The Barns

Turn back the clock… while you’re finding your way around, you’ll soon find that history’s around a fair few corners. And there are lots of ages to uncover, from the Rockbourne Roman Villa (five minutes’ drive) to the traditional countryside museum and Elizabethan collections at Breamore House (15 minutes). The house at the Museum of East Dorset (half an hour) dates back to the 1500s, while Knowlton Church and Earthworks (20 minutes) is a Norman church smack bang in a Neolithic henge earthwork. The historic sites don’t end there though, as there’s the fashionable house and garden at Arundells (25 minutes) and The Salisbury Museum (25 minutes) all about medieval Salisbury and ancient Stonehenge. You’ll be following in the footsteps of old-fashionable society at some other historical properties, including the National Trust-managed Kingston Lacy (35 minutes), a fine mansion with some splendid gardens and parklands, and the big old estate at Wilton House (25 minutes). Once you’ve sharpened up your history knowledge, snow sports might be next on your list to master. If so, Snowtrax Alpine Activity Centre & Snowsports Shop (20 minutes) runs skiing, snowboarding, ringos and ski bobs.