the medieval foundations and re-established the monastery.

Visitors can enjoy the extensive grounds – including The Sensory, Physic and award-winning Millennium Gardens. A highlight during the summer months is The Lavender Garden, boasting 50 varieties of this soothing and colourful plant.

South Devon Railway- The SDR is a seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. We run steam trains with heritage rolling stock and offer a wonderful all day, all weather attraction for families and people of all ages.

Agatha Christie called Greenway ‘the loveliest place in the world’ and treasured it as a holiday home for her and her family. They filled each room with items dear to them, brought to Greenway from Ashfield, Agatha’s childhood home, and their travels and extensive collections. In the house you can see all of this just as Agatha and her family left it.

From walled gardens to riverside woodland, the gardens at Greenway are very relaxed and tranquil. There are hidden gems to discover, views to admire and deckchairs to relax in. The large and romantic woodland drifts down the hillside towards the sparkling Dart River. The walled gardens are home to the restored peach house and vinery, as well as an allotment cared for by local school children. A visit to Greenway isn’t complete without seeing the Boathouse, scene of the crime in Dead Man’s Folly.

The day will also include a  visit to Brixham which is a coastal town and civil parish, the smallest and southernmost of the three main population centres on the coast of Torbay in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England.