Deep in the heart of the rolling Wessex countryside and near the dramatic rocks and fossils of the world renowned Jurassic Coast, little has changed from the days it was immortalised in the novels of Thomas Hardy. Set in nearly two hectares of idyllic gardens, with a croquet lawn, health spa, and a collection of richly furnished guest rooms and suites, Summer Lodge is a small world in itself. Add in a restaurant of international repute, one of the best cheeseboards in the UK, a cellar boasting over 1 400 wines, and the 300 whiskeys and 100 brandies that are on offer, and it’s easy to see why guests come from so far and wide.