The Walled Garden

Within ambling distance in the Dorset countryside is Clouds Hill, the Grade II-listed cottage that once belonged to TE Lawrence (he of Lawrence of Arabia fame). It’s now a museum managed by the National Trust, with exhibitions on Lawrence’s life and most of his furniture and possessions left intact; more Arabian-related artefacts are displayed in the Lawrence of Arabia room at the Moreton Tea Rooms. Clouds Hill is on the Lawrence of Arabia Trail and has another main stop at St Nicholas’ Church, with Lawrence’s grave as well as engraved stained windows added by Laurence Whistler after the church was bombed in World War II. If you’re taking the trail, spare a few hours at its start or finish to steam through The Tank Museum at Bovington, over 300 vehicles in six roomy halls telling the tale of warfare from World War I to the present day. Up for more walls? The walled city of Wareham is about seven miles from The Walled Garden and is well worth a wandering day around its quay, along the River Frome and the mile along its Saxon walls; wander to the free Wareham Town Museum for info on the towns’ history and more on Lawrence of Arabia. Also at Wareham, the ape rescue centre Monkey World should give plenty to chatter about for all ages and is open daily all year round apart from Christmas Day. Corfe Castle (we’ll never tire of pointing out this was the inspiration for Kirrin Castle in Enid’s Blyton’s Famous Five) is about five miles to Wareham’s south-east. Feeling more coastwards? Take the train from Moreton, a ferry from Wareham Quay to Poole or a superly scenic drive to the beaches and red sandstone cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. Both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, two of the most magic coastal sights in Britain, are within a five and a half mile drive of The Walled Garden: at Lulworth, make room to also see its seventeenth castle, and at Durdle Door – well, we suggest you just sit and stare.